The Lexus LFA’s spiritual successor may be closer than previously thought. According to Autocar, the Japanese luxury brand is gearing up to introduce a new V-8-powered supercar by 2026. This vehicle is part of Toyota’s strategy to develop street-legal cars based on race cars, reversing the usual approach.
This upcoming model will be based on the GR GT3 concept that Toyota revealed in 2022. Gazoo Racing (GR), Toyota’s motorsports division, has been seen testing what is believed to be a prototype of this vehicle at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The goal is to have the car ready to compete by 2024, including participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. According to FIA homologation rules, all GT3 racers must have a corresponding street-legal version, indicating that the roadgoing equivalent will likely be available before then.
The production model will carry Lexus branding and might be named the LFR, as suggested by Autocar. The prototype being tested by Toyota GR has been heavily camouflaged but shows a stance and profile similar to the GR GT3 concept, with an even larger rear wing.
While concrete details are still months away, Autocar reports that the car will feature a twin-turbo V-8 engine and be relatively lightweight. Current GT3 regulations cap the output between 500 and 600 hp and set a maximum weight limit of 2,866 pounds (1,300 kg). The road car’s powertrain will likely include hybrid assistance, pushing its power towards the upper end of that range, if not higher. There’s even a possibility it could use a hydrogen-compatible V-8 engine developed by Toyota in collaboration with Yamaha.
Upon its launch, this new road car will compete with top-tier sports cars like the Aston Martin Vantage and the Mercedes-AMG GT. However, the critical question remains whether it will live up to its predecessor, the iconic LFA. Initially launched in 2008, the LFA’s V-10 engine was not fully appreciated at the time but has since gained recognition as one of the century’s greatest sports cars.
