There’s subtlety, and then there’s Lexus, and the upcoming LFR clearly skipped that class. After years of whispering about an LFA successor, Lexus finally seems ready to bring noise, literally. The LFR is shaping up to be a hybrid supercar with a twin-turbo V8, a machine that looks like it was designed to terrify silence itself. Forget the “classic” zen-like ES sedan, this one is built to wake the neighbors and maybe the entire neighborhood.
The LFR’s spiritual roots trace back to the legendary LFA, a car that still gives goosebumps to gearheads a decade later. But while the LFA was naturally aspirated and borderline divine, the new LFR feels like the more jaded, caffeinated younger sibling, part EV, part inferno. It borrows plenty of attitude from Toyota’s GR GT3 concept, which means an aggressively low stance, slit-like headlights, and great aerodynamic. The proportions scream “race car”, but Lexus insists this one will actually make it to the road. Probably with fewer wings, because parking garages still exist.
Under the skin, rumor has it the LFR will feature a hybridized twin-turbo V8 good for around 600 HP, before the electric boost even joins the party. Add that together, and you’re looking at a number that could make Ferrari owners nervously check their mirrors. This powertrain supposedly channels lessons learned from Lexus’ GT3 racing program, proving that all those years of corporate hybrid preaching weren’t just for efficiency.
The public first caught a glimpse of the beast at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where a camouflaged prototype strutted past the crowd with just enough sound to melt a few smartphones. Toyota and Lexus are now teasing a coordinated reveal that involves everything from Gazoo Racing to Daihatsu and even Century.
Expected to hit the streets by 2027, the LFR won’t be cheap. But that’s the point. Lexus doesn’t want to sell you a car, it wants to sell you redemption. The LFA was lightning in a bottle. The LFR is the thunder that follows.
