The first proper Lexus supercar since the LFA nears production
For the maker of the iconic LFA, it’s been a while since Lexus had a truly competitive performance car. The RC F is dated and on its way out, the LC is more of a grand tourer, and the IS 500 was never a true IS F successor. Fortunately, new spy shots of the Lexus LFR – a street-legal version of the GR GT3 concept – indicate that the Japanese brand is still working hard to perfect this overtly sporty, low-slung supercar. In a new video shared on Instagram by journalist Jonny Lieberman, it also appears that Lexus is benchmarking the LFR against one of Mercedes-AMG’s hottest sports cars.
V8 Hybrid Powertrain Possible
Filmed driving around Angeles Crest in Los Angeles, the camouflaged LFR was following a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance. This particular Merc uses a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 and plug-in hybrid system to develop 805 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 2.7-second 0-60 mph blast. If this is what Lexus is planning to match, it would be quite a few levels above the LFA – although, we don’t expect a hybrid to match the sonic perfection of the high-revving LFA’s V10.
Lieberman confirmed this is a “brand-new supercar platform,” and suggested a starting price of about $185,000 when it arrives in 2026. That’s significantly less than the LFA’s starting price of $375,000, so the LFR is not a direct successor to the LFA. However, the LFR would still become the most expensive new Lexus on sale right now.
Related: This Is The Most Expensive Lexus Model In America
Exotic Proportions On Full Display
Jonny Lieberman/Instagram
Although the details remained hidden, this latest video once again showed off the LFR’s exotic looks. It sits low to the ground and looks even wider than the GT 63 it was following. This one doesn’t have a rear wing, as previously seen on some test mules, but that could be an upgrade that forms part of an aerodynamic package. The taillights appear to be ultra-slim horizontal units that stretch all the way across the back, but this could be an illusion created by the camo wrap.
Other previous rumors suggest the LFR will have a carbon fiber tub, which should enhance rigidity while keeping the weight down.
With news that Lexus will also have its own version of the next Toyota Supra, the Lexus brand could soon be bolstered by not one, but two new sports cars. Considering how long it has been since the GR GT3 concept was revealed, we hope to see the production model early next year.
