Lexus is on the cusp of bringing a new hybrid supercar to market, and to say we are excited is an understatement. With the last model years of the Lexus LFA long behind us, and with the Lexus LC and the Lexus IS facing the chop after 2026, the Japanese marque is steadily running out of sporty models.
- Base Trim Engine
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V8 twin-turbo hybrid (expected)
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Make
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Lexus
- Model
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LFR
However, tipped for 2027 is a new Lexus supercar, a model which could just be the next best thing in the growing hybrid supercar market. With plenty of rumors flying around about what the new Lexus hybrid supercar will be like, we are looking into what it may be equipped with and what it could mean for the next generation of supercars.
We Say Goodbye To The Lexus LFA And Hello To The Lexus LFR
It may seem like yesterday, but the iconic Lexus LFA ceased production back in 2012. For many, it was and still is the best sports car Lexus has ever produced. Low to the ground; equipped with a high-revving naturally aspirated V10; relatively exclusive; engaging to drive, and totally in tune with being pulled around twisty roads. What else could you want from a sports car/supercar?
Since the end of the LFA, we have loved Lexus’s sports cars. From the RC to the LC, there is no shortage of powerful and fun-to-drive sports sedans and coupes from the last 13 to 14 years. However, we don’t think there has been anything that has lived up to what the Lexus LFA offers. 2027 may be the year of change, though, and Lexus is billed to release the Lexus LFR, the modern successor to the Lexus LFA.
The Indirect Replacement Of A Legend With A Difference
The LFA is a legend, and while it flaunts a Yamaha-tuned V10 and a very hands-on feel, the new Lexus LFR is unlikely to get either a V10 or the relatively basic steering configuration that made the LFA so good. Instead, we think it will follow the rules of supercar design, with a low-slung body, muscular haunches, active aero features, maybe some GT3-inspired goodies, a raked windshield, and a tiny rear deck blended with a pinpoint feel, but more from electronic nannies than from just accurate design and build.
There is little doubt in our minds that the new LFR will have the spirit of the iconic LFA woven in, but to make it a modern supercar (only the second one Lexus has ever made, after the LFA), it is going to have to stand out in the modern market as something more than just a driver’s supercar.
We know that Lexus will design it with balanced handling, likely near-perfect weight distribution, an eye-catching design, and track-worthy features, but the market is a different place compared to 2012, and there is a certain expectation of modern supercars, i.e., they need to be more than just fun to drive. This is why the LFR will be the LFA’s successor; it is going to be Lexus’ second supercar line, but it is going to be very far apart from the LFA in how it offers hands-on driving.
What We Can Expect Under The New Lexus Supercar’s Hood
The V10 is seldom seen in the modern market; the evolution of the turbocharger has changed things for good, and we see fewer and fewer V engines today, so even with a potential new Lexus halo car on the horizon, Lexus isn’t going to dust off and modernize the 1LR-GUE V10 utilized in the LFA. However, there are strong rumors that the new Lexus LFR will boast a twin-turbocharged hybrid V8.
Let’s face it, Lexus is just retiring the LC 500 and has already retired the LC 500h, so they do have a heck of a V8 to use if they want to: the 2UR-GSE V8. Under the hood of the Lexus LC 500, the 2UR-GSE V8 spits out 471 horsepower, redlines at over 7,000 rpm, and can get the LC to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Plus, Lexus is one of the leading brands when it comes to hybrid tech, namely the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, so added power shouldn’t be a problem for them. Whatever system they use will likely be handy in this context.
Lexus has kept tight-lipped about what powertrain is going to be equipped in the new LFR, but we can presume that the rumors about the LFR boasting a twin-turbo hybrid V8 are based in fact, especially after hearing the unmistakable racket it made at Goodwood. But, while the 2UR-GSE V8 would be a very nice addition, it is far more likely to be a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo hybrid V8 that Toyota has been developing that will take center stage.
Again, details and specs have been kept under wraps by Toyota, but there has been a hint that a new hybrid V8 is being developed, based on the 2.0-liter twin-turbo-four being used for the next evolution of the GR Yaris. The GR Yaris’ mill is expected to hit 400 ponies, which would make the tiny Yaris a very fun hatch, so if the new V8 is ‘doubled’ in cylinders and displacement, does that mean the Lexus LFR twin-turbo hybrid V8 will be good for 800 horsepower? We know that doubling aspects of an engine isn’t linear, but with Lexus and Toyota’s hybrid expertise, we think this kind of power could be possible.
Lexus LFR Allegedly Coming In ‘Docile’ And ‘Hardcore’ Versions
We could see the production version before the end of the year.
We Got A Glimpse Of Something Important At Goodwood FOS
Alongside the presumption that the Lexus LFR will boast a twin-turbo hybrid V8, there is a glaring thing you might notice. The shots of the new Lexus supercar at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed show it looking suspiciously like the Toyota GR GT3, with the same-shaped body, a sharp front end, razor-sharp LEDs, a big wing, deep grooves down the side, and massive vents up front. Yes, we know that Lexus and Toyota are siblings, but we think that the similarities on the face of things are overwhelming; on the outside, it looks as if they will just get different badges.
Because the new Lexus supercar is unlikely to come equipped with the same V8 as the LC 500 or the LC 500h, it is very likely to ride on a bespoke, low-volume platform instead of the TNGA platform. It is likely to boast the same as the GR GT3 and will be ready for the new Toyota V8 in development. This means the two models’ shared platform will be designed for hard strain, it will be rigid, and will offer a lightweight feel, ideal for a modern supercar.
We may also see some aspects of other Toyota and Lexus sports cars in the shape of balance over aggression (to a degree, a tuned twin-turbo V8 is not generally a calm experience), GAZOO Racing suspension and tuning (for real-world use as well as track fun), and either a hydraulic steering rack, though very unlikely, or a rack-mounted EPS (like Lexus has nailed in the past) to strike a balance between racy and easy to manage.
The Kind Of New Supercar We Can Expect From Lexus
Lexus is well-renowned for rolling out cars that last miles, are versatile, and can be used on the daily. While we are not suggesting that the new Lexus LFR is going to be useful for doing your groceries, there is a slight possibility that it will bring a bit of everyday function to the supercar table.
There has already been talk that there will be two kinds of new LFR: a ‘docile’ version and a ‘hardcore’ version. We reported on this last year, and while there has been scant detail about what to expect since, it is rumored that a track version will be released, and a more ‘road-friendly’ version will be released.
We can presume the track-ready version will have tauter springs, slightly more horsepower, more instant torque, and fewer comfort features, while the road-living version may have a little more give in the springs, more usable power under the hood for ‘everyday’ drivers, and even a little more in the way of creature comforts.
Also, because of the strong hybrid powertrain rumors, who knows? Maybe the new Lexus supercar won’t be as thirsty at the pump as some of its rivals. They could release a high-horsepower supercar that sips at fuel, relatively. However, the hybrid system is more likely to be utilized to boost engine power. If Lexus does release a couple of versions of the LFR, it would make sense, and they could trump the likes of Ford, which releases potent to exceptionally supercar-killing versions of the Mustang, and Chevy, which rolls out different levels of power-obsessed versions of the Corvette.
Lexus Gets Closer to Its LFA Replacement
A new social media post shows Lexus testing its new race car, that could also spawn sports cars for the masses.
Why The Lexus LFR Could Change The Game Forever
Today, there is no shortage of hybrid supercars. We have the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the new Ferrari F80, the Lamborghini Revuelto, and the Lamborghini Temerario; all of which are exceptionally powerful, make use of hybrid tech, and are very exclusive. However, they are either all part of an ongoing line (like the Corvette) or are one of many supercars rolled out by their respective brands. The Lexus LFR would undoubtedly stand out for Lexus as their top-end model, not just another model in their lineup.
There is no doubt that all of the above American and European supercars are exceptional, but they are all just that: American and European. If the new Lexus LFR (and the Toyota GR GT3) deliver when they are released, they would firmly put Japanese supercars back in the limelight, just like the Lexus LFA all that time ago. Also, if it delivers in the way we know that Lexus generally does (with usable power and guts), it could also potentially bring the hybrid sports car into a more mainstream market.
Lexus may be a luxury brand, but for more than one reason, the badge still doesn’t stand up as tall as the likes of European brands. If the LFR succeeds, it could not only be a worthy successor to the LFA, but it could also raise Lexus higher toward other luxury brands, while potentially urging other brands with impressive hybrid tech to introduce a sports car of their own.
Or, considering that it has been so long since Lexus released a supercar, maybe it will show some brands that more is not always the way to go; quality over the number of models released serves better. This is why the new Lexus supercar is exciting; it is already offering up a lot of possibilities for how it will affect the sports car market.
This Could Be The New Halo Supercar Lexus Has Been Looking For
Aside from potentially bringing Lexus back in from the supercar cold, the main thing that a successful hybrid Lexus LFR could do is provide Lexus with a long-awaited halo car. We know what Lexus can do from the plethora of coupes, sedans, and SUVs they roll out in terms of everyday usability, obtainable luxury, long-term value, and reliability.
However, the models we love from Lexus (aside from the LFA) are all luxury/mainstream models. It has been just shy of 14 years since the Lexus LFA ceased production, and since then, many of us have been waiting for Lexus to produce something to complement the LFA.
As we have said, and as Lexus fans will know, the LFA was an absolute gem of a supercar from Lexus. When it was originally released, its high price point may have scared some off, but today, it is a real collector’s item. According to Classic.com, the average auction price of a Lexus LFA is $815,463, or some $440,000 more than its original price.
No other Lexus is worth that much money or as highly revered, but if the new Lexus LFR does bring proper hands-on engagement, a hybrid powertrain that can compete with the likes of AMG, and proves itself as a real successor to the LFA, it will show that Lexus is more than capable of leading the way in tech and performance design in a market outside everyday luxury.
Sources: Lexus, Classic.com, Carbuzz