Ever since Toyota unveiled the largest array of concept cars in December 2021, we knew the brand’s electrified future will still have room for performance models. The most eye-catching of the 15 concepts were the Sports EV Concept and the Electrified Sport Concept. While the first one previews a possible EV successor, inspired by the MR-2, the Electrified Sport Concept is confirmed to foreshadow a successor to the iconic Lexus LF-A.
Although Lexus’ first supercar was not a sales hit, it certainly raised the bar in terms of engineering, enough to wonder whether its successor will live up to the hype. Recent footage, posted on Twitter, shows the racing, LF-R version of the LF-A successor running at the Fuji Speedway. Moreover, we get to hear its sound, confirming our previous suspicion that the model will not go fully-electric just yet.
Toyota’s Last V-8?
The Lexus LF-A featured many firsts for Toyota and Lexus. It was the company’s first, road-going supercar, produced in significant quantities. Prior to that, there was the Toyota GT-One, of which only two road-going variants were built. But the LF-A’s biggest highlight is, by far, its Yamaha-built V-10 engine, which among other things, possesses a divine soundtrack.
With the continuous trends for electrification and downsizing, the LF-A successor will feature a smaller twin-turbocharged engine. The Japanese outlet, BestCarWeb, has been a reliable source for Japanese vehicles, and they have shed some light on the specifics of the powertrain. Before Lexus’ flagship supercar goes fully-electric, it will arrive with a newly-developed, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8.
At this point in time, it is unknown whether Lexus’ new V-8 will share any of the 2UR-GSE engine’s architecture, but we know it will churn out 710 horsepower, with torque being in the neighborhood of 500 to 600 pound-feet (678 to 813 Nm).
The new model's power and torque figures are a substantial upgrade from the LF-A's 4.8-liter, naturally-aspirated V-10, which develops 553 horsepower (563 for the Nürburgring Edition) and 354 pound-feet (480 Nm). This will also be Toyota’s last V-8 engine before the company’s next-generation, flagship performance model goes fully-electric.
Toyota’s Last V-8 Will Be Part Of A Plug-In Hybrid Setup
While the twin-turbo V-8, alone, will produce 710 horsepower, Lexus’ upcoming flagship supercar also features an electric motor, which results in a total system output of 937 horsepower. This puts the Japanese supercar in the same performance class as the Ferrari SF90 and Lamborghini Revuelto, both of which are also Plug-in hybrid supercars.
Will The Lexus “LF-A 2.0” Introduce A New Transmission?
At the time of writing this, there are very few details regarding what transmission will be paired with the Plug-in hybrid setup of Lexus’ upcoming supercar. The video footage from Fuji Speedway hints at the possibility of an all-new, dual-clutch automatic since the gear-changes sound quicker than any Toyota and Lexus transmission we have seen before.
So far, the only detail we have is that it is a 10-speed automatic. In December 2022, we shared info about Toyota’s patents for a “manual transmission” for EVs. Given that this upcoming supercar is a BEV model, we could see this transmission as an option.
The Production Car Will Score A Familiar Design
Lexus President, Koji Sato, confirmed that the Electrified Sport Concept, which was one of the 15 concepts, revealed by Toyota, is true, previewing the LF-A’s successor. The video Tweet from before also confirms this, as we see a striking resemblance to the concept, despite the car being veiled in camouflage. The car is based on Toyota’s TNGA GA-L modular platform and features a carbon-fiber body over a lightweight, aluminum chassis.
The Lexus LF-A has a curb weight of 3,263 pounds (1,480 kg), due to Lexus’ decision to switch from aluminum to carbon-fiber body, mid-development. According to BestCarWeb, this new P-HEV supercar from Lexus will have a curb weight of 3,417 pounds (1,550 kg), which is a true engineering feat, considering the twin-turbo V-8, electric motor, and battery pack on board. Moreover, the "LF-A 2.0" is going to grow in dimensions across all areas except its height
Lexus’s Hybrid Supercar Will Be Properly Quick
Lexus President, Koji Sato also confirmed that when it arrives, the production version of the Lexus Electrified Sport Concept will be able to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in the low-two-second range. As for the top speed of the car, 200 mph (322 km/h) should be fairly easy to achieve since Tesla Model S Plaid, which is fully electric manages that and even more when “unlocked”.
Top speed isn’t what EVs are known for due to the battery getting depleted rapidly at very high speeds, so a sleek, PHEV supercar with a twin-turbo V-8 should be capable of breaking the 200-mph barrier. Moreover, the manufacturer is targeting a range of 435 miles (700 km) on a fuel tank and charge.
A Bargain Supercar
The Japanese publication, BestCarWeb, also revealed the price range for Lexus’ P-HEV supercar. In Japan, prices will be between ¥40 and ¥50 million, which at current 2023 exchange rates comes up to $302,000 and $378,000, respectively. While only a small percentage of individuals are capable of churning out such amounts of cash.
The Japanese supercar is a bargain compared to the similarly powerful Ferrari SF90 ($516,295) and Lamborghini Revuelto (approx. $1.0 million). The real question is will the hybrid supercar capture the essence of the iconic Lexus LF-A. Toyota will provide the answer to that question in 2025, at the earliest.