I’ve been dreaming of a successor to the Lexus LFA for over a decade. I’ve always loved the V10-powered Toyota supercar, even when the company struggled to sell all 500 examples when it was new. Now, next year, my wish for a new Lexus supercar is finally coming true.
Though it won’t have a high-revving V10, Lexus’s upcoming two-door track machine, which the internet is calling the LFR, still looks like it’ll be a good time. The company hasn’t released any specs, aside from the drivetrain layout. The car will use a twin-turbo V8, and send power to the wheels via a rear-mounted dual-clutch transaxle. According to a video from the Nürburgring, it could also come in two flavors: Wing, or no wing.
The footage, published by the Statesidesupercars YouTube channel earlier this week, shows the Lexus amongst a handful of prototypes testing at the fabled German race track during the facility’s “Industry Pool” hours, where manufacturers have exclusive access to push their test mules to the limit in a closed environment.
As Motor1 points out, the yellow triangle on the back—a necessary identifier for cars participating in the Industry Pool—indicates the car will be a hybrid, something that’s been rumored, but not confirmed by Lexus. In this case, the company didn’t bring just one of its supercar prototypes; it brought two. One with a huge wing out back, and another with no wing at all:
This can mean a few things. The likeliest scenario is Lexus is testing two versions of the car because it intends to sell two versions. The one with no wing would probably be oriented towards owners who want to use the car for the road, with the occasional visit to the race track. The car with the wing, then, is for the true track rats, who intend to use the car primarily for setting lap times. Think Porsche 911 GT3 versus GT3 RS.
It’s not just the wing that’s different. Check out the splitter hanging off the bottom of the bumper in these screenshots; it’s way bigger on the car with the wing:
If this car is offered in two distinct trims, it’s possible they could also have different power levels, different brakes, different tires, a retuned suspension, and more. Of course, that’s all speculation at this point. It’s equally possible Lexus could offer this aero kit as a package, rather than as a standalone trim. Nothing’s confirmed until it’s confirmed. But it’s fun to speculate, right?
This begs the question: Would you take your Lexus supercar with or without a wing out back? Personally, I’m going no wing. Whether it looks like that concept shown at The Quail last month or not, I have a feeling this thing is going to look amazing. Having the wing would break up its flowing body lines. So long as it still handles well and makes V8 noises, I’m fine with losing a bit of downforce in exchange for a pure design.
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I’ve always preferred the wingless Porsche GT3 Touring variant, but I kinda like the wing on the Lexus. Maybe they can engineer a Carrera GT style retractable wing.. best of both worlds.
Even w/o the wing, it looks a bit big, brutish, and heavy, which is maybe intended? The LFA, which I’m definitely a fan of, also looks a bit blocky (well, at least compared to an original NSX, but that’s probably not a fair comparison) but this new car comes off as looking almost massive, though the narrowed greenhouse helps a bit, putting most of the bulk down below the glass.
Whatever it winds up being, I’m sure I’d prefer it more at half the weight and power, and 2/3rds the size, but since I’m not a potential customer, my opinion is moot.
Since I’d want to street drive it, the one without the splitter. The aero is great if it’s going to see transporters and tracks, or more likely become a static display.
I am curious how much difference this aero f#ckery makes if the cars are otherwise identical.
Both should be good. But Lexus better price it well.
I am keen on seeing how this competes with the Corvette ZR1/ZR1X.
Without.
They just look stupid, boy-racerish and unless you’re tracking it, there is no need.
And nor is there a need for me to buy a high-performance Lexus.
Sure, if you want to buy a race car, go for all the aero enhancements you can get. But for the street… seriously?
They’re building this so they can keep racing, so the wing fits.
If it’s on the LFA’s development schedule, I won’t have to decide for another decade.
I like the car, unfortunatly looks better with no wing. Also, isn’t Toyota developing or exploring a new Celica?
They decided the best approach was another Lexus supercar that costs more than the exotics and almost matches the performance of their previous models.
Then they will pressure their dealers to buy the things personally if there are no retail buyers.
Ha! It seems to me they are looking to replicate the success of the AMG GT. Meaning ~150k for the regular one, $200k for the track spec with the wing. And most importantly a competitively priced race car for VLN, GT3/4 type series. Those AMG GT racecars are everywhere and I could see Toyoda really envying that.
It that’s where they’re going I’ll be thrilled.
It’s a move they have never made before, and they even needed to split development costs on their ‘cheap’ sports cars with BMW and Subaru. If they deliver this at AMG GT prices or less, things could get interesting in this segment.
I’d rather have it without the huge wing, and if you could, shrink it down, strip out all the “luxury” bloat, get rid of that ugly oversized grille and oversized wheels and all of those stupid drag-inducing vents/scoops/creases, and make it lose about 2,000 lbs while you’re at it.
How about a detached wing just use it when you need it?
“That’s an unusual coffee table”
“Thanks – It’s a Lexus”
I see a yellow circle, not a yellow triangle.
Without seeing the final car I can’t say 100% but I’m gonna just say that 95% of the time Japanese performance cars look better with the wing.
I like wings on cars, but real life tought me the front splitter might as well be a skid plate.
Nice for a track day, bad driving around CA cities……
No wings.
I’m more of a leg and thigh guy…
I hear ya. I used to love breast, but here recently not so much. Yes they are bigger, but so full of fillers.
You don’t go for the old heart and lungs?
-Tommy