Lexus to Launch Super Sports Car with V8 Engine

TapTechNews June 17th, it is reported by AutoCar that luxury car brand Lexus plans to launch a brand-new super sports car equipped with a V8 engine to compete with models such as Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes-AMG GT, and it is also regarded as the spiritual successor of the legendary model LFA.

TapTechNews noted that Toyota, the parent company of Lexus, launched the hardcore GT3 GR concept car in 2022, and the prototype of this car has recently been tested on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Toyota's Gazoo Racing motorsports department plans to let this racing car participate in top events in 2026, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

According to the rules of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), any GT3 racing car must share the basic body design with the mass-produced road version model. Therefore, it is expected that Toyota will launch the mass-produced GT3 GR in the next two years.

Toyota previously stated that they will continue to promote racing cars instead of just converting mass-produced cars into racing cars.

The road version of the GT3 GR may adopt the Lexus brand rather than the Toyota brand, which is more in line with Lexus' tradition of launching large-displacement sports cars all along, such as models like LFA, LC500, and RCF.

The roar of the prototype clearly indicates that it is equipped with a high-performance V8 engine. It is reported that it will also be equipped with a twin-turbocharger, and the mass-produced version model (which may be named LFR) is expected to use the same engine but with a hybrid system added.

The specific parameters of the racing version have not been公布, but the GT3 event rules are relatively flexible, and the horsepower of the participating vehicles is roughly between 500 and 600 horsepower, and the weight does not exceed 1300 kilograms (about 2866 pounds).

TapTechNews noted that Lexus has already discontinued the RC and LC coupés in Europe and has not announced any replacement models.