Lexus readies 600hp V8 sportscar
June 24, 2024
Lexus is set to launch a new V8-engined sportscar which will serve as a spiritual successor to the LFA. The parent company Toyota’s hardcore GT3 GR concept car was revealed in 2022, and a prototype has been spotted testing at Spa-Francorchamps.
The prototype’s soundtrack is that of a highly strung V8, which according to reports is twin-turbocharged. The road car, which will possibly be called LFR, is expected to share the same powerplant, but with the addition of hybrid assistance.
While no specifications of the racer have been released yet, GT3 regulations are relatively flexible, allowing cars to produce roughly 500-600hp and weigh no more than 1300kg. Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche all currently sell GT3 customer cars.
The Gazoo Racing motorsport division is expected to have it ready for top-flight competition by 2026. FIA homologation rules dictate that any GT3 racer must share its basic body design with a related road car, hence a toned-down version of the sportscar is expected in showrooms within the next two years.
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The Gazoo Racing motorsport division is expected to have it ready for top-flight competition by 2026. FIA homologation rules dictate that any GT3 racer must share its basic body design with a related road car, hence a toned-down version of the sportscar is expected in showrooms within the next two years.
Toyota has previously stated that it would continue ‘commercialising motorsport cars rather than simply adapting production vehicles for use in motorsports’, as exemplified by the rally-honed GR Yaris hot hatchback.
The road-going GT3 GR is likely to bear a Lexus badge rather than a Toyota one, aligning with the premium brand’s legacy of large-engined sports cars such as the LFA, LC 500, and RC F.
Lexus has retired its RC and LC coupés in Europe and has not officially commented on plans for any replacements. However, the outlandish Electrified Sport concept it revealed in 2021, emphasises its continued commitment to performance cars.
That concept – which is due to reach production by the end of the decade – is electric, rather than V8-powered. It has been confirmed to share its carbon fibre monocoque underpinnings with Toyota’s GR GT3 concept and features a similar cab-rearward silhouette. This suggests the possibility that Lexus could offer two closely related sportscars, based on the same chassis but using different powertrains, within the next five years.
Also see:
Lexus LM 350h launched at Rs 2 crore
Lexus LX500d review: Position of power
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