Lexus LFA supercar to return in 2025 with V8 hybrid power – report
One of Japan’s modern supercar icons could make a return in 2025, according to one Japanese magazine – but bid farewell to the screaming Yamaha V10 engine.
The legendary Lexus LFA supercar could make a comeback in 2025, one Japanese magazine claims, with plug-in hybrid power and close to 1000 horsepower.
Japanese magazine Best Car reports an all-new LFA is “under development” for launch in 2025 – but instead of the Yamaha-designed, naturally-aspirated V10 of its predecessor, the new model will switch to plug-in hybrid power.
Pairing the Lexus brand’s rumoured new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 – formerly slated for the on-again, off-again LC F super-coupe project – with one electric motor, the new LFA could develop as much as 699kW, all sent to the rear wheels.
That’s a significant increase over the 412kW (and 480Nm) claimed by the original LFA’s 4.8-litre naturally-aspirated V10, making the new supercar the most powerful vehicle ever built by the Toyota group (excluding the upcoming GR Super Sport hybrid hypercar).
The Japanese magazine doesn’t quote any performance figures, though with the lack of a driven front axle (given it’ll be rear-wheel drive), a 0-100km/h figure in the high two-second bracket is likely.
Best Car claims the new LFA will be “lightweight” thanks to a carbon-fibre body – though exactly how heavy the new halo car will be isn’t clear, given its predecessor tipped the scales in at 1580kg (kerb), despite a carbon-fibre body of its own (a last-minute switch from heavier-still aluminium).
No other details of the next-generation Lexus LFA were given by the Japanese outlet, though as the luxury marque’s flagship Lexus model – and the poster child of its electrification rollout – expect technical advances in powertrain, chassis and suspension technology.
News of a new LFA will come at a surprise for Lexus fans and performance enthusiasts, given the original model of 2011-13 wasn’t known to be a sales success – despite production being limited to just 500 vehicles – with examples being sold as new in the US as recently as 2020.
Just 10 were sold in Australia – a factor of supply, rather than demand – for a cool $700,000 before on-road costs each.
Lexus executives have previously reiterated there are no plans for a second-generation LFA, though if the Japanese magazine’s sources prove accurate, it appears these plans have changed.
The new Lexus LFA will launch in 2025, Best Car reports – the same year Lexus plans to offer a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric version of every model it sells.
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