Lexus Nears Launch of Long-Awaited LFA Successor

This article explains in simple terms the development of new sports cars and racing cars by Lexus and Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR). It focuses on Lexus’s old sports cars, such as the LFA and RC F, and now the creation of new models, especially those that are making the journey from racing tracks to the streets.

Lexus’ new racing car debuts – but why?

A few years ago, it was reported that Lexus was now building a car that could be used in GT racing as well as on the road to replace its old cars – especially the LFA and RC F. In fact, there was an attempt to convert the RC F into a GT3 race car, but the RC F was not designed for racing from the beginning. This meant that it was being “forced fit” for racing.

Then Toyota’s racing team, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), introduced the Lexus GR GT3 Concept in 2022. The company had then clearly stated that their goal was to bring technology from racing to the streets, and not to force a street car to the race track.

Now, the result of this was seen when a camouflaged test car (mule) was seen running fast on the famous Laguna Seca track in America. This is probably a glimpse of the same GT3 project that Lexus and TGR have been working on for a long time.

This track car is not made for the street – but why is it important?

The Motor1 website reported about the footage of this car on Instagram that this car was running with a twin-turbo V8 engine just like the RC-F GT3. This makes two things clear:

Work is being done on a new powertrain: It is possible that Lexus/TGR are developing a new engine, which is inspired by the RC-F, but is completely new.

Soul matters more than body: The real purpose of this project is to develop a great chassis. That means making the base structure of the car so strong and balanced that not only better race cars, but also better road cars can be made from it.

This is why cars like the GR Corolla, which have come out of racing, have excellent ride and control. Toyota has made the driving quality of its cars more agile and precise than before in the last few years.

Lexus and racing – difficulties and expectations

Lexus still needs to prove itself in racing. Racing is always a part of branding. Just like F1 racing has become the identity of Ferrari or Mercedes’ brands, Lexus will also have to give a strong reason why it is in racing.

In the US, GR series cars – like the GR86 – are selling well, but the sales of the GR Supra are very low (only 421 units till March 2025). At the same time, the sales of the GR Corolla are not reported separately because the Corolla is a very high-selling car.

Lexus needs a sports sedan that can compete with the likes of Mercedes, BMW and now Genesis. And to compete with brands like Porsche in the luxury segment, Lexus needs cars with a “sexy and racing touch” – something that is currently missing from its lineup.

Will Lexus build a new sports car in the future?

The test car seen at the Laguna Seca track is probably just a racing experiment. There may be no road version of it, just like Ford’s NASCAR cars never make it to the road. But Toyota has clearly stated that the purpose of TGR is to learn from racing and make road cars better.

So it is possible that this chassis and technology will be used in many Lexus and Toyota cars in the future. It is possible that Toyota will launch a new car in place of Supra – perhaps by converting a model like Crown into a sports version. And for Lexus, this new chassis can become the basis for a new sports sedan or coupe car.

Conclusion

Today Lexus has become a stable, reliable but a little boring brand – especially for the youth. While other companies launch new cars with DJs and light shows, Lexus is still sitting in the country club.

If Lexus wants to rejuvenate its brand, it desperately needs racing activities and sexy sports cars. And that is exactly what the GR GT3 project can do – bridging the gap between road and track.

In the future, we can expect Lexus to create a car that can offer the thrill of racing, the comfort of luxury and the real fun of driving on the road – all three things at the same time.

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