Toyota Preps Lexus LFA Successor For Official Debut

Toyota has confirmed that its new supercar will soon debut and introduced a ticking clock to get everyone excited. But it’s hard not to be when this promises to be the most extreme performance vehicle the brand has ever offered to the general public. This is also the first time we’ve seen the car teased without camouflage, even if Toyota is still trying to hide the finer details.

Just about everyone seems convinced that the new car will be a successor to the Lexus LFA and Toyota hasn’t done much to tamp down the rumors. If anything, it’s totally leaning into the premise via the marketing materials.

We previously saw the car running at the Goodwood Festival of Speed wearing its corporate camo. But we’ve since been provided with a few glimpses of the coupe without it.

In the related teaser clip, which premiered on Japanese television this week, we can see the LFA drive past the venerable Toyota 2000GT. But it is then passed on the outside by the new car. While the dusky lighting and dark paint of the vehicle make it hard to see, it’s very obviously modeled after the LFA. Even the hood vents seem to have been borrowed directly from the Lexus. But there are some key differences.

For starters, the mystery car looks to be significantly wider than the LFA and has some modern lighting elements. It also clearly has GR GT lettered on its rump, opting to stray from the “Lexus Apex” moniker. But it’s assumed to fill a similar role as the design is very obviously a supercar. The GR GT is presumably too low and wide to be something you would ever take to get groceries — not that someone who could afford it would need to go to the store themselves.

The LFA was capable of launching to 60 mph in well under 4 seconds before devouring the quarter mile about nine seconds later. From there, it would press onwards until hitting its drag-limited top speed of 202 mph.

While there were faster cars being built when the Lexus started production in 2010, they were few in number and likely to cost at least as much as the LFA.

But the Lexus’ high-revving V10 sang a sweeter song, wasn’t abysmal to live with on a regular basis, and allegedly offered a near-telepathic connection between road and driver. The razor-sharp car has achieved mythical status, meaning the GR GT has some particularly big shoes to fill. This isn’t just about the on-paper specs, the car will need to feel truly special if it’s to have any hope of rationalizing what will assuredly be exceptionally high pricing.

Rumor has it that the model will borrow tech from the Toyota GR010 Hybrid that won the Hypercar World Endurance Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023. It’s been suggested that it will also use a similarly hybridized twin-turbo powertrain.

However, it’s expected to be a 4.0-liter V8 instead of the 3.5-liter V6 used by the WEC car. Every other rumor we’ve heard is probably less than reputable, even if we’re expecting it to be all-wheel drive so it can put down the (at least) 700 horsepower that’s expected.

Pricing is likewise a mystery but most other outlets estimate a starting MSRP in excess of $500,000. That’s more than one might spend on a Ferrari 812GTS, though a relative bargain vs the F80.

We’ll find out more about the car later this week, including whether it’ll be wearing a Toyota or Lexus emblem on the hood. The GR GT debuts on December 5th and will later be displayed at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon in January. For those that don’t want to buy a ticket to Japan, we’ve included a link to the reveal.

[Images: Toyota]

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