The Lexus LFA is now an EV
- The Lexus LFA is still a concept, but with roots in the production-focused Toyota GR GT3, it looks ready for prime time.
- We know it’s electric, but that’s all Toyota has said about the powertrain.
- The low-slung supercar would be a great opportunity for Toyota to showcase its solid-state battery technology, which is expected to arrive before 2030.
The Lexus LFA may be coming back.
A short-lived V10 supercar, the LFA could get a new lease of life as an all-electric sports car. It’s not yet confirmed for production, but with Toyota finally getting serious about EVs, the LFA looks like a prime opportunity for a true halo EV.
It starts with the foundation of Toyota’s upcoming GR GT, a long-rumored front-engined sports car developed by Toyota’s racing department. There’s been a lot of speculation about a Lexus companion model, fueled in part by the company’s own “Lexus Sports Concept,” which the company showed off at last fall’s Monterey and Japan Mobility Show. And don’t be surprised by the LFA similarities: It’s the same concept, renamed.
This LFA was a high-revving, V-10-powered supercar with a high-carbon body and a visceral soundtrack, produced between 2010 and 2012. Despite its expensive development and positive reputation in the enthusiast community, the LFA was not considered a halo success.
Lexus tried to counter its development budget with a stratospheric asking price, charging more than $400,000 in 2010, no less. It didn’t help that the LFA was designed to herald the arrival of sharper-handling Lexus models – but these never arrived in large numbers.
However, there is reason for optimism. Over a decade and a half, Lexus launched the GS F as a high-performance behemoth, and the LC 500 won over enthusiasts and passers-by with its gorgeous looks. Sales were also slow, but the LC never had the power to address the supercar market; It was a grand tourer and a damn good one.
Moreover, the LFA’s original reputation has been rehabilitated over time. Today, it’s a sought-after collector’s item as enthusiasts have come to respect its screaming V-10 engine, unique sound and fascinating story.
An electric LFA would be something else. Based on its low, wide stance and GT3 roots, the LFA looks tougher than any electric Toyota or Lexus before it. But to deliver an ultra-sharp supercar experience, you need a lightweight platform.
One way Lexus could achieve this: Solid-state batteries. Toyota has made no secret of its solid-state ambitions, with plans to launch a commercial SSB this decade. A lightweight electric supercar would be the perfect demonstration platform for such groundbreaking technology and would give the LFA a chance to usurp the performance of the gas-powered GR GT3.
But these are still speculations. Lexus isn’t saying when the LFA will go into production, assuming it’s built at all. But flush with cash and behind in the EV race, Toyota always has a reason to swing the halo project. The electric Lexus LFA is the company’s chance to do just that.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com.