Latest news with #LexusLFR
Man of Many
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Man of Many
GT-Based Lexus LFR Rumoured to Take On Porsche GT3 RS With 900HP Twin-Turbo V8
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 6 Aug 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Set to be revealed in 2026, the Toyota GT concept previews the production Lexus LFR LFR will most likely have a twin-turbo V8 with hybrid assistance Australia launch is likely by next year, with more allocation than the previous LFA Lexus is readying its successor to the iconic LFA, rumoured to be called LFR. Based on the Toyota GT GT3 Concept revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2022, it's shaping up as a more mainstream model, rather than a millionaire collector's toy. However, a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain and a tasty soundtrack should be enough for Porsche GT3 RS customers to consider the Japanese supercar over a German scalpel. That means that, unlike the LFA, which was designed as a flag bearer for the Lexus brand in the supercar space, the new LFR will not have a high-revving V10 with Yamaha fingerprints. Still, despite being down on cylinders, the V8 is expected to produce more power, up to 670kW, with a bellowing V8 soundtrack, as seen recently in its outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The V10-engined LFA has gained cult status over the years for its spine-tingling soundtrack and stunning attention to detail. With the LFR, Lexus wants to compete with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the high-end luxury sports car segment. 2026 Lexus LFR | Image' Supplied / Goodwood FOS 2025 We first tasted the LFR at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, driven by Haas F1 racers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. The camouflaged duo of the 'Toyota Racing' concepts, as it is officially called right now, included a bewinged GT3 racer version, which caused quite a stir at the event. 'I got a chance to drive the race car yesterday, and Ollie was driving the road car,' said Ocon in an interview with 'We swapped today, so got a bit of the feel, a bit more comfort this morning than yesterday.' 'But honestly, it's incredibly fast, incredibly capable, and a big thank you to Toyota for trusting us to drive these beasts today.' While we still don't know exactly what's under the bonnet, Ollie Bearman added that the GT, which is still rumoured to use the twin-turbo V8 engine supported by an electric motor, is faster than the road-going model, 'but both are amazing cars in their own right.' 'The GT car is really more suited to a track like this,' said Bearman. 'You know, in F1, we're not really pushing. We have a few too many horsepower and missing a bit of rubber – let's say at the rear tyres – to push. But with the GT car, it really – that track comes alive, and I really, really enjoyed it.' 'It was the first time I actually pushed around Goodwood, and I really, really had fun.' 2026 Lexus LFR | Image' Supplied / Goodwood FOS 2025 The cars the F1 drivers displayed at Goodwood have sharp lines and a shark-nose-like front end, resembling the LFA. We love the aggressive styling, which undoubtedly adds a different flavour to a segment dominated by curvy German sports cars. Even the interior will have its fair share of drama, with red leather scattered everywhere amongst carbon fibre bucket seats. The main centre console will bisect the cabin and feature various physical controls, similar to the AMG GT. It's unclear when the production-spec LFR will eventually arrive. Expect it to sell in much higher numbers than the LFA, of which only eight cars ever came here. Plus, unlike the LFA, the gestation period would be much shorter this time, and we can expect the LFR to make its global debut by next year.
Top Gear
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Surprise! This is Lexus's incoming new V8 supercar: listen to it here
Surprise! This is Lexus's incoming new V8 supercar: listen to it here Lexus rolls out a couple of camo'd specials for Goodwood. Good noise, too Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a camouflaged V8 supercar and its racing variant on a quiet demonstration run? Actually it's exactly that. Lexus – we think – rolled out a couple of surprises at last weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, and they are good, V8-based surprises. At least, we're fairly sure they've from Lexus. And V8s. No mistaking that noise. One of these cars looks like an evolution of the GT3 GR concept we first saw way back in 2022 – a racing car with a mighty big wing and big ambitions. Advertisement - Page continues below The other car? That's probably its road-going stablemate – which some are calling 'LFR' – and it certainly sounds like this so-called 'LFR' will run a mighty V8. Check out Goodwood's video below. Obviously, the race car is probably making the bigger noise here, and we're not sure whether the road-going version of it will run some form of hybrid assistance. It's a Lexus – we think – after all. But it'll be – we think – fairly mighty, because spy shots have seen this prototype doing the rounds at Fuji, Spa, and the Nürburgring. Reckon on something that'll go into battle against stuff like the Merc-AMG GT and Aston Martin Vantage. We'll update you as soon as we hear more. For now, why not hear it yourself below… Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
The Advertiser
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
V8-powered Toyota GT Concepts preview new sports cars for track and road
Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain "brand agnostic" about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as "Toyota's all-new sports cars". The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here. MORE: Everything Lexus MORE: Everything Toyota Content originally sourced from: Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain "brand agnostic" about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as "Toyota's all-new sports cars". The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here. MORE: Everything Lexus MORE: Everything Toyota Content originally sourced from: Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain "brand agnostic" about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as "Toyota's all-new sports cars". The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here. MORE: Everything Lexus MORE: Everything Toyota Content originally sourced from: Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain "brand agnostic" about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as "Toyota's all-new sports cars". The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here. MORE: Everything Lexus MORE: Everything Toyota Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
V8-powered Toyota GT Concepts preview new sports cars for track and road
Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain 'brand agnostic' about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as 'Toyota's all-new sports cars'. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. Supplied Credit: CarExpert We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here. MORE: Everything Lexus MORE: Everything Toyota
7NEWS
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
V8-powered Toyota GT Concepts preview new sports cars for track and road
Toyota has revealed both road and race versions of its new flagship performance coupe wrapped in heavy camouflage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on the weekend. No official images or information has been released by the Japanese automaker, which used Goodwood to show off a pair of disguised V8-powered sports cars, including a hardcore race car that could wear Toyota badges and a road-going version that may be badged as the Lexus LFR. One looks like a worthy showroom successor to the Ferrari-rivaling, limited-edition Lexus LFA hypercar, the other a track-ready GT3 version of the next Toyota GR Supra that's already spied in testing multiple times in Europe. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. While both were driven up the famous British hill climb in a series of demonstration runs, Toyota was coy on the details – including the auto brand/s, model name/s and engine/s of the low-slung, wide-bodied sports cars. At this stage Toyota and its luxury brand say they remain 'brand agnostic' about the new flagship super coupe, but at its Goodwood exhibit – attended by CarExpert – Toyota labelled the cars as 'Toyota GT Concept' and 'Toyota GT Racing Concept'. A YouTube clip posted by Toyota Global also referred to the two cars as 'Toyota's all-new sports cars'. The deliberate vagueness points to the car running under two different names: the road-going model as the Lexus LFR (the long-awaited successor to the legendary V10-engined Lexus LFA hypercar), and the race car as the track-only GT3 version of the next-generation Toyota Supra. At the 2022 Tokyo motor show, Toyota revealed the Gazoo Racing GT3 Concept, a dedicated racer designed to be sold to teams for the sports car-based GT3 motorsport category – which in Australia includes the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, won earlier this year by BMW. The Goodwood GT Racing Concept – clearly not street-legal with its extreme aero package and extras including a large bonnet intake, sliding side windows, bigger race wheels and brakes, Michelin slick tyres and centrally-mounted rear spoiler, builds on the 2022 concept. The racer has been spied testing on iconic European race circuits including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The timing suggests it will replace the race version of the Lexus RC F, which is currently eligible for the GT3 category until the end of next year, indicating a 2026 reveal and a 2027 race debut for the Goodwood racing concept. Production of the road-going Lexus RC F is due to end in late 2025, and the mid-size performance coupe has not been available in Australia since 2021. We expect similar timing for the arrival of the more sanitised – yet far from pedestrian – GT Concept as a street-legal production car in showrooms. It has also been spied track testing and on public roads in California. If the concept is an accurate rendition of the production version, the road-going model's long, wide and low-slung two-door body will still feature aggressive front and rear bumpers comprising massive front air intakes, but more showroom-friendly bonnet vents and a much smaller rear lip spoiler. As you can see from the interior image of the GT Concept posted by the Goodwood FoS, which we've lightened to show more details, its cabin features two deeply sculpted bucket seats flanking a large central console bridge, at the front of which is a tablet-style multimedia screen, and a bright crimson red colourway. The engine in both cars at Goodwood – which clearly made all the guttural sounds of a V8 – has also not been disclosed, but it could be a further development of the 5.0-litre V8 (codenamed 2UR-GSE) that powered the road-going RC F. It's also found under the bonnet of the Lexus LC500 grand touring coupe and convertible, production of which is also expected to end in 2026. The GT3 ruleset for 2027 has not yet been locked in and may include mandatory hybridisation as part of a push for more 'road-car relevance'. The road-going Lexus LFR could emply a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain regardless of the race rules. The V8 will also be used by Toyota Australia in local Supercars competition, with Ryan Walkinshaw confirming his team – Walkinshaw Andretti United – is planning its first Toyota GR Supra track test in late August ahead of its 2026 switch from its current Ford Mustang. Lexus has trademarked the LFR name in Europe, and the Japanese luxury brand would almost certainly make its new flagship sports car available in Australia following its global launch by 2027. The previous Lexus LFA was priced at $700,000 before on-road costs when it was sold in Australia between 2011 and 2012, with only 10 of 500 examples available globally landing here.
