Should Lexus Bring Back the LFA as an EV? (Fridays are for F Presented by Continental ExtremeContact DWS^{06 Plus})

The original LFA remains beloved (and expensive), but what if it returned as a silent, dual-motor all-electric supercar?

Before we dive in, welcome to our new series, Fridays are for F (#FridaysAreForF). Our goal is to smash our way into each weekend celebrating all things F and F Sport. Be it breaking news, cool cars for sale, insane videos, or amazing builds. Lexus may be renowned for comfort and reliability, but I’d also argue the true heart of modern Lexus vehicles is the F moniker inspired by the legendary Fuji Speedway.

(I’ll now step down from my soapbox and onto the post.)

Should Lexus Bring Back the LFA as an Electric Vehicle?

With Ford engineers and marketing execs tapping into iconic nameplates for all-electric vehicles like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, we got to thinking about what would happen if Lexus took a similar strategy. And that means one thing, say it with me…

All. Electric. L-F-A.

Hand-built. Dual motor. Insane power and torque. All-wheel drive. Track focused. Sumptuous materials. Coupe and convertible iterations. Dare to dream with me…

Why the LFA Should Return as an EV

The original LFA remains an almost-mythological collector’s car with a screaming V10 under the hood. Produced for only two years. But so long in development that it debuted lacking the spec sheet of similarly-priced competitors. Still, if you’ve ever heard its 553-pony V10, it’s one of the most succulent and intoxicating exhaust notes ever.

So, yeah, maybe the LFA can’t truly exist without an internal combustion engine. And it was a bit of a financial snafu. But the LFA also paved the way for a decade’s worth of Lexus design and performance. A series of spectacular F and F Sport models. The glorious and gorgeous LC 500 coupe and convertible. Lexus gauge clusters. You name it, much of what we enjoy today descends from that little experiment.

The LFA wasn’t just a car. It was the lodestar and soul of Lexus performance.

In that spirit, the LFA needs to return no only as a dual-motor supercar to tear up the tracks around the world. But to help Lexus define its next generation of all-electric F and F Sport vehicles. (Although let’s keep the V8s coming for now.)

So imagine it with me, friends. A dual-motor configuration with 400-horsepower at both axles, melting tires with 900 lb.-ft. of torque. Next-generation grille and lighting designs. The finest, softest touch surfaces with simple, clean, and elegant driver interfaces. And, wouldn’t you know, an honest-to-god touchscreen radio. (RIP joystick & touchpad.)

Why the LFA Probably Won’t Return as EV

Despite my fantasies, I’m not sure Lexus would ever do such a thing. First, the current Lexus flagship is the LC 500, which of course is also hand-built and takes many of its cues from the LFA. It too isn’t a huge seller, so it may also disappear. But I also suspect we’ll see it grow into a full F model and then maybe an electric revision.

Second, Lexus already debuted the LF-Z Electrified Concept to serve as a design statement for the company’s electric evolution. And, shock of all shocks, it’s a crossover. (<– Sarcasm.) Because everyone buys them and Lexus’ most successful models are SUVs. And because Lexus’ first electrified vehicle was the RX 400h. So it seems Lexus already knows where it’s heading and doesn’t necessarily need to produce a low-volume supercar to make that statement.

Still, a fan can hope, can’t he?

What do YOU think? Would you bring back the LFA and an EV? Would you bring back another Lexus model for that purpose? What would you like to see in a Lexus performance EV?

Let us know right HERE in the forums!

Photos: Lexus

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EDITOR’S NOTE: If you enjoyed contemplating and debating what would happen if Lexus reimagined a next-generation LFA as an EV, you might want to check out this post: 10 Discontinued Vehicles We NEED to See Revived as EVs! over on our sister site, ElectricVehicleForums. That’s where we snagged the core concept for this piece. And, over there, you’ll find nine other infamous models we think could/should return as electric vehicles. (The LFA was number 2, and you may lose your mind over number 1.) Cheers!

Michael S. Palmer

Michael S. Palmer began his career assisting and developing content for Academy Award-winning and studio-based film and television producers. He has been a professional writer since 2008, when he joined the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw). As a journalist and Content Editor/Manager, he has covered numerous emerging imaging, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, and automotive technologies. He currently spends his days creating original content at the Internet Brands Automotive Group for some of the world's largest online automotive communities, including Ford Truck Enthusiasts, CorvetteForum, ClubLexus, AudiWorld, and LS1Tech. He still owns his first car, a 1987 Mercury Cougar; adores driving his Boss 302 Mustang; and recently teamed with Chevrolet Performance, Holley, Magnaflow, Eaton, Wilwood, Michelin, Chemical Guys, Summit Racing to build his first project car. Installing an LS3 E-ROD Connect & Cruise system into a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon made his eight-passenger wagon faster than a C5 Corvette to 60mph and 50 state emissions legal. His wife and daughter are very patient.