Lexus LFR Supercar Spied Making Glorious Twin-Turbo V8 Sounds
If this is indeed the long-rumored Lexus LFR, it will certainly live up to the hype in terms of how it sounds.
Essentially ever since the Lexus LFA exploded onto the scene and disappeared just as quickly, we’ve been hearing rumors of a potential successor. These rumors have perpetuated for quite a few years now, with most suggested that this future supercar will be called the Lexus LFR and that it will be powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 – not a high-revving, naturally-aspirated V10 like its predecessor. In fact, most recently, rumors surfaced that this particular powertrain will debut in the Lexus LFR before a plug-in hybrid and all-electric version of the recently-revealed Electrified Sport Concept debut. Now, we have footage of what is believed to be this exact car out testing on the track.
Originally posted to Twitter by someone who spied this potential Lexus LFR out driving around Fuji Speedway in Japan, this footage was then picked up by YouTuber Kirk Kreifels, to which he added bit of context. Developed for GT3 racing, the LFR will already prove to be a solid start for a road-going supercar, and Kriefels also points out that we know that Lexus has been working on developing its twin turbo V8 for many years now, and the glorious sounds coming from this car indicate that this is precisely what lurks under its hood, too.
ホテルのベランダから見た景色🏎️✨🐶🛌#富士スピードウェイホテル pic.twitter.com/5Frk669yeS
— 金子花菜/ぬいぐるみ保育園•Well-being 講師 (@Hanna89713411) March 23, 2023
The sounds emitted by this prototype are without a doubt coming from a V8 of some type, and in this case, it grunts right up there with the best of them, with a deeper tone that certainly means business. It’s a unique sound for certain, and one that’s also accompanied by a very quick-shifting gearbox, which could very well be a dual-clutch unit – a perfect fit for what promises to be one of the quicker road-going Lexus vehicles ever, as well as what is essentially a last hurrah for its V8 powerplants before the dawn of the electrification era.
Prior rumors have suggested that this new powerplant will produce somewhere north of 600 horsepower – putting it right in line with its German competition – which would leave plenty of meat on the bone for a more powerful PHEV and EV version in the future as well. In terms of styling, this concept certainly retains the Electrified Sport Concept’s overall shape, as we can see even in this very-much zoomed-out video. Given how well that concept was received by the public, such a move makes plenty of sense.
Previously rumored to power what was going to be the LC F, it seems as if that particular model may never come to fruition, instead making way for a proper new Lexus supercar. Personally, we’re perfectly fine with that, so long as the LFR – or whatever it winds up being called – sounds like this and performs well enough to take the fight directly to its German rivals.
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
