Will the Next Lexus Sports Car Share a Platform With the Mark VI Supra?
Set to reportedly replace the LC and RC, a new Lexus sports car could share a platform and powertrains with the Mark VI Supra.
The current-generation Toyota GR Supra is on its way out, with production set to end next year. The same is also true of the Lexus RC/RC F, as it will be discontinued following the conclusion of the existing model year, while rumors are swirling that the LC may follow it to the big automotive graveyard in the sky after 2026 as well. This would leave Lexus without a sporty coupe – at least, until the potent LFR comes along – but a new rumor has surfaced indicating that a suitable Lexus sports car replacement may be in the works.
We’ve already heard rumors that a smaller, more nimble Lexus sports car may wind up replacing both the RC and LC, and now, Japan’s Best Car Web is reporting that such a machine will be underpinned by the same platform designed for the all-new Mark VI Supra as well. Toyota has been working on a replacement for the current-generation Supra for some time, which utilizes a host of bits from BMW, but its successor seems destined to break those ties.
Reportedly, this future Lexus sports car is known as the LC+RC Integrated Sports, though it’s highly doubtful that will be its actual name when the new model debuts. However, it does provide an obvious clue as to the model’s intentions of replacing both the LC and RC with one sporty coupe, one that could share quite a bit in common with the next Supra. While the Supra is expected to be a true two-seater, the new Lexus sports car will reportedly launch as a 2+2 model, but otherwise, the pair will feature many of the same mechanicals.
As of right now, the Mark VI Supra is expected to get a turbocharged 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain driving the rear wheels via some sort of automatic transmission, though Toyota is also reportedly exploring the idea of borrowing Mazda’s inline-six for this application, too. Both the new Supra and Lexus sports car are slated to share a platform as well, but otherwise, details are a bit scant at the moment.
It would certainly make sense for Toyota to use many of these same components in two different offerings from two brands, as it seems destined to otherwise differentiate them in various ways. The new Supra will likely be more focused on providing a sporty experience on the road, while the Lexus version would be more comfortable and packed with additional tech and luxury features. It’s an interesting proposition on paper, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see how – and if – it all pans out.
Photos: Lexus, Toyota
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
