Could this be a prelude to a new Lexus flagship?
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The Lexus LFA was a real engineering tour de force. Sure, it was stuck in development hell for years, and the 4.8-liter V10's 552-horsepower output wasn't super impressive when it came out, but it integrated a ton of expertise Toyota gained from its F1 team in the early to mid 2000s. Unfortunately, it didn't sell well. Last year, we found there were a few new models sitting on dealer lots, five years after the 500-model run ended. Still, it looks like Toyota may not have given up on the idea of a race-derived flagship for Lexus, at least based on this prototype running around the Nürburgring this week.
At first glance, the car pictured here looks like an LFA with the Nürburgring Package and some camouflage on the front and rear fenders. If you look closely, you can see that the fenders are significantly wider than on the standard LFA. Based on the license plate, this appears to be the same car with two different sets of wheels. Lexus may simply be swapping out worn tires, or they may be testing different wheel and tire combinations to fit the wider wheel wells.
Anything beyond this is just speculation. There have been rumors of a new flagship Lexus sports car that sits atop the LC 500 and LC 500h. We saw the Toyota GR Super Sport Concept back in January, though that car looks nothing like what we see here. As much as we would love that sweet Yamaha co-developed V10 to carry over, we're not holding our breath. Some sort of hybrid powertrain is almost a certainty. Maybe Lexus and Toyota could pull some tech from its Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid race car.
SourceThe Lexus LFA was a real engineering tour de force. Sure, it was stuck in development hell for years, and the 4.8-liter V10's 552-horsepower output wasn't super impressive when it came out, but it integrated a ton of expertise Toyota gained from its F1 team in the early to mid 2000s. Unfortunately, it didn't sell well. Last year, we found there were a few new models sitting on dealer lots, five years after the 500-model run ended. Still, it looks like Toyota may not have given up on the idea of a race-derived flagship for Lexus, at least based on this prototype running around the Nürburgring this week.
At first glance, the car pictured here looks like an LFA with the Nürburgring Package and some camouflage on the front and rear fenders. If you look closely, you can see that the fenders are significantly wider than on the standard LFA. Based on the license plate, this appears to be the same car with two different sets of wheels. Lexus may simply be swapping out worn tires, or they may be testing different wheel and tire combinations to fit the wider wheel wells.
Anything beyond this is just speculation. There have been rumors of a new flagship Lexus sports car that sits atop the LC 500 and LC 500h. We saw the Toyota GR Super Sport Concept back in January, though that car looks nothing like what we see here. As much as we would love that sweet Yamaha co-developed V10 to carry over, we're not holding our breath. Some sort of hybrid powertrain is almost a certainty. Maybe Lexus and Toyota could pull some tech from its Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid race car.
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AB doesn't know what they're talking about. The GR Super Sport is going to have damn near the same powertrain as the TS050 lmp1 car. Why would the LFA be running it? If the engine is different than I would guess it's one for the LC F. Maybe the TT V8. That's if there's a new engine in that car.
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Lexus is probably going to redo the Nurburring time record, with better suspension, tires and aero.
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While I agree with you the LFA is not running it, the key words were 'Maybe' and 'Could'.Originally Posted by TF109B
AB doesn't know what they're talking about. The GR Super Sport is going to have damn near the same powertrain as the TS050 lmp1 car. Why would the LFA be running it? If the engine is different than I would guess it's one for the LC F. Maybe the TT V8. That's if there's a new engine in that car.
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As much as we would love that sweet Yamaha co-developed V10 to carry over, we're not holding our breath. Some sort of hybrid powertrain is almost a certainty. Maybe Lexus and Toyota could pull some tech from its Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid race car.
All I know is that this LFA sighting is a good sign of future performance Lexus and Toyota's.As much as we would love that sweet Yamaha co-developed V10 to carry over, we're not holding our breath. Some sort of hybrid powertrain is almost a certainty. Maybe Lexus and Toyota could pull some tech from its Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid race car.
arentz07
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Maybe they are just benchmarking the LFA for some reason? Perhaps comparison for future LC F or other model?
I agree with Hoovey, it is going to be good, whatever the reason.
I agree with Hoovey, it is going to be good, whatever the reason.
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I think we all know it is short 200hp or so from doing that, no matter how well it handles.Originally Posted by john341
Lexus is probably going to redo the Nurburring time record, with better suspension, tires and aero.
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May be they already added 200ish hp in there, never know.Originally Posted by situman
I think we all know it is short 200hp or so from doing that, no matter how well it handles.
Or may be a new 5.0 V8 TT underneath.
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guessing they're testing a new engine. headline talks about new bodywork but it looks the same to me. 
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If they would just have mentioned the sound. The v10 has a sound all its own when driven in anger. A TT8v which this might be a mule for would sound completely different.
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Or may be a new 5.0 V8 TT underneath.
Highly doubt they would use a LFA body to test an engine for another car. Unless it is a LCF underneath all of that, it doesnt make sense and would it even fit?Originally Posted by Longevite1
May be they already added 200ish hp in there, never know.Or may be a new 5.0 V8 TT underneath.
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Never know. Manufacturers have even gone so far as to take pieces from other makes and attach them onto their mule to thwart detection. Like I said, the sound would tell the story.
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The driver's side rear fender panel sticks out quite noticeably in this photo. Basically looks like they widened it. Originally Posted by bitkahuna
guessing they're testing a new engine. headline talks about new bodywork but it looks the same to me.
Original for comparison.
Lexus version of the Supra haha.
It would be interesting if they can put the new TT V8 from LC-F into an updated LFA platform.
Price it around $180-220k to take on Audi R8, MB GT etc.
It would be interesting if they can put the new TT V8 from LC-F into an updated LFA platform.
Price it around $180-220k to take on Audi R8, MB GT etc.
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thx. i'm guessing it's an lc-f mule in an lfa dress. Originally Posted by arentz07
The driver's side rear fender panel sticks out quite noticeably in this photo. Basically looks like they widened it.
