The latest Lexus sports car has been a long time coming. The first information about it came all the way back in 2022, followed by the Sport Concept in August last year, and the LFA Concept the following December. Notably, those were both concepts, but we’re finally seeing a version of the car that’s at least closer to production at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It even went up the hill climb course, which would’ve been more grandiose if it weren’t for the rumbling V8 Toyota GR GT cars tailing it.
Lexus Is Keeping It Under Wraps For Now
You can see the Lexus run up the hill in the above video that the Goodwood Festival of Speed shared on Facebook. It shows a fully camouflaged prototype lead the way with a road-going GR GT and the racing version right behind. All the engine noise comes from the Toyotas, which is made most clear toward the end of the drive when the Lexus is far enough away that you can detect its relative silence. So, unless Lexus ends up adding something later, the LFA won’t play artificial sounds for the outside like the Genesis GV60 Magma or Dodge Charger Daytona.
Lexus LFA Concept/PrototypeGabrielle Schmauderer/CarBuzz/Valnet
The Lexus also showed up at the Toyota tent where we were able to get up close and personal to see any interesting details. Strangely, the car features the sliding plexiglass windows you find on racecars, and that certainly won’t appear on the production car. Additionally, the roll cage, bare bucket seats, and hood pins all suggest that this is maybe a bit more test mule than production.
Lexus LFA Concept/PrototypeGabrielle Schmauderer/CarBuzz/Valnet
Still, the body still looks to all be Lexus and extremely close to the LFA concept. We can make out the large vents in the hood, the rear intakes inspired by the original LFA, and the partly separated side skirts. This tester also shows off the deployable rear wing in its up position, as well as what seem to be transparent covers over the headlights. The latest concept only showed the wing in the lowered position, and both concepts had fully exposed front lighting. Additionally, the front grille area looks as though either the center post is taller, or the intake area is a little lower compared to the concept.
Lexus LFA Concept EV Exterior Front QuarterLexus
What We Know About The LFA
Obviously, the main difference between the LFA and the GR GT is the fact that the Lexus is all-electric, as you heard in the video. Lexus has been frustratingly tight-lipped about the specifications of that electric powertrain, though. The company hasn’t even shared how many motors are used and whether it’s rear- or all-wheel-drive. The GR GT is supposed to make at least 641 horsepower, so we know that the Lexus can’t make less power than that, and it probably will make far more due to the ease of making power from electric motors, and the need to overcome the significant mass that the battery packs are sure to add.
Lexus LFA Concept EVLexus
The LFA will share the aluminum chassis from the GR GT, along with the aluminum suspension. The brakes on the prototype at Goodwood also look quite and large and could also be shared with the Toyota. The Lexus should have a far different interior, based on the concept. The design looks like a futuristic interpretation of the LC’s interior with a large sail panel separating the driver and passenger sides. The instruments may end up wrapping around the steering wheel somewhat, emphasizing the focus on the driver. We’re hoping to see the production model fully revealed this auto show season, possibly by the end of the year or in the first half of next year.
Lexus LFA Concept EVLexus
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The fact that Lexus is showing its new sports car in running form suggests that development is moving along with decent pace. With any luck, it won’t end up in quite the development hell that its namesake fell into. The lack of any concrete details about the car is still a little strange, especially as the combustion GR variants have been shown with more clarity. Assuming that development is going smoothly, we will hopefully know more about it in the near future.
Source: Goodwood Festival of Speed / Facebook
