New Lexus LFA Concept Revives a Legend But is Fully Electric

Alongside the new Toyota GR GT road car and GR GT3 race car, Lexus today hosted the world premiere of the LFA Concept in Tokyo, completing a trio of modern Japanese supercars and reviving a legendary nameplate.To be clear, this is the same car we saw at the Japan Mobility Show in late October (then called Lexus Sport Concept), but it’s been renamed and announced in more detail.Standing 4.69 metres long, 2.04 metres wide and barely 1.2 metres tall, the gorgeous two-seater bears some resemblance to another sports car concept that was presented back in December 2021, but styling is now sharper and more angular—less of a cross between a Dodge Viper and a McLaren Artura, more of a genuine reinterpretation of the LFA for the late 2020s.Photo: ToyotaThe hood is even longer but still has those dual scoops, while the triangular shapes in the front corners, which cleverly integrate the lighting elements, directly evoke the original LFA.The same goes for the imposing grille at the bottom of the front bumper (supported by a wraparound-style lip spoiler), as well as the recessed opening next to the side windows and the large mesh grilles in the corners of the rear bumper. The latter are connected by a light strip that even includes the Lexus name and flank a huge diffuser at the bottom of the bumper. The whole design is very well done.Photo: ToyotaFrom a V10 to Electric Motors
Have you noticed that there are no tailpipes? That’s because the Lexus LFA Concept is designed as a fully electric sports car. While prioritizing a light weight, low centre of gravity, high structural rigidity (all-aluminum) and advanced aerodynamic performance, just like the Toyota GR GT and GR GT3, it adopts a completely different powertrain approach.Photo: ToyotaUnfortunately, the company still has nothing to say about power or battery capacity, which means we are a long way from seeing a road-going, production-ready LFA.As for the interior, which offers a pure sporty driving position similar to that of Toyota’s new GR models, it was designed to create the ultimate immersive experience, according to Lexus, ensuring a very close connection between man and machine.Photo: LexusThe Ferrari F80-like cabin comes with a different colour for the driver’s seat and cockpit. In fact, Lexus has put all the controls and instruments around the rectangular, yoke-style steering wheel in a true driver-centric layout. Completing the interface is a head-up display featuring an augmented reality system that can even show the ideal lines when driving on a track.Hopefully, Lexus will give the green light to production sooner rather than later.