Lexus Making A Brand New Sports Car With A Monstrous V8 Engine

SAUDI ARABIA : Lexus finally has a competitor to the rather venerable Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Huracan, and the Ferrari 296 GTB. 

• The upcoming Lexus sports car will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that’ll make about 710PS of maximum power. 
• This car will essentially act as a successor to the incredibly likeable LFA
• Interestingly, its engine might even just be compatible with Hydrogen 

We first glimpsed the concept for Lexus's new supercar at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, where it was unveiled as the Toyota GT3 GR Concept. Positioned as a spiritual successor to the audacious V10-powered LFA and a direct competitor to the Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Huracan, and even the hybrid Ferrari 296 GTB, Lexus is gearing up to launch a new supercar powered by a V8 engine.

More Power To The Engine 

Toyota has frequently discussed the potential advantages of continued ICE development for sports cars. The company has heavily invested in sustainable fuel technologies and has partnered with Yamaha to develop a 5.0-liter V8 engine compatible with hydrogen. 

In an article from February 2022, it was projected that the coupe, slated for a 2026 launch, would be equipped with a newly developed twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 710 horsepower, paired with a next-generation plug-in hybrid system that would elevate the car’s combined output to a staggering 940 horsepower.

Specifications	Upcoming Lexus Sportscar Engine
Engine	5.0-liter V8 engine
Maximum power	About 710PS (940 with plug-in facility)

The extreme GT3 GR concept has evolved into a prototype spotted with a roaring exhaust note at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s motorsport division, is anticipated to have this model ready for elite competitions by 2026, including the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours. FIA homologation rules dictate that GT3 race cars must share their fundamental body design with a road-legal car. 

Motorsport-specific Cars Aspects 

As Toyota demonstrated with the rally-tuned GR Yaris hot hatchback, the company has emphasized its commitment to developing motorsport-specific cars rather than merely adapting existing production models for racing. Given Lexus's history of high-performance, large-engine sports cars—including the LFA, LC 500, IS-F, and RC-F—the road-going GT3 GR will likely carry the Lexus badge rather than Toyota's. 

The production version, potentially named the 'LFR,' is expected to retain the prototype's potent V8 engine, rumored to feature twin turbos coupled with a hybrid system.

In collaboration with partners Mazda and Subaru, Toyota recently unveiled plans to revolutionize the internal combustion engine (ICE), reinforcing its belief that ICE technology will remain crucial even as the automotive industry increasingly shifts towards electric vehicles.