The Lexus LFA Concept is here, and it is a battery electric vehicle. Toyota has been one of the staunchest proponents of internal combustion and hybrid propulsion in recent years, so this car is a bit surprising. That said, it is as stunning a concept as a Lexus ought to be, with exquisite craftsmanship inside and out. It is a purposeful display of Toyota’s technological prowess, and that’s what Lexus flagships have always been. From that perspective, it is every bit an LFA successor.
However, we are a little bit disappointed that it doesn’t have a roaring ICE heart under that svelte, long bonnet. The Engine of the Lexus LFA (the usage of the uppercase E is intentional) is worthy of its admission to the MoMA, the TATE Modern or the Centre Pompidou. The 1LR-GUE even-firing V10 was developed with a little bit of help from Yamaha, and not just the mechanical engineering division. Yamaha acoustic engineers had a hand in tuning the sound, which is often referred to as ‘angelic.’
As the Lexus LFA concept is just that — a concept — it may not make it to production as a BEV, though. The recent reversal of the EU’s ban on ICE vehicle sales post 2035 means Lexus may very well do a 180° turn and plonk a hybrid powerplant in it. It is quite possible the Lexus LFA concept was designed for a future that may never arrive, and we, the petrolheads, are nothing but thankful for it.
