The LFA Is Back: How the New LFA Compares to Its V-10 Predecessor

We’re only a quarter way through the 21st century, but if we were to make a short list of the most iconic cars of the last 25 years there’s no doubt the Lexus LFA would make an appearance. Despite its long and tortured birth, the Lexus LFA was a revelation when it hit the streets in 2010. The edgy-looking supercar was a design and engineering powerhouse for Lexus, helping it launch its F performance arm in full force and pioneering new manufacturing and technological techniques that continue to drive Lexus forward today.

And now the LFA name is back.

Much like the original model, the new LFA Concept is a preview of things to come from Lexus, Toyota’s GR performance subsidiary, and Toyota as a whole. While many details of the new electric LFA Concept are still to be sorted out in time by the Lexus team, here’s how the concept stacks up against the iconic original.

Under the Skin

Lexus took its time figuring out what the original LFA was. Between the original concept in 2005 and a second in 2007, the LFA switched from aluminum to carbon fiber, got sharper styling, and was linked to two different powertrains: a small V-10 and a hybridized V-8. The final version, which went into production in 2010, honed the idea to a beautifully sculpted carbon-fiber bodied, V-10-powered monster.

That engine was something special. Engineered in collaboration with Yamaha and built by hand at Lexus’ specific LFA facility, the front-mid-mounted 4.8-liter V-10 featured an individual throttle body for each cylinder, a 78-degree bank angle, and dry-sump lubrication. It was such a compact powerplant Lexus had to shim it to line up properly with the rear-mounted six-speed single-clutch transaxle.

Producing a modest-for-today 552 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, the LFA’s special V-10 wailed like a banshee as it approached its 9,000-rpm redline—a feat it did with a quickness and smoothness not seen since.

The new LFA Concept is following that pattern. Just like the original LFA drove Toyota forward into the first quarter of the 21st century, the new concept hints at where Toyota thinks the world is going over the next 25 years. Based on the same chassis as the new GR GT—the new V-8-powered supercar built by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing performance arm—the new LFA will trade a high-revving V-10 for quick spinning electric motors, backed by an in-development solid state battery pack that theoretically allows for quicker charging, more energy capacity, and lighter weight than existing battery technology.

Like the original LFA, we expect powertrain details to work themselves out over the next several years as the LFA Concept moves toward production.

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Outside and In

One thing we expect to stay faithful to the concept is the new LFA’s styling, which sources at the company say is “locked.” Riding on the aluminum chassis of Toyota’s new GR GT supercar, the new LFA is 7.5 inches longer, 5.7 inches wider, and an inch lower than the old LFA, and it rides on a wheelbase stretched by 4.7 inches, which should help provide better high-speed stability than the old car.

Visually, there appears to only be a passing similarity between the new and old LFA. While the old LFA featured sharp, edged lines that looked as if they came straight from the pages of a manga novel, the new car is curvier and more obviously aero-friendly, with rounded hips and a long hood that look to be more in tribute to the Toyota 2000GT than the LFA. Yet closer examination reveals some LFA traits carrying through. The LFA Concept’s grille and the air intakes that flank it—none of which is theoretically needed on an EV—pay homage to the original LFA’s distinctive front fascia, while its headlights pick up where the Lexus LC leaves off.

Around its flanks, the LFA Concept’s ductwork along the forward portion of its rear quarter panels matches that of the original, and in back an homage to the original’s iconic rear “grille” and tri-tip exhaust is made with the Concept’s rear fog light and “grille” treatment.

Inside, the new LFA Concept bears much less of an obvious resemblance to the original LFA. The driver-focused cabin appears to be more conceptual than concrete, with a panel of retro-futuristic screens making up the dash, a yoke for the driver, and a Corvette-like panel that divides the cabin and separates the driver from passenger. The sole nod we can spot to the original LFA at this early stage is the LFA Concept’s gear selector dial, which looks to be about the same size and shape as original car’s drive mode selector. That is, unless you count the digital instrument cluster as a tribute to the first LFA—that car famously had a digital techometer because an analog one “couldn’t” keep up with the maniacal V-10 under the hood.

While we no doubt have some time to cool our heels before the Lexus LFA hits the street again, based on Lexus’ first pass we’re hoping the wait won’t be as long as the last one.