After months of speculation surrounding a potential road-focused sports car based on the venerable Toyota GR GT3 concept, Lexus finally appears to be making strides on its new flagship model.
Rumoured to wear the LFR name, photographers have spied two prototypes of the GR GT3’s road-going cousin testing on and around Germany’s Nürburgring before carmakers lose access to the circuit until the weather warms next year.
The GR GT3 racer was spied testing on-track at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium earlier this year, and there are some key similarities to note for the LFR prototype.
Some features seen on the prototypes, like the race-oriented sliding side windows and mirrors, will likely be changed for the production model.
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As previously reported, the LFR is expected to be a successor to the legendary LFA. Instead of a V10 engine, the LFR will likely use a twin-turbocharged V8 with hybrid assistance, as is evident by the sound it’s made in previous videos.
The rear-wheel drive supercar will reportedly use a 4.0-litre unit with between 515kW and 530kW of power, mated with an electric motor that could push total power outputs up to 662kW.
The LFR appears to be fitted with a smaller rear wing than the GR GT3, as well as revised front and rear bodywork. Notably, the rear diffuser has been redesigned to incorporate quad-exit exhaust pipes – a logical departure from the GR GT3’s side-exit setup.
It maintains the elongated bonnet and Supra-like rear window design, along with wide, but its styling has become more boxy all round. There also appears to be two fans fitted at the rear of the car, likely being used to help cool the monstrous engine up front.
There still appears to be various vents on the bonnet and aggressive aerodynamic elements scattered around the car, including an array of canards at the front corners.
At the front are sleek headlights, while the LFR appears to make use of flush handles on its side doors.
It rides on stylish 20-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres, with sizes supposedly listed at 265/35 up front and 325/30 at the rear.
It’s expected the LFR will debut in late 2025 and go on sale sometime in 2026.
It’s reportedly being developed concurrently with the GT3 race car concept and is referred to as a “catalog model” and not a limited-build model like the LFA.
That suggests it’ll be available for longer, and potentially in greater numbers, than the V10-powered LFA which was produced over just two years and of which just 500 units were manufactured in total.
On the full-fat GR GT3 race car you’ll find a large rear spoiler, low front splitter, wheel arch vents, a side-exit exhaust, centre-lock wheels, and a huge rear diffuser.
It’s expected to make its race debut in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026.
GR GT3 concept 
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