Lexus LFR supercar: New trademark hints at LFA successor's name

UPDATE: Electric Lexus supercar may be called LFR

After teasing an electric LFA successor at the reveal of the RZ electric SUV, we’re inching closer to seeing the next Lexus supercar take shape.

The new clue is that it could be called the LFR, if Lexus’s recent trademark application at the European Union Intellectual Property Office is to be believed.

American automotive outlet Carscoops picked this trademark up, noting that the request is still being processed. It’s not definitive, but LFR’s proximity to the LFA badge suggests this could be the name of the next Lexus supercar.

One thing is certain though, the LFR won’t use a screaming V10 engine. Instead, it's likely the electric supercar will have all-wheel drive, be able to hit 100km/h in around two seconds and boast roughly 700km driving range.

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February: Electric LFA successor confirmed

Lexus is continuing to drip-feed teasers of the LFA's successor, confirming the electrified vehicle will be the spiritual child of its iconic supercar.

In a video posted to its Twitter page, Lexus showed off the unnamed electric sports car alongside the V10 LFA, allowing us to see how the previous model's design cues have rubbed off on its replacement.

With a potential 0-100km/h sprint time of under two seconds and an all-electric driving range of up 700km, it's likely the electrified model will carry on the LFA's legacy, just with a bit less noise than what the 4.8-litre V10 used to make at 9000rpm.

January 7: Lexus teases all-electric line-up

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The British arm of Lexus has provided further teasers for its concept sports car, showing off the two-seater in greater detail than before.

Having first been revealed as a part of Lexus and Toyota's battery electric vehicle model range announcement last month (below), the EV successor to the LFA supercar will look to capture the magic of its predecessor – becoming a flagship model within the luxury brand's range.

Seemingly combining physical attributes of the LFA with Toyota's fifth-generation Supra, there's no timeline on when the as-yet-unnamed sports car will make a public debut, but we hope the production version remains as true as possible to the concept.

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Lexus launches electrified line-up

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December 15, 2021: Lexus has joined Toyota in a huge announcement confirming 11 new electric concept cars, going all-electric in Europe by 2030, with other markets to follow.

Unveiled in the announcement by Toyota Motor Corporation’s CEO, Akio Toyoda, Lexus's models included a new “sports battery EV” inspired by the brand’s previous petrol V10-powered LFA supercar.

In concept form, the new sportscar has a two-second 0-100km/h time on the spec sheet and a driving range of over 700 kilometres when cruising. This is likely helped by Toyota’s progress on solid-state batteries which could feature in the model, with the smaller batteries lighter than conventional lithium-ion cells that have equivalent energy density.

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Inspired by the brand’s iconic LFA, Toyoda said “the driving taste - or the secret sauce - of the performance [in the new concept] is cultivated by the LFA."

“With both proportions and low ride height essential to a sportscar, it will showcase the unique driving performance of a Lexus.

“We will extend the driving taste refined this way to other models as we evolve Lexus into a brand centred on battery EVs. We can position batteries and electric motors to bring more freedom. It will allow us to be more attuned to our customers, different regions and different lifestyles,” he added.

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Also shown was a production-ready version of the Lexuz RZ, due to be launched next year and based on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, which sits underneath the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. It is a similar size and look to the existing NX crossover, but fully-electric.

Other concepts revealed, that we can expect to hit production in the future, are new electric models, including; a full-sized SUV like the RX and an IS-type sedan with sporty aesthetics that suggest it will offer a performance-focused version.

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In further images revealed by the Japanese luxury carmaker is a shooting brake-style sleek wagon, a hatchback, a convertible supercar (based on the LFA-inspired sportscar), and six other models that are yet to be shown.

Lexus says it will target one million electric car sales globally by the end of the decade and go fully-electric in Europe, as well as China and the US, before removing combustion engine sales in other markets completely.