The Lexus LFA was like a starburst—bright, beautiful, and damn short. If you were living under a rock in 2010, you missed the car that sounded like angels playing trombones while falling down stairs. Today, my dears, the LFA is back. But before you pop the champagne, I must warn you: Yamaha is no longer in the orchestra. The new LFA is electric. Does this mean the end of the world or the beginning of something that will melt our faces?
If someone had told me that Lexus, a brand usually driven by retired dentists in Florida, would make a successor to the best supercar of all time without an internal combustion engine, I would have laughed in their face. But here we are. Lexus LFA Concept is officially here. And yes, the word “concept” means you can’t buy it yet, and the word “LFA” means expectations are higher than taxes in Scandinavia.
The most painful news for us petrol purists (and everyone in between) is what's not there. Under the long bonnet, there's no legendary 4.8-liter V10, which spun up to a stratospheric 9,500 revolutions per minute. There is no sound that was reminiscent of Formula 1 from the good old days. Instead, we have batteries. Lexus was tight-lipped on the powertrain specs, in fact as silent as their new powertrain. No horsepower numbers, no torque figures. Just the promise that this is the future.
But don't give up too quickly. Lexus claims: "The 'LFA' model name is not tied to vehicles with internal combustion engines. It symbolizes a vehicle that embodies the technologies that engineers must preserve and pass on to the next generation." Translation from marketing language: "Get with the times or get left behind."
Size matters (and aluminum too)
Although we don't have data on how many kilowatts it will tear up the asphalt, we do know what this thing is built on. Lexus LFA Concept is built on an all-new lightweight and rigid aluminum chassis. And here comes the ultimate irony that any cynic would appreciate. This same chassis was also featured on the new Toyota GR GT3 race car. But guess what? Toyota's race car has a twin-turbo V8 hybrid. Lexus' "halo" road car is battery-powered. It seems like someone at Toyota is either playing us for a fool, or they're preparing us the surprise of the century.
In terms of dimensions, the new LFA has grown. And that's concrete.
- Length: 4,690 mm (185.6 inches)
- Width: 2,040 mm (80.3 inches)
- Wheelbase: 2,725 mm (107.3 inches)
For comparison: the new model is almost 25 centimeters (10 inches) longer than the original LFA and more than 15 centimeters (6 inches) wider. This is no longer a compact supercar, this is a road cruiser that will take up as much space in the garage as your ego.
Design: When the past meets science fiction
Visually, the car is almost identical to the Electrified Sport concept we saw at Monterey. And thank goodness for that. It looks fast, even when it’s stationary. The long hood (even though there’s no engine underneath) maintains the classic GT car proportions, which is a real treat in the world of electric “eggs.” The body panels have received some tweaks that suggest it’s closer to production than we think.
Interior? Forget the classic gauges. Lexus gave us a glimpse into a cabin that looks more like a fighter jet cockpit than a car. The driver is wrapped in an aggressively designed dashboard, where physical buttons have died a violent death in favor of screens. There's no central infotainment screen, which is perhaps a good thing - who needs navigation when you're probably moving at the speed of thought? Instead of tactile pleasures, we get digital sterility. Maybe this is the future, but maybe we'll miss that feeling of actually pressing a button and something happening.
What can we expect? (A little speculation)
Although Lexus is tight-lipped about the numbers, we can infer from previous announcements for their “Electrified Sport” concept. They’re targeting a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time in the low 2 seconds range. That’s faster than you need to say “Oh my god.” They’ve also mentioned a range of 700 km (435 miles), likely with the help of solid-state batteries. If they can pull that off, we might even forgive the lack of a V10 symphony. Maybe.
Conclusion: Does the electric LFA have a soul?
I admit, when I heard about the “electric LFA,” my heart sank a little. The original LFA wasn’t special because it was fast—Ferraris were faster. It was special because it was a technical masterpiece, built with an obsession that bordered on madness. It was a financial disaster for Lexus and a gift to the automotive industry.
The new Lexus LFA Concept has big shoes to fill. Without the sound of a V10 engine, it loses half its character. But if we look beyond the nostalgia, we see something else. We see Lexus unafraid to risk the name of its greatest icon to usher in a new era. If this car drives as well as it looks – and if that aluminum frame performs as well as it promises – then we may have a car that will define a new generation of supercars.
Price? If you have to ask, you can't afford it. The original LFA cost $375,000 (approx. 350,000 EUR at the time) and its value has only increased since then. Expect this electric beast to cost considerably more. Will it be worth the money? Time will tell. Until then, I'll be listening to the sound of the old V10 on YouTube and hoping that Lexus will at least install speakers in the electric Lexus LFA Concept that will play that aria.
Do you think electricity can replace the soul of a V10 engine?
