Toyota has unveiled the GT Concept and the track-focused GT Racing Concept at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed. While the company remains very apprehensive about revealing any info about what the car might even be, with not even a single teaser for the car before the event, many afficionados online have speculated that it could be the long-awaited successor to the legendary Lexus LFA, rumoured to be called the “LFR”.
The company revealed little about the two prototypes other than parading the two cars through the event’s iconic hill climb course. However, those who tuned into the livestreams would have undoubtedly heard the characteristic V8 rumble, suggesting that the production versions will indeed utilise a V8 powertrain.
It remains to be seen if the aforementioned V8 will be electrified. Considering the strict emissions regulations in key markets like Europe, though, we think it’s more likely than not that Toyota will need to adopt a hybrid powertrain setup if it wants to sell the V8-powered sports car globally.
While the road-going GT Concept has already been featured in countless spy shots, this debut is the first time we’ve seen the GT Racing Concept – although you can still trace its roots back to the GR GT3 Concept unveiled in 2022. Looking past the heavy camouflage reveals the GT Concept has a classic long-hood, cabin-rearward profile similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the Mercedes-AMG GT.
The GT Racing Concept features the same body style as its road-going counterpart, differentiated primarily by the addition of a large rear spoiler.
RELATED: Lexus V8 reaches its peak with IS500 ‘Climax Edition’ – limited to only 500 units
According to some reports, the production version of the Toyota GT Concept could be badged under Lexus and named the LFR. Adding weight to this theory is the fact that the Lexus RC will be discontinued in 2025, with the Lexus LC 500 also reportedly getting the axe in the same year. This creates a perfect opening in the Lexus portfolio for a new flagship sports car, like the LFR, to debut in 2026.
Recall that the Lexus LFA also debuted (in pre-production form) in a race-car form before the road-going version was officially unveiled, could Toyota (and Lexus, obviously) be employing the same “race-car-first” strategy for the new GT Concepts?
At least according to Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson, that will indeed be the plan. Speaking to Motor1, Wilson suggested that the GR GT3-based race car is targeting a debut at the 2026 Daytona 24 Hours in January next year, with the road car to launch at a later date.
The original Lexus LFA was limited to just 500 units and cost over USD375,000 (approx. RM1.76 million) when new. The good news, however, is that Forbes is reporting that Toyota is aiming for a more wallet-friendly price tag for this new model, not exceeding USD140,000 (approx. RM659k).
Nonetheless, we will have to wait until 2026 to see what Toyota, or Lexus, in this case, has truly prepared for the rumoured successor of the LFA.
ALSO READ: Toyota GR Corolla to also be produced in the UK — first GR model to be built outside Japan
