It seems that Toyota’s speculated follow-up to the Lexus LFA could have its name prematurely unveiled through a series of trademark applications. Toyota has sought legal rights for the title “LFR” in multiple nations, potentially earmarking it for a long-discussed 700-horsepower hybrid supercar.
The appearance of LFR trademarks initially emerged in mid-October on the European Union Intellectual Property Office database, with Toyota lodging trademark requests for “LFR” and “Lexus LFR.” Recently, “LFR” submissions have surfaced in several additional regions, from the United States to Australia, Iceland, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Switzerland as reported by the World Intellectual Property Organization. While the mere presence of trademarks does not confirm intentions to utilize a name, the extensive array of filings for the LFR trademark points to a keen interest by the automaker.
The similarity of LFR to LFA, the designation of Lexus’s former flagship vehicle, strengthens its plausibility as a prospective title for its rumored successor. Allegedly, Toyota is developing a “GR GT3” racing model, which is anticipated to lay the groundwork for a production supercar echoing the ethos of the LFA. Reports also hint at the car being motivated by a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo hybrid V8, delivering an estimated 700 horsepower. Details remain scarce at this stage, with only hints at a projected price within the low to mid $200,000s range, and an unrestricted production volume unlike the capped production of the LFA. The vehicle’s anticipated debut in 2025 feels nearer with the year 2022 nearing its conclusion.
Potentially, this moniker could also be under consideration for Lexus’s planned electric super-coupe, as confirmed by Toyota’s statement on inheriting the LFA’s distinctive attributes. Envisioned as a flagship car akin to the LFA, the electric super-coupe aims to feature a solid-state battery and strive for a zero-to-60 mph acceleration time in the low two-second bracket.
Lexus has not been synonymous with the production of supercars, creating intrigue about the possibility of concurrently developing two distinct supercars—it may hint at a potential correlation between the two projects. Until we witness trademark filings for a variant like “LFE,” the question of whether the successor to the LFA heralds the farewell of conventional combustion engines or marks the grand entrée of the forthcoming era of electric vehicles will remain uncertain.
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