Toyota shows off V8-powered duo at Goodwood
Toyota has revealed (well, not quite) a pair of V8-powered performance coupes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, fuelling speculation of a new Lexus halo car and a next-gen GT3 race machine.
Wrapped in heavy camouflage, the two low-slung, wide-bodied coupes were showcased in hill climb demonstration runs over the weekend. While no official specs or naming have been confirmed, Toyota labelled the models as the Toyota GT Concept and Toyota GT Racing Concept, maintaining a cryptic “brand agnostic” stance that leaves open the possibility of both Toyota and Lexus badging.
Despite the lack of detail, the road-going version is widely tipped to be the long-rumoured Lexus LFR, a spiritual successor to the iconic Lexus LFA hypercar, while the more extreme racer is believed to preview the next-generation Toyota GR GT3, which has been spied testing across Europe.
The GT Racing Concept is clearly not intended for road use, fitted with a dramatic aero package including a large bonnet intake, side sliders, oversized race brakes, Michelin slicks and a central rear wing. Its aggressive setup aligns with the GT3 ruleset and it’s expected to replace the Lexus RC F GT3 racer, which remains eligible only until the end of 2026. This positions the race version for a likely 2027 debut.
The showroom-bound coupe, meanwhile, retains the race car’s dramatic proportions and styling cues such as flared guards, pronounced bumpers and deep air intakes but features toned-down elements like smaller bonnet vents and a subtle rear lip spoiler for road use. Prototypes have already been spied testing on Californian roads.
Though Toyota hasn’t confirmed what’s under the bonnet, both vehicles at Goodwood unmistakably emitted the rumble of a naturally aspirated V8. It’s rumoured to be an evolved version of the 5.0-litre 2UR-GSE engine, currently used in the Lexus RC F and LC500, though the road-going LFR may adopt a more modern twin-turbo hybrid V8 setup to future-proof the platform and align with evolving GT3 regulations.
Production of the existing Lexus RC F is due to cease by late 2025, while the LC500 coupe and convertible are expected to bow out by 2026 – making way for these all-new flagship performance offerings.
Lexus has already trademarked the LFR name in Europe and a showroom debut is expected by 2027.
