It’s been over three years since Toyota unveiled the GR GT3 concept to preview a future race car. Since then, our sister site Motorsport.com has reported that a street-legal version with a Lexus badge is in the works. Fast-forward to mid-2025, and the production model is still a no-show. That said, we still get giddy with excitement whenever a prototype is spotted testing on public roads. A new spy video shows the road-going model out and about in California.
Shared on Instagram by veteran journalist Jonny Lieberman, the footage, which was recorded from inside a BMW M5 Touring on Angeles Crest, shows what reports suggest will be called the Lexus LFR. The low-slung performance machine was in good company, as it appears Lexus was benchmarking the prototype against a previous-generation Mercedes-AMG GT. The two coupes were accompanied by a current-generation Toyota Sequoia equipped with power-extending tow mirrors. The SUV in the front of the fleet was also a Sequoia.
You know the LFR is going to look great when even the camouflaged prototype turns heads. Notably, it’s missing the large rear wing previously seen on another test car. That aero element might be reserved for a hardcore, track-focused version, or it could be part of an optional package. You can tell the suspension is stiff from how the car bounces over even slight road imperfections, but that’s how the cookie crumbles with dedicated sports cars.
So, why is Lexus testing the AMG GT? The new LFR is also expected to feature a front-mounted twin-turbo V-8, albeit with a hybrid twist. Affalterbach’s second-generation model is electrified as well, but the AMG GT seen in the footage was the original, purely combustion-powered version. The upcoming Japanese rival boasts sexy proportions with a wide body, lending it an exotic presence to match the Mercedes.
The fact that Lexus is benchmarking the AMG GT suggests it’s setting the bar high for the LFR. However, don’t expect it to be a direct successor to the LFA, as the new model is likely to slot lower in the lineup. As a result, it should significantly undercut the LFA’s $375,000 price tag. A well-informed guess would place it above $150,000, especially considering the RC F already hovers around six figures.
For reference, the least expensive AMG GT with a V-8 is the GT 55 at $138,700. However, Lexus might be targeting the GT 63, which begins at $179,050. Mercedes also offers two flavors at $195,900: the hybrid GT 63 S E Performance and the track-ready GT 63 Pro.
Since Toyota and Lexus have been testing their new cars for years, we’re hopeful they’ll be revealed sooner rather than later. The race car is expected to compete in WEC in 2026, so the wait should be nearly over.
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