Lexus LFA reborn as electric supercar

Akio Toyoda, the CEO of Toyota and Lexus, confirmed overnight that Lexus will “embark on a new chapter” and only sell fully-electric vehicles by 2035.

The comments were made at an event in Japan where the Toyota Motor Corporation chief revealed four all-new models that pave the way to Lexus becoming an EV-only brand, starting with the Lexus RZ 450e SUV that is all but certain to be sold in Australia.

Three additional new EVs were also shown, indicating where the brand will focus its product development, including a hardcore Rimac-rivalling hypercar dubbed Lexus Electrified Sport.

A likely successor for the Lexus LFA, the all-electric supercar can reportedly accelerate from 0-100km/h in the low 2.0sec range, making it the quickest Lexus production car in history.

It will also offer a class-leading 700km range and could make use of solid-state battery tech.

The two other EVs shown at the event were an all-new large SUV and a sedan, respectively dubbed the Lexus Electrified SUV and Lexus Electrified Sedan for now.

“Lexus will develop a next-generation battery EV sports car that inherits the driving taste, or the secret sauce, of the performance cultivated via the development of the LFA,” said Toyoda.

The Toyota chief also confirmed that Lexus will “realise a full line-up of battery EVs in all vehicle segments by 2030 … and it aims for battery EVs to make up 100 per cent of its global vehicles sales in 2035”.

Lexus branding chief Koji Sato said the luxury car-maker’s new focus is all-electric, all-out.

“Through battery EVs, we will develop Lexus into a brand that offers a variety of experiences harnessing performance development that only a car-maker like Lexus could do, and by honing the craft of making ever more personal products,” he said.

“Extracting the full potential of the vehicle through electrification technology … That is what electrification means to Lexus.”

Lexus recently launched its first electric car in Australia, the $74,000 Lexus UX 300e, but the all-new RZ and subsequent models will take the brand’s EV line-up to another level.

Toyota also presented a raft of other EVs overnight – including a ute, 4x4 off-roader, several SUVs and more sports cars – as part of a strategy that will see more than 30 new battery-electric models hit the road by 2030.