SPY PICS: 2026 Lexus LFR spotted in California

The eagerly awaited 2026 Lexus LFR has been spotted testing on public roads in California, escorted by a pair of black Toyota Sequoias and joined by a previous-generation Mercedes-AMG GT.

Tipped to debut either later this year or early next, the LFR will be the road-going sibling of the upcoming 2026 Toyota GR GT3 endurance car and spiritual successor of the lauded LFA supercar.

Previous sightings have already confirmed it will feature some form of petrol V8 – thought to be a twin-turbo hybrid set-up – and rear-wheel drive at the very least, along with the classic cab-back silhouette long associated with flagship performance coupes.

What sets this sighting apart from previous ones however is the presence of the LFR’s apparent benchmark, the original AMG GT, and the fact it’s being escorted – last time we saw a prototype, it was making its way onto the Nürburgring.

All this suggests Lexus and Toyota have lofty expectations for their new performance flagship and are touting it as a genuine contender in the premium coupe market, trading blows with not only the AMG GT, but also the high-end Porsche 911s and Aston Martin Vantage.

Missing from this particular prototype is the enormous rear wing affixed to the Nürburgring example which suggests there’ll be some Corvette-style aero packages available or possibly even two different versions; one for the road and a more hardcore, track-focused one drawing parallels with the GR GT3 racer.

The imagery accompanying this article was sourced from a video (attached) posted to Instagram over the weekend by US motoring journalist Jonny Lieberman who stumbled across the eye-catching convoy on the Angeles Crest Highway.

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