- Toyota is teasing a new flagship supercar, set to debut on October 13 at Fuji Speedway.
- The model is expected to succeed both the 2000GT and the Lexus LFA.
- Early hints suggest a twin-turbo V8 hybrid with up to 900 horsepower.
- The legacy of its predecessors could shape its future collectability and market value.
Toyota is preparing to unveil a new flagship supercar during a livestream on October 13 at Fuji Speedway, the symbolic home of its Lexus F performance brand. The teasers show a low-slung coupe wearing a GR badge, implying Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division is leading development. Many believe it’s the long-rumored Lexus LFR, a spiritual successor to two legendary Japanese performance cars: the Toyota 2000GT of the 1960s and the Lexus LFA of the 2010s.
That lineage gives the new model a weight few modern cars carry. Both predecessors served as halo projects that defined Toyota’s engineering ambitions at the time. And while each struggled commercially, their rarity and significance turned them into collectibles of mythical proportions. This new supercar, whether branded as a Lexus or a Toyota GR, inherits that same burden – and opportunity – to become an instant classic, even if its destiny echoes the mixed outcomes of the two icons before it.
#新プロジェクト始動https://t.co/zpmIwYPYFu https://t.co/9u4qu7Zivl pic.twitter.com/UfrB8XVUAb
— トヨタ自動車株式会社 (@TOYOTA_PR) October 9, 2025
What History Says About Toyota’s Supercar Ambitions
The Toyota 2000GT, co-developed with Yamaha and produced in extremely limited numbers from 1967 to 1970, sold fewer than 400 units. It was not a financial success, but decades later, it became one of Japan’s most coveted collector cars. Auctions on Bring a Trailer routinely see clean examples selling for $800,000 to over $1.2 million, depending on condition and mileage.
The Lexus LFA, built between 2010 and 2012 with only 500 units made, also struggled commercially. Despite its carbon-fiber monocoque like the revered Porsche Carrera GT, high-revving V10, and engineering pedigree – mostly regarded as the epitome of a top-spec Japanese supercar – many units remained unsold for years. Yet time has been kind: used examples today command $700,000 to $850,000, with some crossing the million-dollar mark. Both cars followed a similar trajectory – slow sellers that matured into automotive royalty.
Exotic Car Trader
The LFR and What Comes Next
If the upcoming LFR – or whatever Toyota decides to call it – follows the same path, it could once again redefine the brand’s image. Early reports suggest a front-engine, rear-drive layout, a twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid, and power figures approaching 900 horsepower. As suggested by spy shots, it may debut alongside a racing version and possibly other Gazoo Racing or Lexus halo models.
Whether Toyota intends to make it a limited-production showcase or a more attainable flagship remains to be seen. We’ll know more on Monday or at the upcoming 2025 Japan Mobility Show. But if history is any indication, its eventual market fate might echo that of its predecessors – misunderstood at first, priceless later.
