The Lexus LFR prototype was caught testing alongside a Mercedes-AMG GT R on Angeles Crest Highway in California
Power comes from a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 plus hybrid system producing around 900 total horsepower
Production starts Q3/Q4 2025 with prices expected around €200,000, offering both touring and hardcore track variants

Right, this is either the automotive news story of the decade or proof that someone at Lexus has finally lost their mind in the most wonderful way possible. Because the company that gave us the beige-mobile hybrid sedan has apparently decided to build a proper, fire-breathing supercar that they're benchmarking against one of Mercedes' most serious performance machines.

The Lexus LFR – and yes, that name sounds like something from a military aircraft designation – has been spotted testing on the Angeles Crest Highway in California, running alongside a Mercedes-AMG GT R. Not a C-Class. Not some sensible crossover. The AMG GT R, which is Mercedes' way of saying "we've built something properly mental and we're not sorry about it."

This is significant because Lexus doesn't typically build cars that require comparison with German engineering madness. Their usual approach involves making things very quiet, very efficient, and very unlikely to cause excitement of any kind. The fact that they're now testing something against one of the most focused sports cars in Mercedes' lineup suggests that someone in Tokyo has been drinking very strong coffee indeed.

Lexus LFR performance specifications

The LFR will apparently feature a classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, which is automotive speak for "we've remembered how proper sports cars are supposed to work." This is encouraging news from a company that's spent the past decade perfecting the art of making powerful cars feel like they're powered by particularly enthusiastic washing machines. Under the hood lurks what Lexus describes as a brand-new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which will be paired with a hybrid system because apparently we can't have nice things without some sort of electrical assistance these days. The internal combustion engine alone is said to produce around 720 horsepower, while the hybrid system adds another 180 horses for a combined total of roughly 900 horsepower.

Nine hundred horsepower. From Lexus. The same company that builds cars so quiet you need to check if the engine is actually running. This is like discovering that your accountant has been moonlighting as a Formula One driver – technically possible, but fundamentally at odds with everything you thought you knew about their character. The really interesting bit is that Lexus plans to offer the LFR in two distinct flavors: a touring version described as "docile" and a more track-focused "hardcore" version. This suggests that even Lexus understands that 900 horsepower means different things to different people. Some want their supercar to be civilized enough for daily use, while others want something that can set lap records and possibly rearrange their internal organs in the process.

Lexus LFR development and testing

The fact that the LFR is being tested against the AMG GT R tells us everything we need to know about Lexus's ambitions for this project. The GT R isn't just fast – it's Mercedes' most track-focused road car, a machine that was developed with input from their Formula One team and tuned specifically for people who consider the Nürburgring their local test track. Choosing the GT R as a benchmark suggests that Lexus isn't planning to build just another fast luxury car. They want something that can genuinely compete with the best sports cars from Germany, which is roughly equivalent to a polite librarian announcing their intention to take on heavyweight boxing champions.

The testing location is also significant. Angeles Crest Highway is one of California's most challenging and scenic driving roads, the sort of place where automotive journalists go to discover whether cars are actually as good as their specifications suggest. It's not a place you'd take a car unless you were confident it could handle serious driving without falling apart. The prototype footage shows the LFR keeping pace with the AMG GT R, which suggests that whatever Lexus has built under that camouflaged body, it's got the performance to back up those impressive power figures. This isn't just a marketing exercise – this appears to be a genuine attempt to build something that can run with the automotive big boys.

Production is expected to begin in Q3 or Q4 of 2025, with prices starting around €200,000. That puts it squarely in supercar territory, competing directly with cars like the McLaren Artura, Ferrari 296 GTB, and yes, the Mercedes-AMG GT R that it's currently being benchmarked against. The LFR represents something important for Lexus beyond just adding a halo car to their lineup. It's proof that Toyota's luxury division has finally decided to take performance seriously, moving beyond their reputation for building cars that prioritize comfort and reliability over excitement and engagement. For years, Lexus has been the automotive equivalent of a very expensive, very comfortable armchair – perfectly functional, beautifully made, but not exactly the sort of thing that gets your heart racing. The LFR suggests that they're finally ready to build something that can make you forget about mortgages and sensible decisions and remember why falling in love with cars is one of life's great pleasures. Whether they can pull it off remains to be seen. Building a 900-horsepower supercar is one thing – making it feel special, making it emotionally engaging, making it something that people will choose over established competition from Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes – that's considerably more challenging.

But the fact that they're testing it against one of the best sports cars currently available suggests that Lexus is taking this project seriously. They're not just building a fast Lexus – they're trying to build a proper supercar that happens to wear a Lexus badge.

If they succeed, the LFR could be the car that finally gives Lexus the performance credibility they've been lacking. If they don't, well, at least we'll have some entertaining videos of a 900-horsepower Lexus trying to keep up with German engineering excellence on California's mountain roads.

Either way, it's going to be interesting to watch.