Lexus: Son of LF A to debut performance hybrid tech

Lexus is preparing to broaden its F performance sub-brand to offer electrified powertrains, says the car-maker's president Yoshihiro Sawa, who announced that a new flagship sports GT could be used to launch it.

Speaking to Brit mag Auto Express, the Toyota-owned premium brand's boss says that as well as advanced levels of electrification, the car-maker will aim to create a stronger emotional connection with buyers to help Lexus be held in the same regard among enthusiasts as some of its German rivals.

This has already begun, Sawa says, with Lexus' recent participation in motorsport, where it is raced in the GT3 race category in Europe for two seasons with the RC coupe.

Until now, if you exclude the V10-powered LFA hypercar, the IS F, RC F and GS F have all come with powerful naturally-aspirated V8s. But according to Sawa, Lexus will now have to embrace different powertrains in the coming years, suggesting hybrids will soon sport the 'F' badge. Indeed, Sawa announced a hybrid powertrain was being considered for a standalone F-badged GT.

"F is very important; with the F we have to think of our original way," said the Lexus boss at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed.

"One solution could be a pure F GT car, which could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine, giving a different kind of drive feel. We don't stick to V8, V10, twin-turbocharged; they're important but we're looking at the future. We'd like to find a way to connect to the next era.

"I think that now, we’re in a transitional period. At this moment people say EVs are trendy but three years later, who knows? People like the sound, the dynamics [of combustion engines]. I think we cannot stick to the one solution when it comes to providing emotion.”

As well as a hybrid, the Lexus president confirmed the car-maker would launch a pure-electric model, but says such a vehicle is more appropriate in a more luxurious application.

"We will introduce an EV but on top of that we're searching to decide which kind of EV will be loveable. It needs to have a luxury feeling too, because that is expected by our customers."

Love or hate Lexus design, Sawa says its divisive styling will live on, on future models including the use of the brand's trademark 'spindle grille'.

"Some people really love the spindle grille and some people don't like it at all. That's OK. The rate of our sales growth has gone up since we introduced the spindle so while we know that some potential buyers don't like it, many more are coming into our brand."

The next F model to join the range is rumoured to be a performance-enhanced version of the LC 500.

Thought to arrive as soon as 2019, the LC F isn't expected to benefit from an electrified powertrain but will come with lighter carbon-fibre parts, a bespoke chassis tune and a healthy power life over the standard car's 351kW/540Nm.

At the other end of the Lexus range, Toyota's luxury division says the slow-selling, eight-year-old Lexus CT 200h will continue on for two more years, after which it could be discontinued if buyers migrate to the upcoming UX compact SUV.

“At the moment, I see the UX as delivering additional volume, not necessarily replacing the CT," Lexus Europe boss Pascal Ruch recently told Autocar.

"We’ve just updated the CT, so we have at least two more years of sales to make an evaluation from. There is no rush to make a decision," he said.