Lexus Is Plenty Aware That Everyone Wants a Successor to the LFA

Lexus’ LFA was a car nobody could have anticipated. Limited to just 500 production models, the $350,000 status symbol was as prestigious as it was rare. Strange, considering Lexus is known as a luxury brand that’s still big on value. However, there weren’t many people griping about the LFA’s price once they experienced its performance firsthand. Its high-revving, 553 horsepower V10 has been universally praised by almost everyone who’s gained access to it, and even those who haven’t.

The Toyota Motor Corporation is aware that the model’s absence has been noticed and, despite Lexus’ current focus on improving sales via sport utility vehicles, it thinks there could still be room for another flagship halo car.

Speaking to CarBuzz at the recent Detroit auto show, Lexus Group vice president Jeff Bracken said there may be yet be hope. At the very least, he explained that the automaker understood that the public misses the LFA.

“We need more halo representation. We hear often from our dealers if we can have an LFA follow-up,” Bracken said. “So you never know. But that car was just so out there in terms of technology, power and handling. I wouldn’t rule it out. I think that when we hear so many emotional and high number of requests for a follow-up to LFA, we certainly won’t ignore that. It’s not a closed door.”

The closest thing to it in Lexus’ current lineup is the LC grand tourer. While there is little bad to be said about it (it could be faster), it lacks the scalpel-like precision and exotic charms of the LFA. It’s not the kind of vehicle that forces enthusiasts to look at the brand in a different light.

“Just as the LF-LC concept came out in 2012, there was so much positive feedback from the media, public and dealers that we did make the decision to go ahead and build it. And we were able to make the production car look very much like the concept.”

Alright, got it. All Lexus needs to do is design a concept vehicle that we can gush over and they’ll eventually build it. That certainly sounds simple but, if the brand intends to bring something forth that’s on the bleeding edge of technology again, the timeline for it could be vast. We’re banking on Lexus finishing off another SUV first, maybe even something that will sit above the $85,000 LX.

[Image: Lexus]