The New Lexus LFA May Not Be Fully Electric After All

The LFA’s Powertrain Plot Twist

There’s a new Lexus LFA coming – that much is clear. It’s gorgeous and has plenty of the visual drama you would expect from a modern halo car, at least in concept form, although it came with one polarizing detail: it was announced to be a fully electric supercar.

But now, a report out of Japan claims Lexus might be changing course. Best Car says the next LFA could show up as a plug-in hybrid instead of going full EV.

There’s a pretty important disclaimer here, though. The Japanese publication has a knack for mixing dealer-level information, wild predictions, and unsubstantiated speculation, so we advise taking this with a dash of table salt.

From Electric Supercar To Plug-In Hybrid?

The prediction, as conveyed in a recent YouTube video about the report, gets a little murky. Best Car reportedly identifies a plug-in hybrid setup as the likely direction, while also acknowledging that the LFA has been tested in battery-electric form.

This leaves us with two options: either Lexus is rethinking its EV game plan, or the final powertrain is still up in the air because the production car is nowhere near ready. Another possibility involves solid-state batteries, which could eventually make the all-electric idea work. Bottom line: the LFA’s powertrain saga is anything but settled.

A plug-in hybrid supercar isn’t exactly a tragedy. Lamborghini’s already shown with the Temerario that hybrids can pack a serious punch (even quicker than the Revuelto flagship) and still keep an engine behind the seats. The real question is: is that what LFA fans are actually looking for?

The Shadow Of The Original LFA

The original LFA is a tough act to follow, and not just because of its spec sheet. That screaming, Yamaha-tuned V10 was the heart and soul of the car. Throw in a featherweight carbon-fiber body and a wild, high-revving personality, and you had something that stood out from the usual supercar crowd.

That’s why the idea of a heavier, more complicated plug-in hybrid LFA might not sit well with purists. Sure, more power and quicker sprints are great, but extra batteries and technology could take the car further from the sheer magic that made the first LFA so special.

Still, the new LFA isn’t just vaporware. A camouflaged prototype already tore up the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and its shape looks a lot like the concept we’ve seen.

As for the plug-in hybrid talk, remember: it’s all still rumor territory. In the end, the new LFA’s fate probably hinges less on what keyboard warriors think and more on what the deep-pocketed buyers actually want in their next supercar.