The Lexus F performance brand will be moving away from naturally-aspirated V8 engines in favor of more advanced powertrains, according to an Auto Express interview with Lexus president Yoshihiro Sawa:
“F is very important; with F we have to think of our own original way,” said Sawa, speaking during his first visit to the 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.”
The idea of a high-performance Lexus EV is exciting, but much of what Sawa-san is saying is open to interpretation, including the meaning of “pure F GT car” — is this the near-certain LC F coupe, or perhaps a new model slotted even higher in the lineup?
(So far, all rumors on the LC F have pointed towards a twin-turbocharged 4.0 V8 putting out more than 600 horsepower — there’s been little mention of either a hybrid or pure electric version.)
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