To be honest I was surprised Toyota made the V35A-FTS, when it was known V8s will be phased out, and V6s too in favour of turbocharged I4s.
With all the turbocharged 6 cylinder engines needed at TMC (BOF SUVs/UTS, RWD cars) which still are a limited market compared to I4 powered vehicles, I was certain TMC would follow the other car makers by reducing cost and increasing reliability with the use of I6 based on lengthened I4s.
BMW did it explicitly with the B38/B48/B58 (the new V8 never came and will no more come due to general V8 phaseout, N63/S63 will just get updated till the end, it is +10 years old engine, no one complain s compared to 2GR and 2UR), Mercedes went further and not only based their I6 on their I4 AMG engine that made JDM power-to-engine ratio, but even their V8 (like the 1VD base on two I4 diesels put together, like Aston Martin V12 made of two Ford Taurus I6s), JLR with its new I4 Ingenium based I6, and rumors of FCA making and I6.
Given that Toyota has I6 heritage, it is easier to digest and I6 engine as top range, that is what cars had before the 1UZ, Landcruiser, Supra... These is nothing bigger than I6(>I5>I4>I3), no I8, but there is bigger than V6(<V8<V10<V12).
I don't hate V6, I like both V6 and I6, both have their pros and cons. But Lexus does not profit from the advantages of V6 being more compact, interior room and wieght distribution is not better than a comparable BMW with I6. The Zupra should have had a low placed (dry sump?) V6 with proper mid-(front-)engine layout and transaxle, cheaper LFA with usable powerband and reasonable fuel economy.
And now, Lexus comes with turbocharged V8 at the end of the game, when they could have simply put the superchargers they already had (like JLR till now)?
Even Ferrari has no new V8 engine coming, but all improvents and their 3.8 that power Masertis too.
PS: Aston Martin confirmed no new I6, new V6 hybrid.
And that is what I think, V6 is a better combination for hybridation than I6, I6 is good as ICE only. Mid-front V6 allows to add electric motors to front wheels, whithout having and overlong hood, no need to have transfer case towards the front, ICE mechanically powers rear wheels only with electric asistance.
I bet that is exaclty the setup Ferrari's CUV will have, RWD electrically assisted transaxle, and in front electric motor(s) instead of the second gearbox the FF/GTC4 has. Of course it is a CUVs, so Landcruiser offroading/overlanding is not its purpose. But it will fulfill its AWD taks as well as any other mechanical AWD vehicle.
PS: sorry for long post