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Toyota’s most senior powertrain engineer has steered Lexus could provide a novel model of the petrol-electric V8 hybrid powertrain set to be launched within the 2026 Toyota GR GT sports activities automotive when it launches the manufacturing model of the Lexus Sport Idea.
Talking to Australian media at this week’s Tokyo motor present (Japan Mobility Present), Takashi Uehara – powertrain president at Lexus mother or father firm, Toyota – revealed the premium auto model is creating a twin-turbo V8 hybrid model of the Japanese large’s new vary of modular inner combustion petrol engines.
They begin with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine – slated for fashions such because the next-generation Toyota Corolla – in addition to a 2.0-litre model the automaker confirmed within the wild mid-engined Yaris GR Idea final January.
Toyota confirmed off a pair of sports activities vehicles on the 2025 Goodwood Pageant of Pace in July – revealing mid-mounted V8-power for the 2 camouflaged fashions, with one of many automobiles since confirmed as the brand new Toyota GR GT sports activities automotive, which is about to be unveiled in early December.
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An audio observe of the Toyota V8 was launched by the automaker in October when it introduced the launch timing of its new efficiency flagship.
The opposite sports activities automotive is tipped to be the brand new Lexus LFR, the long-awaited successor for the V10-powered Lexus LFA special-edition supercar – with the Sport Idea additionally more likely to preview a possible alternative for the outgoing LC Coupe powered by a 5.0-litre V8.
When requested if Lexus clients can even count on V8 energy in future fashions, the engineer replied: “You possibly can count on – you see the Lexus new sports activities automotive? That’s that…,” mentioned Takashi-san, referring to the Sport Idea proven in Tokyo.
Toyota’s international powertrain boss went on to clarify the V8 engine is “broadly talking” associated the two.0-litre turbo-four within the Yaris GR Idea and might be a twin-turbo. Whereas he didn’t affirm the capability, this means it will likely be a 4.0-litre engine, as broadly anticipated.
“We’ve a number of partitions with the engines. For instance, I don’t say for the 1.5-litre now we have solely a sporty one… so for each sizes of engines, now we have a number of partitions if vital.
“So perhaps we may have a V8 with a extra light [character] or we may have a extra muscular, heavy-duty model.”
This virtually actually means two variations of the brand new V8 – one for Lexus and one for Toyota – are on the playing cards.
Takashi-san defined the V8’s attraction lies in “the perfect level of efficiency and in addition now we have to care in regards to the design of combustion [engines], but in addition if we are saying quick, most energy is required.
“To think about the utmost energy, now we have to design the utmost rpm [revs per minute], and now we have to care in regards to the design of the combustion chamber – then we choose V8,” he defined.
The engine gained’t should be a plug-in hybrid to go emissions rules all over the world – together with Australia’s New Automobile Effectivity Customary (NVES) – like different high-performance fashions such because the BMW M5 and Lamborghini Temerario.
The Lamborghini, launched earlier this yr, is a high-rpm engine – as Takashi-san described the Lexus/Toyota V8 – and might spin to 10,000rpm.
The Lexus Sport Idea was unveiled on the Monterey Automobile Week within the US in August 2025, when solely its exterior was revealed.
The present automotive’s cabin was revealed in Tokyo yesterday, comprising a steering yoke instead of a traditional steering wheel, and a digital driver’s interface together with a battery cost meter – confirming it has an electrified powertrain.
It additionally featured minor exterior styling adjustments which Lexus mentioned have been designed to enhance aerodynamics.
Extra particulars of the Lexus Sport Idea are anticipated after the revealing of the Toyota GR GT Idea, which is scheduled for 11:00am Tokyo time on December 5, 2025.
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