Update: Introduction and ‘Specifications’ section updated.
According to a Best Car report dated March 22, 2021, the Lexus LF, the Japanese rival to large European SUVs like the BMW X7 and the Range Rover, will arrive in 2023.
The report said that the development of the LF’s top-end V8 engine is taking longer than estimated. The Japanese publication’s scoop team expects the hurdles with the V8 engine to be overcome and the production model to debut in 2023. Other reason cited is the impact of the Coronavirus on the movement of human resources.
Design
Currently, Lexus’ SUV line-up stops at the Lexus RX for customers who find impractical, the boxy, and gas-guzzling Prado-derived Lexus GX and the Land Cruiser-derived Lexus LX. Buyers preferring softer and understated designs, sportier proportions, and more efficiency could meet their match in the LF hybrid crossover.
Video Source: youtube.com/Discovery Lexus
The LF will be an F-segment, LS-type model sitting on the same platform as the full-size luxury sedan – GA-L. The design base of the LF would be the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept that premiered at the Detroit Auto Show three years ago. Expect a similar low-slung SUV-coupe design with a powerful face, a long hood, and a cab-backward shape underlining its RWD drivetrain layout, and urban-friendly dimensions.
Specifications
Best Car estimates that the Lexus LF will have a length, width, and height of 5,250 mm, 1,900 mm, and 1,580 mm, respectively. That’s 206.7 in., 74.8 in., and 62.2 in. in imperial, respectively.
Lexus will reportedly offer the LF with a 3.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, a 3.5-liter hybrid engine, and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. The 3.5-liter hybrid engine will be assisted by two electric motors, and the sources combined could deliver over 350 horsepower. A 1.1 kWh battery (3.6 Ah, 310.8 V) could power the motors, meaning the pure electric range would be limited. The V8 engine would power the F-Sport variant, as per a report Best Car published on February 15, 2022.
Release Date & Price
Best Car magazine estimates that the Lexus LF price would range between JPY 15 million to 20 million (USD 122,015 – 162,686) in Japan. The price sounds prohibitive, but this is the estimate we have. According to the new report, the LF will launch in spring 2023 in Japan. The Lexus LF hybrid SUV coupe could go on sale in the U.S. by the end of 2023 at well over USD 100,000.
Lexus LF FAQs
What is the Lexus LF release date?
As per Best Car magazine, the launch of the LF is programed in 2023.
What will be the price of the Lexus LF?
The Lexus LF price in Japan is estimated to begin at JPY 15 million (USD 122,015).
Will the Lexus LF launch in the United States?
It is likely that the LF would become the new flagship of the Lexus range in the U.S. in 2023.
Featured Image Source: Best Car
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
