Ever since the IS F was unveiled to the world in 2007, the backbone of Lexus’ high-performance F division has been the 2UR-GSE, a 5.0 litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine. With the exception of the V10-powered LFA, the sonorous eight-cylinder mill has appeared on the two F models since – the RC F and GS F.
But with the engine having reached its zenith in the 471 hp LC 500, the brand hasn’t had anywhere to go from there. Well, now it does, as Toyota has confirmed that it has developed a new twin-turbocharged V8 for use in future road cars, including its sports cars.
The engine will be shoehorned into an LC race car that Lexus is fielding in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May, where the company hopes it will improve on past results, the car having spent an inordinate amount of time in the pits in both years it has competed in so far. Apart from hopefully giving the car a competitive edge, the news also blows the door wide open for the engine’s implementation in the upcoming LC F.
This uprated version of a fairly potent luxury coupé (and now convertible) has been spotted undergoing testing at the fearsome German track as early as July, sporting large front bumper cutouts for extra cooling, much wider tyres, cross-drilled brakes and the stacked quad exhausts that are hallmarks of the F brand. An image of the prototype was even shown at an event, confirming that an F model is in development.
No details of the engine have been released just yet, but reports suggest that the eight-pot will be significantly smaller than the current unit, displacing just 4.0 litres. Even so, the existence of the twin turbos will be more than enough to make up for it, with a projected output of upwards of 600 hp being more than enough to allow it to compete with the BMW M8.
GALLERY: Lexus LC F spyshots
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- Spy-Shots of Cars This image has been optimized for a calibrated screen with a Gamma of 2.2 and a colour temperature of 6500°K
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- Spy-Shots of Cars This image has been optimized for a calibrated screen with a Gamma of 2.2 and a colour temperature of 6500°K
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- Spy-Shots of Cars This image has been optimized for a calibrated screen with a Gamma of 2.2 and a colour temperature of 6500°K
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- Spy-Shots of Cars This image has been optimized for a calibrated screen with a Gamma of 2.2 and a colour temperature of 6500°K
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The question is why only now Lexus? The German Big 3 has been doing this chasing big horses through multicylinder turbo engines for ages & now you had just plan to join the party? They have already embarked on widescale electrification..
The lazy Japs were sleeping.
Toyota already have their own turbo engine since ages too bro. They have 1jz single turbo n 2jzgte 6cyl twin turbo in 80s 90s, turbo diesel 4cyl, 6cyl, 8cyl. They even have a rare V12 engine but NA la no turbo.
And mostly toyota turbo engine were carried forward from 1jz and 2jz wif siff tuning, cos that their most reliable turbo engine even made. Toyota not really chasing big horses cos they play safe, they play more to lower fuel consumption. Not suprise their new engine 4.0 twin turbo would only rate around 300+hp to 400+hp only. In petrol engine, NA engine much easier n cheaper to maintain than turbo engine.
But those were in the 1980s & 1990s bro. We are talking about post 2000s..
Japan fansies still dreaming and nostalgic about the days back in the 80s.
And that new twin turbo v8 engine should powered the A90 Supra. Not a bmw engine. Let the Supra still the pure Toyota. And the legend reborn again.
Jap engines for jap cars simple .
So this engine in the future will be inside llke the current lexus lx570, lexus ls460, toyota landcruiser 200, camry. Might as well make it into new supra with special tune.
On the other hand, we are talking about global warming, CO2 emission, climate change and saving the polar bear.. so Lexus is expecting you to buy the car but keep it in your garage?