Future Lexus F Models Might Go Hybrid Before All-Electric

Aside from the legendary LFA, all of Lexus’ high-performance offerings have one thing in common: the 2UR engine, a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. First introduced in the IS F sedan, the venerable 90-degree V8 has survived the upgrade to smaller displacement, turbocharged alternatives and is run today in the recently introduced RC F and IS 500 F-Performance. But for how long?

“I think the 2UR in its current form is on its last legs,” said Lexus General Manager Andrew Gilleland Motor1.com during an interview at Rolex 24 At Daytona 2022 last weekend. That doesn’t mean the brand boss isn’t a fan of the engine. “It’s just bulletproof. It won’t break, and you don’t have to do much other than change the oil and maintain it,” says Gilleland.

But the current market reality seems like too much to continue with 2UR.

“I think this might be the last one, of course in the IS 500 that’s one of the selling points,” said Gilleland. “I can look a customer in the eye and say, ‘I’m pretty sure this might be him.’”

Supporting that statement is the fact that Lexus parent company Toyota has replaced the 3UR, the associated 5.7-liter V8, with a twin-turbocharged V6 in the Tundra, Sequoia, and Lexus LX. And while we’d like to see high-output turbocharged engines in high-performance RCs or ISs in the future, Gilleland seems to be hinting that Lexus is going in a different direction.

“My guess is that you will see a lot of hybrids, with respect to [F] before you get full power,” said the Lexus boss. “If you’ve ever driven a Tesla or [Porsche] Taycan, acceleration blow your lid. So are you taking electrification and making it not only about the environment, but also about performance?”

To a large extent, we’ve seen this approach from Lexus, first with the LC 500h, but more recently with the NX 450h+, which is Lexus’ first PHEV and the most powerful member of the redesigned NX family. Toyota has also seen success with plugs, with the RAV4 Prime remaining the critically acclaimed hot-ticket item and the hottest version of the popular CUV nearly two years after its release.

While Gilleland has stopped short of revealing more, it looks like a fresh take on the F’s performance isn’t far off.

“We have a four year life cycle [on the IS 500], and then beyond that there are a few other powertrains. My friends called me and asked ‘Did you build another one?’. I highly doubt it. I’ll take one and put it in your garage.”