Lexus could possibly consider bringing the LFA back after discontinuing the model in 2012, but the automakers want us to beg for it first.
It took the Japanese company many years to launch the original version of the supercar but it received major plaudits when it finally dropped, with Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson swearing it's the best car he's ever driven.
Given the impression it's left, it's a bit weird that Lexus has shown such little interest in making a successor but, a recent interview featuring company vice president Koji Sato revealed that a new LFA could be a possibility if the media makes persistent requests.
“I love it but we need your help," he told Autocar. "We need strong requests for a new LFA from the media. This can help us proceed."
PREVIOUSLY: Lexus Will Launch Small Hatchback As Its First All-Electric Car
We at Hotcars want this to happen, so we are probably going to push for it (prepare to be bombarded with LFA-related emails, Lexus).
The high price tag that came along with the car made it difficult for Lexus to sell all 500 units after it launched. And the fact that it did right after the global economic crisis in 2008-2009 was of very little help. That could be a factor in the company's hesitance to build a successor but it seems like they could be open to beginning production if we pester them enough.
In the meantime, the first electronic Lexus is in the works although the details are rather scanty. The company plans to have an electric variant of every car in its lineup by 2025, something Sato refers to as an "exciting opportunity."
"We expect four wheels operating independently will offer greater agility, stability and excitement,” he said. “We will continue to pursue this exciting opportunity.”
The Toyota subsidiary is also keen on offering alternatives to the petrol engine that aren't fully electric. Those include plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells.
“The hybrid technology is our core," Sato says. "Our expertise in electrical control technology and battery technology can be used for other types of alternative powertrains, even fuel cells.