Looks like the Lexus LFA->ke2181 will finally get a successor after all. Ever since production of the LFA ended in 2012, the Japanese automaker hasn't had a flagship supercar->ke177 under its name. There was talk of a potential successor, but those discussions were eventually scuttled, leaving the company with a gaping hole in the top of its already potent model lineup. But something must've happened within the company to make it reverse course on its position.

Automotive News is reporting that Lexus Executive Vice President Mark Templin confirmed to reporters that the company will, in fact, build a successor to the LFA. The decision even has the blessing of Toyota->ke88 President Akio Toyoda, which is the equivalent of taking this development to the bank.

"Akio believes that every generation deserves to have a car like an LFA, so we're building an LFA for the generation we have today," Templin said during a ceremony in Japan dedicated to the Lexus NX. "At some point, there may be another special car for another generation."

No specific details have been divulged surrounding this new supercar but you can at least expect Lexus to dedicate a lot of time and money to test and develop it. That was the approach Lexus engineers took with the LFA and there's no reason why it's going to be different this time around.

For now, though, we're just excited to hear that the LFA will get a successor. For a while, we didn't think it was going to happen, so props go to Lexus->ke47 for finally recognizing the obvious.

Click past the jump to read more about the Lexus LFA.

Why It Matters

The LFA did a lot for Lexus in ways no other car has ever done for it. Not only did it give Lexus the cache to be a player in the market, but it also gave supercar brands like Ferrari->ke252 and McLaren->ke284 reason to worry about the advancements Lexus has made in the segment.

At the very least, we can expect the LFA successor to be better than its predecessor. That could entail using a bigger engine than the 4.8-liter V-10 that produced 560 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Don't be surprised if Lexus considers using hybrid technology on this new supercar->ke177. That's been the direction a lot of other supercar brands have gone recently.

Lexus LFA

The Japanese automaker really made quite an impression with the LFA supercar back when it was first unveiled in 2010.

It was only limited to 500 examples and when production ended in 2012, it culminated a two-year run for the supercar that was as surprising as it was remarkable. During its run, the LFA was considered one of the top supercars.

Rightfully so, too, because this veritable beast on wheels came with a 4.8-liter V-10 that delivered 560 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 354 pound-feet at 6,800 rpm.

As a result of this mammoth output, the LFA could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 202 mph.