Back in 2014, the shot-callers over at Lexus->ke47 apparently had no idea of what was going on with the future of the Lexus LF-A. Once production of the supercar->ke177 ended in 2012, the original word was that the LF-A->ke2181 wouldn’t get a successor. Come August of 2014, Executive Vice President, Mark Templin, confirmed that there would be a successor to the LF-A. Just a month later, Yukihiko Yaguchi – the Chief Engineer over at Lexus – said there were no active plans to build a successor. Now, after more than two years, someone is playing with the LF-A yo-yo again, but this time it isn’t Lexus.

According to Response – a Japanese website – Lexus is planning to introduce a new LF-A at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.->ke1834 If you recall, past rumors suggested that Lexus and BMW->ke178 were teaming up to build a new hypercar that would essentially be the LF-A’s successor, and boast at least 1,000 horsepower. The Japanese website, however, is saying the LF-A successor that is coming to the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show will be powered by a 3.7-liter, hybrid V-8 that produces upward of 800 horsepower.

Of course, this rumor from the Japanese website doesn’t really have a lot of merit at this point. The powers that be over at Lexus have remained pretty firm about there being no successor to the LF-A. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t something in the works over at Lexus. Back in February of 2015, we reported that Lexus wasn’t giving up on future performance halo vehicles. At the time, Mark Templin said, “I think you will see us do some incredible things in the future, but probably not a $375,000 supercar anytime soon.”

So the question is, do you believe the reports from the Japanese website, or are they just puffing smoke trying to get some attention? We hope that the newest rumor is true, but we’ll just have to wait and see. If the rumor gets enough traction, it will eventually be answered on by Lexus execs again. Until then, the name of the game is hoping and waiting.

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Why it matters

The biggest problem with the LF-A was its outrageous price tag. The car did have a 4.8-liter V-10 that delivered 560 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It could do the 60-mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 202 mph. The problem is that the LF-A was never meant to carry a $350,000 price tag. When development first started, the car was meant to be built with steel, but plans changed and eventually Lexus went with carbon fiber, which increased the cost of production considerably.

As much as some of you may hate me for saying it, I don’t think Lexus should build another $350,000 supercar. That’s not where the Lexus brand is meant to compete. Its strengths are in the luxury and sports car market, not the supercar market. Being out of its element, it’s no surprise that Lexus doesn’t want to get back in that ring.

Besides, the LF-A paved the way for models like the Lexus RC-F and the FS-F, and the design language has carried over to models as well. I think Lexus would do better off sticking with its current lineup and improving on what it already has. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds. Either way, I don’t think Lexus is going to disappoint us that badly anytime soon.

Lexus LF-A

Read our full review on the Lexus LF-A here.