We say “may” because Toyota has not issued confirmation on the subject.

However, a heavily camouflaged Toyota sports car prototype has been seen testing in Europe over the past year. At NĂĽrburgring Nordschleife, to be precise. This, according to a report from Car and Driver, suggests the development mule could become an LFA successor if it’s greenlit for production.

The back story here is this test vehicle – there are two according to Car and Driver – is alleged to be the production version of a GR GT3 race car concept Toyota revealed at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. According to the magazine, Toyota’s in-house motorsports arm, Gazoo Racing, is leading development. The production car, should it come to pass, could be badged as a Lexus, perhaps as LFR, the story notes.

Spy photos taken at the NĂĽrburgring – sorry, we don’t have the rights to publish those shots here but we've included some GT3 concept and first-gen LFA pics – suggest Toyota was testing different fixed rear wing setups.  

Car and Driver speculates the car has a hybrid V8 engine but, again, Toyota isn’t commenting. The spy photographer claimed the test mules in Germany had yellow stickers on them, which denotes electrification, and they also said the car started off silently before an engine fired up after a short distance. Sounds like a hybrid powertrain to us.

Spy photos also show an interior that has carbon fiber trim in the door panels and dash cowl, although it’s hard to see much under a pile of testing equipment. An automatic transmission gear selector is visible on the center console, if you look closely, however.

Close-up shots of the body work reveal some interesting air flow and cooling management bits, including a hood air extractor, and air intakes in the rear quarter panels. Large openings in the front fenders appear to be vents for brake cooling. Apart from that, there’s not much else that can be gleaned in terms of design. Then again, that’s why these cars wear so much camouflage in the first place.

One other note worth mentioning comes from a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) executive Car and Driver interviewed, and it concerns racing. TRD, for those unaware, is Toyota’s U.S.-based tuning and high-performance division.

That executive, David Wilson, president of TRD, suggests Toyota wants a new car for racing in the global GT3 class, a division where many Toyota / Lexus rivals compete. Wilson said, the current Lexus race car, the RC F GT3, which competes in IMSA and is based on the RC road car, wasn’t developed from the ground up to compete in racing.

Without confirming the LFR, he said it’s vital for any road car that also competes in racing, such as GT3, to be designed and engineered for that purpose from the beginning. Not as an add-on after the production car is already on sale.

So read into that what you will. We’ll also note that the current gen RC coupe is scheduled to go out of production at the end of the 2025 model year. Could a hypothetical LFR replace the RC, and the LC, which could be nearing the end of its run, too? More info on the latter can be found here.

We could know what Toyota's plans are, and soon. The Japan Mobility Show, the odd-year motor show that matters most to Japanese OEMs is scheduled for late October. We won’t be surprised if Toyota has news to share then.

Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp. and Lexus North America

Like the IONIQ 5 N hatchback, the IONIQ 6 N sedan is a high-performance, track-ready beast. It's powered by an 84-kWh battery and front (223 hp) and rear (378 hp) electric motors that produce a combined 601 horsepower. A boost mode increases peak output to 641 horsepower. Maximum torque is rated at 568 pounds-feet.

So, it’s fast, right? It sure is.

With N Launch Control, the IONIQ 6 N has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3.2 seconds, and its top speed is rated at 257 km/h (160 mph).

IONIQ 6 N embodies Hyundai’s N philosophy, which has three pillars: Corner Rascal, Racetrack Capability, and Everyday Sportscar. Basically, it means the car is built for track days but is also comfortable and refined for regular everyday driving.

Apart from its powertrain, a key element of the IONIQ 6 N is its suspension tuning, which features redesigned geometry for better handling and grip. The suspension is designed for both track thrashing and comfort needed for daily driving. The car has a lowered center of gravity for better high-speed stability and improved cornering grip but is also suited for driving on public roads.

The IONIQ 6 N also benefits from stroke sensing electronically controlled suspension dampers, which adjust damping force for various driving conditions from road to track.

Like IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 6 N benefits from Hyundai’s motorsports programs, which the company calls its “rolling lab” initiatives. Among these are the N Battery which has been re-engineered for better temperature management, and adapts to different tracking scenarios, including drag, sprint, or endurance racing.

The car’s battery conditioning functions have been integrated for higher and longer-lasting performance. Thermal management has also been improved, and battery coolant heater capacity is increased to reduce conditioning time.

IONIQ 6 N’s design has also been influenced by racing. Aerodynamic elements such as the swan neck rear wing and widened fenders improve downforce and reduce drag while also providing stability during high-speed cornering.  

As is the case with other N cars, IONIQ 6 N comes with a load of standard performance features, all beginning with the letter N. We mentioned N Battery, and N Launch Control, but here are a few others.

N Grin Boost – maximum acceleration for 10 seconds; maximum power increase and max motor responsiveness for overtaking

N Drift Optimizer – individual level control for customizable drift settings; Initiation (RTO), Angle (ESC), and Wheel Spin (TCS)

N Torque Distribution – fully variable front and rear torque distribution with 11 adjustable levels

N e-Shift – virtual gear shifting

N Ambient Shift Light – cabin light that provides cues for precise shift points

A few notes before wrapping up. The IONIQ 6 N rides on 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero 5 summer tires that were designed specifically for the car.

Hyundai’s official statement didn’t mention interior features, or projected driving range, but did provide a list of exterior colors. They are Performance Blue Pearl (new), Abyss Black Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Nocturne Gray Metallic, Nocturne Gray Matte, and Gravity Gold Matte. Availability could vary by market, but most should be available in North America.

The 2026 IONIQ 6 N goes on sale in its Korean home market in September, by year’s end in Europe, and early next year in North America. Hyundai says the car will launch with a range of N performance parts. The company says, “these components let customers further personalize their vehicle and experience track-inspired performance on the street or circuit.”

More information, including pricing, will be released closer to launch.

Photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

Honda hears your dilemma, dear owners, and it has a solution. But there’s a caveat. You must be a first gen NSX owner, or potential owner. That’s because, beginning in spring 2026, Honda will sell new replacement parts for your old NSX. 

This news, which comes to us via a recent report in Car and Driver, has been in the works for a while. Honda has been considering a replacement parts program for years, and it’s not the only one. Nissan and Toyota have parts programs for their heritage cars, as does Mazda, which makes replacement parts for the first gen MX-5 Miata, and RX-7. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have had similar programs in place for years, according to Car and Driver.

Honda’s program for the NSX will not simply recycle old parts but will consist of new manufactured bits created with modern technology including 3-D printing, Car and Driver reports.

For those wondering about new parts for other classic Hondas, Car and Driver says the Integra Type R and S2000 could be next, but programs for those cars have yet to be confirmed.

An in-house restoration program, like the one Mazda offers for the first gen Miata, is also planned for the first gen NSX. But the bad news is it’s only for Japanese owners, Car and Driver says. Hopefully one day that program will cross the Pacific.

Photos courtesy of American Honda

We say that because of a recent article from MotorTrend, says a new Mazda sports car is in development. But first, some caveats. It hasn’t been officially confirmed by Mazda, so we don’t know when (or if) it will arrive. And we don’t know much about the car itself, such as its name.

But, based on what MotorTrend is reporting, there is enough evidence to predict a new rotary-engine sports car based on the Iconic SP concept revealed at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023 will likely arrive in the coming years.

The Iconic SP concept, pictured here, looks a lot like the third gen Mazda RX-7, with its curvaceous body work and Coke bottle proportions. Built from 1991 through 2002, the third gen RX-7 left our shores in North America in 1995 due to declining sales.

According to MotorTrend, power for the new car could take the form of a hybrid range-extender set-up like that in Iconic SP, which featured a dual-rotor rotary engine paired with an electric motor. Estimated combined output is 365 horsepower. 

MotorTrend notes that Mazda used a rotary engine as a range extender in the 2023 MX-30. This version of the since discontinued crossover wasn’t sold in North America because it didn’t pass emission standards at that time. Mazda says its new, more powerful rotary engine will meet EPA standards.

We know what you’re thinking, and we thought the same thing: rotary engines tend to pollute a lot, and they aren’t very fuel efficient. The former is one of the main reasons the RX-8, the RX-7’s initial successor, was discontinued. It literally couldn’t pass European emissions, and that was in 2010.

Well, according to MotorTrend, Mazda has improved its understanding of how the rotary engine works, including meeting tightening global emission standards, and how it can work with different fuels, such as hydrogen. Presumably, this means the new rotary will be future-proofed to last longer than its predecessors, but time will tell.

For the sake of the new sports car, the tech had better be future-proofed because Mazda wants to use the rotary as a primary source of propulsion, according to MotorTrend. A second powertrain option will also be offered. No details were mentioned, but apparently an EV version isn’t in plans. Not yet at least.

As for when this theoretical sports car would go into production, MotorTrend says 2026 is possible, as the new rotary engine should be ready by then, but Mazda isn’t commenting officially yet.

One final thing worth noting is the new Mazda sports car will not replace the MX-5 Miata roadster. The plan is to have two Mazda sports cars. MotorTrend also reported a new Miata is in development. No timeframe for a fifth gen model was mentioned but it shouldn’t be too far off. The current fourth gen ND Miata has been in production since 2015.

Photos courtesy of Mazda North America

This time around, the automotive grim reaper apparently has its sights set on the Lexus LC, the gorgeous gas and gas hybrid coupe and convertible that have been with us since 2018.

Now, before we go any further, it is important to note that Lexus parent company Toyota has not confirmed the LC will be leaving us. At least, not yet. But given the other Lexus coupe – the RC – will be discontinued at the end of the 2025 model year, rumors of the LC’s demise can’t be easily dismissed. 

The source of the LC’s upcoming discontinuation is Car and Driver, where the magazine mentions a report from Japanese website Creative Trend that says the LC will be retired after the 2026 model year.

But here’s where things get a little fuzzy. Creative Trend, via Car and Driver, reports the 2026 LC will be offered in coupe and convertible for the Japanese market in Pinnacle Edition form. Pinnacle LCs will be limited to 100 coupes and 100 convertibles, and they’ll be sold in a lottery of some sort. Half of the cars will be reserved for current Lexus customers.

No photos of Pinnacle LCs are available, but according to Creative Trend, the coupes are finished in matte silver with a black and white interior. Forged 21-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler are also included.

The droptops are reportedly finished in Neutrino Gray (light gray) with a light brown, or tan, roof with an interior that is tan and white. Convertibles will reportedly be offered with the same features as the coupes.

So, what about units for the rest of the world, including North America?

The simple answer is, we don’t know. The Car and Driver story didn’t mention any Pinnacle Editions LCs bound for the U.S. When the magazine reached out to Lexus North America, a spokesperson said only that there’s no news regarding the LC for the U.S. market.

But that doesn’t mean the LC isn’t going away after 2026 and that there won’t be some sort of special edition arriving to mark the occasion. That could still happen. Lexus North America, and Lexus Canada, just may not be ready to announce anything. Yet.

Something else to keep in mind regarding the LC: sales. Toyota just released its Q2 numbers for the U.S., and let’s just say the LC hasn’t been selling like gangbusters. Just 65 were sold in Q2, which is less than half compared to Q2 2024 (135). Year-to-date figures are also down, with just 790 sold through June 30 versus 966 sold during the same period last year.

Bottom line, it doesn’t look good for the Lexus LC. It wouldn’t surprise us if 2026 is indeed the last year for this glorious V8-powered coupe, and convertible. And that would be a shame.

Photos courtesy of Lexus North America

That’s right, SRT (Street and Racing Technology), the high-performance in-house tuning arm of Stellantis that was essentially shuttered in 2021 when its stand-alone status ended and its employees were folded back into the global company, is making a comeback.

In a statement, Stellantis announced not only the return of SRT, but the establishment of American brands and North America marketing and retail strategy, a business unit that will, “work across the brand portfolio to further build and enhance the connections customers have with the company’s products, marketing efforts and dealer network in the region.”

Leading this new division, and the resurrected SRT, is Tim Kuniskis, the current RAM CEO. He will keep that role in addition to heading up the new divisions.

The statement didn’t contain any specifics about new products but said the new SRT will work across the American brands (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM) under a single entity and with a unified high-performance strategy.

One other tidbit that caught our eye is the fact that SRT will also oversee Direct Connection, the Mopar performance parts program, and Stellantis’ North American motorsports operations, including NHRA drag racing, and RAM’s return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. More info on the latter can be found here.

It goes without saying that we would love to see old SRT nameplates like the Challenger and Viper return. A new SRT variant of the Magnum wagon and a next gen Chrysler 300 SRT would also be great. Time will tell but, if we had to guess, SRT versions of Jeep and RAM products feel more likely. At least in the short term.

That said, Stellantis still owns the Dodge Challenger trademark. And if it returns to the NASCAR Cup Series with Dodge, which Kuniskis has said is in the company’s plans, then perhaps a new Challenger SRT isn’t that farfetched.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Photos courtesy of Stellantis North America

Sure, it’s great to see another high-performance car hit the market, but it’s not exactly eyebrow raising. Manufacturers should be churning out high-performance, limited-production variants of Corvettes, Mustangs, and GT-Rs. It's one of the main reasons sports cars exist. Can one imagine Chevy not building a Z06 or ZR1 Corvette? Neither can we.

But what about less obvious tuning targets? Our eyebrows went up a little when Toyota built a TRD version of the last gen Camry. That surprised us, but in the best possible way.

And if you thought a spicy Camry was unlikely, Nissan said, “hold my beer,” when it recently unveiled the 2026 Armada Nismo.

That’s right, the biggest Nissan SUV, a body-on-frame, three-row, seven-passenger brute will be available as a Nismo when 2026 models begin arriving at dealerships this fall.

We we’re pleased to learn the Armada Nismo isn’t just a branding exercise. Nissan is making mechanical changes to separate the Nismo from regular Armadas. The biggest upgrade is more power from the Armada’s standard 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which jumps from 425 horsepower to 460. Nissan says the extra output was achieved through revised engine programming and, “careful fine tuning of valve clearances,” according to a press release. Of note, 460 hp can only be achieved with premium fuel.

Also on board is a louder low-restriction exhaust, re-tuned electric steering, and an Adaptive Electronic Air Suspension. All have been designed for a sportier, performance feel, Nissan says. The Armada Nismo rides on grade-specific 22-inch forged alloy wheels.

As for appearance, the Armada gets the full Nismo treatment with unique front and rear fascia, grille, side steps and rear spoiler. Fender flares, and red painted brake calipers complete the exterior look, along with a smattering of Nismo badges.

Inside, the Armada Nismo comes draped in red accents that appear on the center console, steering wheel, and dashboard. Other notable features include front seats with adjustable bolsters, aluminum pedals, ambient lighting, and quilted leather seating with red stitching and red accent panels.

Color options include Nismo Stealth Gray (also available on Z Nismo), Nismo Stealth Gray with Super Black Roof, Black Diamond Pearl, Everest White Pearl Tricoat, and Everest White Pearl Tricoat with Super Black Roof.

Pricing has not been announced, but given the fall arrival timeline, it should be revealed soon.

Photos courtesy of Nissan