5 Minutes
Fresh CGI Imagines a Compact Lexus Targa for Driving Purists
A social-media render by the digital artist known as 'cool.car.design' has sparked fresh conversation about what a future Lexus sports car might look like. Rather than replacing the LC grand tourer with another heavyweight coupe, this unofficial concept imagines a compact, ICE-powered targa roadster — a throwback to analog driving pleasure wrapped in current Lexus styling cues.
Market context: Lexus growth and the missing sports car
Lexus finished 2025 strong, helping Toyota stay the world's largest automaker and pushing total Lexus deliveries past 882,000 units. Crossovers like the RX, NX and the new TX led demand, and hybrids remain a cornerstone of the brand's growth. But sales declines in lines such as the LC coupe and convertible pushed Lexus to discontinue those grand tourers, leaving a gap in the brand's passenger car portfolio — especially in the US where sedans and two-door models still have niche appeal.
This CGI vision addresses that void with something decidedly smaller and more playful than a successor LC.
Design highlights: modern Lexus language, compact proportions
The renderter blends trademark Lexus details with fresh ideas:
- LED headlights linked visually to a vertical bumper crease
- Tall, vertically oriented LED taillights that flow into the bumper
- A ducktail rear spoiler and a trapezoidal central exhaust integrated into a gloss-black diffuser
- Large gray alloy wheels and a classic cockpit with analogue-style instruments
Although billed as a roadster by its creator, the car appears more like a targa: a removable or retractable roof section rather than a full soft-top. That layout offers structural rigidity with open-air thrills — ideal for buyers who want a weekend sports car that’s also usable daily.
Performance and drivetrain: ICE, not EV
Unlike Lexus's recent LFA concept and other EV explorations, this design keeps an internal combustion engine. Visual cues such as the central exhaust and rear diffuser suggest a traditional powertrain — perhaps a turbocharged four-cylinder or a lightly tuned inline-six paired to a manual or sporty automatic. The targa arrangement would also make the car lighter than an EV, favoring balanced handling and engagement over outright straight-line acceleration.
How it stacks up: competitor and audience
The compact footprint and removable roof place this concept squarely against cars like the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. Compared with a Miata, a Lexus-branded targa could offer:
- A more premium interior and materials
- Distinctive design language for buyers wanting a boutique alternative
- Hybrid or mild-hybrid options as optional efficiency upgrades
This isn't a mass-market sports car in the bargain-basement sense; it's more of a premium small roadster aimed at enthusiasts who value style, feel and brand cachet.
"A targa Lexus could give the brand a new emotional halo without cannibalizing SUV sales," industry watchers note. "It would also appeal to enthusiasts who miss analogue instrument clusters and a direct driving experience."
Final thoughts: fantasy or future?
For now, the design is purely speculative — a creative exercise from the CGI community rather than an official Lexus roadmap. Still, the render is a useful reminder that not all enthusiasts want electrified GTs: some want lightweight, mechanically honest sports cars with tactile controls and a roof they can remove.
If Lexus ever chose to pursue a small targa, it would face decisions about price positioning, powertrain choices and whether to offer manual transmissions. But with Toyota and Lexus continuing to dominate sales and invest in diverse technologies, a compact Lexus sports car remains a plausible and exciting possibility — even if, for now, it exists only in pixels.
- Highlights:
- Compact targa styling with classic cockpit
- ICE powertrain cues and central exhaust
- Potential competitor to Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
What would you prefer: a modern Lexus targa with an analogue soul, or a futuristic electric sports car? Share your thoughts.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
DaNix
Is Lexus even gonna do this? Feels like fan art but I keep imagining a 2.0 turbo 6-speed, tiny and pricey. If priced wrong it'll flop. Curious tho.
driveline
wow this actually hits. Compact Lexus targa? yes please. Please keep a manual, analog dials, dont overdo tech. Make it light, fun, not another plush GT.
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