Tokyo’s Wildest Lexus Concept Is Actually A 2012 Toyota 86 In Disguise

The latest NATS creation for the Tokyo Auto Salon is as wild as its predecessors

Lexus is gearing up to launch its V8-powered LFR supercar, alongside a racing variant set to compete in the GT500 class of the Super GT Championship. Drawing inspiration from the GT500 racecars, students from the Nihon Automobile College (NATS) in Japan decided to create their own Lexus-style concept called the NATS LFA-II GT, which debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.

Despite its wild looks, the NATS LFA-II GT Concept is actually built on a first-gen 2012 Toyota 86. To achieve the desired results, the team made extensive modifications, blending design elements from the 2022 Lexus Electrified Sport concept with the oversized aerodynamic components commonly seen on GT500 racecars.

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To achieve the proportions of a true racecar, the NATS team moved the front wheels forward by 250 mm (9.8 inches), extending the wheelbase and giving the vehicle an aggressive stance. The width was also increased to complement the wider, more dramatic bodywork, leaving the Toyota 86 donor vehicle practically unrecognizable.

The redesign was so extensive that only the front windshield, pillars, roof, and side windows remain from the original car. Up front, the headlights come from the Toyota Crown Sport, while DRL units from the Lexus NX flank a massive, race-ready splitter.

Photos: NATS / Facebook, Tokyo Auto Salon / X

From the side, the concept boasts gigantic side skirts, wide fender extensions, and a Lexus-inspired character line running along the doors. At the rear, things get even more dramatic with a towering wing mounted on a custom rear deck that forgoes a rear window entirely. Integrated LED taillights sit within large vents, mimicking the futuristic design language seen on the Lexus Electrified Sport concept.

As a finishing touch, the students chose a nostalgic Castrol livery, continuing the motorsport references. Interestingly, the Lexus-themed concept wasn’t the only vehicle with a Castrol livery in year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, as it was joined by a Toyota GR Yaris WRC racecar and a modified Suzuki Jimny exhibited in other stands.

Inside, the upgrades continue with Recaro Pro Racer seats, a Sparco steering wheel fitted with paddle shifters, a Garax racing display, and a full roll cage.

Four-Cylinder Power

Though it lacks the rumbling V8 of the upcoming Lexus LFR, the NATS concept squeezes more performance out of the Toyota 86’s stock 2.0-liter four-cylinder Subaru-sourced boxer engine. Thanks to the addition of a turbocharger, an oil cooler, a performance muffler, a pulley kit, and a GReddy-tuned ECU, the engine now produces 262 hp (196 kW / 266 PS) and 314 Nm (232 lb-ft) of torque. An aluminum radiator by TW-R helps keep everything cool under pressure.

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The chassis has been significantly upgraded as well, featuring Air Force Super Performance suspension with new springs and shocks for a lowered, track-ready stance. Braking duties are handled by a beefier WinmaX system, while the car rides on 18-inch Work Meister S1 alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes tires.

As you’d expect, the LFA-II GT Concept isn’t street-legal and will remain a one-off creation. It feels like a spiritual successor to NATS’s 2023 GR Stance Concept, another Toyota 86-based project designed to replicate the Toyota GR GT3 Concept.

Other NATS creations at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 include a mini Dakar truck and a slammed Suzuki Jimny convertible carrying a custom bike on a matching trailer.

つ #ジムニー 追加しますっ！ #tokyoautosalon #東京オートサロン #東京オートサロン2025 #車好き #愛車 #車好きと繋がりたい #SUZUKI https://t.co/Qq6cFZvfgw pic.twitter.com/LrYZjqlQbk

— TOKYO AUTO SALON (@tokyoautosalon) January 12, 2025