And it may also become the first car from outside the Toyota line-up – and the first from the Lexus luxury-car division – to wear the Japanese car giant’s Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) performance badge, the report claims.

I’d put doubt to this report simply because Gazoo is very clearly being broken out into a distinct sub-brand, not a trim level. In fact, the recent FT-Se concept just wears GR badging, with no other accompanying badging whatsoever. It wouldn’t make sense for them to make a “Lexus GR” — it would just be a GR.

I’m happy to be wrong, but this report just doesn’t seem to be consistent with Toyota’s current direction with GR at first glance.

I hope the interior is comfortable. Could be next level.

It’s ugly as heck, still will sell like hot cakes to grocery getters and kids picker uppers.

Meanwhile the automatic will reportedly be an eight-speed torque-converter unit being developed for the GR Yaris – on which it it will debut – which Toyota president Akio Toyoda says will be a “game-changer”.

If GR LBX comes with AT option, that means we would see same 8AT in GR Corolla soon. It’s good news for buyers who unable to drive 3-pedal.

I love the spunky 3-cylinder in GR Corolla, but does it really fit the bill for any Lexus applications?

It would be loud, harsh sounding, and it would vibrate a lot. These characters would be beneficial for a cute hot hatch, not so much in a Lexus.