We know that Lexus has been working very hard to reinvent itself over the past few years, beginning with the LFA supercar. Now that it's out of production, the rest of the Lexus mainstream lineup will have to step up if the Japanese luxury brand wants to earn some real performance street cred against its German and American rivals. We already have the absolutely wonderful GS F and its 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8. But what about something even more grand?

According to a rumor from Japan, first reported in English by Lexus Enthusiast, Lexus is currently at work on not only the next generation LS flagship sedan, but also a high-performance version, tentatively called the (take a wild guess) LS F. Having a sedan of this caliber would make sense considering there have already been rumors of a high-performance version of the upcoming LC 500 Coupe. This same Japanese source is also claiming the next-gen LS will receive a newly developed 3.0-liter engine, although it doesn't specify whether it's a turbo four or six-cylinder. As to what will power the rumored LS F sedan?

Good question, because we honestly doubt the GS F's 5.0-liter V8 will be around for much longer due to emissions standards. Still, the fact that Lexus continues to take performance models seriously is a good sign. Now, how about that LFA successor?