Definitely has to be something to this. My guess is testing new engine. The design may not even be locked down yet so makes sense that engineering isn't going to wait for it.
Sharing a design language is nothing new and there is nothing wrong with a company wanting people to spot a car on the road and recognize that it is a Toyota, Mercedes, Lexus, Ford, etc.
It's branding. Personally if it looks good I couldn't care less.
Wow they have designed some seriously impressive cars...
78 Celica, 89 Celica, 92 Lexus SC400, 93 Supra, 2007 FT-HS, 12 Lexus LF-LC, etc.
And the FT-1... their best work yet!!