The Lexus Lc And Its V8 Are Dying Because All Good Things Must Come To An End

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik

I've loved the Lexus LC beautiful overmuch since nan 2nd it came retired successful March of 2017. Back then, I was a dumb assemblage sophomore, truthful — successful a batch of ways — I've grown up pinch nan LC. Since then, I've graduated, had 1 career, discontinue that and joined Jalopnik, wherever I've driven hundreds of cars for thousands of miles, but nary person near rather an belief connected maine for illustration the Rose Pearl Metallic LC500 Coupe I put complete 1,300 miles connected successful May of 2024. Now, it's 2026, and while I'm very apt to spot 2027, nan LC and its thunderous 5.0-liter V8 are not. Yet, somehow, it's still aging amended than I am.

Rumors person been circulating for astir a twelvemonth that nan LC wasn't terribly agelong for this world — fewer genuinely awesome things are. An charismatic trader missive that was posted to Reddit's r/Lexus subreddit seems to corroborate that, arsenic does a connection from a Lexus spokesperson who said pinch Jalopnik.

In nan soul missive posted to nan r/Lexus subreddit, it says that 2026 will beryllium nan last exemplary twelvemonth for nan LC500 and LC500 Convertible, and accumulation is slated to reason astatine nan extremity of August. It besides talked astir nan history of nan LC, starting pinch nan 2012 LF-LC concept, its V8 motor and nan preamble of nan LC Convertible for nan 2021 exemplary year. It besides touts that Lexus sold complete 15,000 LCs done December of 2025, but nan existent news is that nan LC is dead, and that's thing worthy being sad about, because location aren't galore cars for illustration nan LC500 successful this world.

Since it's ever wise to return a Reddit station pinch a atom of salt, we reached retired to Lexus for much clarity connected nan situation, and a spokesperson had this to say:

The Lexus LC 500 will officially beryllium discontinued aft nan 2026 exemplary year. Lexus perpetually evaluates its exemplary operation and strategy to optimize merchandise lineup options to meet our guests' needs and align pinch user demand.

The decease of nan LC besides marks nan extremity of nan roadworthy for Lexus' people aspirated 2UR 5.0 V8 engine. After Lexus killed disconnected nan IS500 past year, nan LC was nan only car that received this 471-horsepower, 398 pound-feet of torque throwback of a motor. It mightiness not person been nan astir powerful aliases astir businesslike motor connected nan market, but it was among nan astir characterful.

Of course, not each dream is lost. There's still a hellhole of a batch to look guardant to from Toyota and Lexus. The caller electric LFA Concept isn't excessively acold away, and neither is nan twin-turbocharged hybrid V8 GR GT. Who knows what other nan Japanese automakers person up their sleeves, though. Lately, they've been each astir surprises.

Still, nary of this really takes nan sting retired of losing a car for illustration nan LC. To me, it's 1 of those "once successful a generation" type of vehicles wherever everything conscionable comes together to create thing genuinely special. Between nan bewitching engine, mesmerizing looks, fantabulous driving characteristics and comfortableness that'll fto you expansive circuit nan car for hours, nan database of cars that bested it was incredibly short.

To my friend, Lexus LC500. Rest now, brother. We person nan watch, and I'll spot you successful Valhalla.