The Lexus LC grand tourer has been axed in the US market, but for now there’s no word on its future in Australia.
A Lexus Australia spokesman said ‘We cannot comment on media speculation.’ When asked about the decision to discontinue the LC in the Japanese luxury brand’s largest market globally, it was “the biggest market for this company”.
A leaked dealer bulletin in the US revealed the LC’s discontinuation, reading: “Lexus announces that model year 2026 will be the final year of production for the LC500 and LC500 Convertible.”
“We expect to continue production until the end of August 2026,” it continued.
childcareman.xyz can save you thousands on a new car. Click
here
to get a great deal.
“The Lexus LC500 will officially be discontinued after the 2026 model year. Lexus constantly evaluates its model mix and strategy to optimize product lineup options to meet our guests’ needs and align with consumer demand,” a Lexus spokesperson subsequently told US publication Road & Track.
The LC500h coupe was already retired in the US, with the naturally aspirated V8-powered Coupe and convertible being converted to an electric V6- powered version of the hybrid.
The LS limousine was also officially announced for discontinuation in the US in September 2025, with no local confirmation of its demise.
The UK and South Africa, two other right-hand drive markets for both models are no longer available to buy them (although they now live on Japan and New Zealand).
The LS and LC would be unlikely to continue on for much longer as the US market is important, but it’s not likely that both have been in production since 2017 and are therefore at the end of their life cycles.
LC500 Pinnacle
Japanese media has previously reported the LC would end production in 2026, while Lexus revealed a special Pinnacle edition last year – not long after it closed out the V8-powered IS500 sedan’s run with a special Climax edition.
The LC is now the last production vehicle using the 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre V8, following the axing of the IS500.
There’s been no word of Lexus doing as it did with the rest of the IS range – giving it a modest facelift to squeeze a few more years out of it – and Lexus notably has never facelifted the sultry LC, which closely resembles the 2012 LF-LC concept that previewed it.
Lexus Australia delivered 54 LCs last year, actually besting the LS (13) and the RZ mid-size electric SUV (41).
Should the LS and LC be retired in Australia, that will leave Lexus with just one passenger model – the ES sedan – as the IS sedan was discontinued here in 2021 alongside the RC coupe, which has subsequently exited production.
Late last year, Lexus previewed a new halo model: an electric supercar dusting off the iconic LFA nameplate. However, previous reports in Japanese media have indicated there’ll be another coupe to slot in under the production LFA, replacing both the RC and LC.
Lexus has changed strategies with its flagship grand tourer offering before. Its first was the SC300/SC400 – a rebadged Toyota Soarer never sold here – which was more affordable than the LS and shared components with the Toyota Supra.
From 1991 to 2000, it was replaced with an even more comfort-focused model called the SC430 which served as a folding hardtop convertible only. The production of this left in 2010 after seven years before the LC entered production, which was another step.
The ne plus ultra of Lexus vehicles was the LFA, a V10-powered supercar produced between 2010 and 2012.
Lexus LFA concept
MORE:
Explore the Lexus LC showroom
Thanks for reading Sexy Lexus LC and its V8 living on borrowed time but no end date set for Australia
