It’s been a busy year for Lexus — the launch of the new third-generation IS, plenty of speculation on the future of the brand, and the recent reveal of the Lexus RC coupe made for some exciting news.
As 2013 draws to a close, let’s look back on the top ten Lexus news stories of past twelve months.
(This list was calculated using an inexact formula of page views & Facebook likes.)
#10: Rumors of the Lexus IS F Being Discontinued
Buried in a bland review of the 2013 Lexus IS F, James Healey of USA Today reported that the brand’s only high-performance sedan would be discontinued.
(There’s been no further developments since this story in March, though there is a new high-performance RC F coupe debuting at the Detroit Auto Show in January.)
#9: My First Drive Review of the 2014 Lexus IS & IS F SPORT
In April, I travelled to Austin, Texas, where I was able to drive the new third-generation Lexus IS in all its various forms. Following my trip, I posted an extensive technical overview of the new model, along with my personal impressions of the cars.
#8: Jeremy Clarkson’s Love Letter to the Lexus LFA
Jeremy Clarkson proclaimed his love for the Lexus LFA in a written review for Top Gear Magazine:
I love the LFA a lot. So much, that I recently described it as the best car I’ve ever driven.
Read the full Jeremy Clarkson Review
Editorial: Lexus Should Release its own GT 86 Coupe
After driving the Scion FR-S, I came to the conclusion that Lexus should build an affordable sports coupe on the same platform — a opinion I still stand behind despite the introduction of the RC coupe.
#6: 2014 Lexus CT 200h Spotted
In October, the 2014 Lexus CT 200h was spotted during a commercial photo shoot — official photos of the updated hatchback were later released.
#5: Lexus RC Coupe Debuts at Special Event in Tokyo
In a surprise move, Lexus unveiled the RC coupe in November at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan sumo stadium in Tokyo — I was on hand to take photos of the brand new Lexus model.
#4: Lexus RC F Prototype Spotted in Europe
After all the rumors, photos of an RC F prototype at the Nürburgring confirmed that Lexus was working on their first mass-market non-convertible coupe since the original SC.
(Video of the RC F prototype was later released.)
#3: Lexus Files Trademark for GS F High Performance Sedan
In March, Lexus filed a trademark for GS F with the United States Patent Office, opening the door for a high-performance variant of the mid-size sports sedan.
(A prototype was later spotted at the Nürburgring in Germany and Japan.)
#2: Rendering the Lexus RC F
Speculating on how the upcoming Lexus RC F coupe will look has been a very popular topic in 2013, beating out actual information on the RC F prototype.
Illustrating the RC F is well traveled territory (see examples one, two, three, four, five, six & seven) — speculation will all come to an end in January, when the high-performance coupe will debut at the Detroit Auto Show.
#1: Lexus LF-LC Confirmed for Production
The LF-LC being approved for production was the top Lexus news story of 2013, beating out all other topics. No formal release date has been set, but it’s quite possible the highly regarded super coupe will be the top story of 2014 as well.
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