1st Generation Lexus RC 300, 350, F and Track Edition Megathread

Randen Montalvo

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I really like the Final Edition RC F - the touches are very nice. I struggle with $95k for that car the same way I was struggling with $80k for the regular RC F. Time and inflation have made it very expensive for a car that hasn't changed very much in the last 10 years.
Its really not that expensive for what it is. Quite frankly coming from german cars i always thought TEs and Fujis where bargins considering what you get which you are far north of 100k on the M side when you go carbons and special models new. It's really a bargin in my eyes at that price point. I really dont get how 95K is a lot for a car like this but fiances and value are very subjective to that logic i digress.
 
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Randen Montalvo

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What makes me sad is not just the discontinuation of the RCF, but also the fact that it signifies the end of the F brand. The discontinuation of the LC isn’t far off either, and after that, Lexus might never release another passionate car again.
I personally think the LC is gone in 2026 as we have seen the RC/LC discontinued in other markets as a whole so its coming next year is my assumption. At that point, you would have the LFR/GRF out etc and the LC will be very dated in its segment and just a FYI the LC has the Edge version in Japan which is the comparison to the RCF Emotion Edition which was the Final Edition RCF in the states which has the Revised Torsen and Smoother revving engine aero bits but no weight savings measures on the LC. I think that will be the LCs final Edition coming soon aswell in of 2026 is my guess with the Japanese Edge edition being its final edition in the states. When the LFR/GRF releases all the light will be on it.
 
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Randen Montalvo

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What makes me sad is not just the discontinuation of the RCF, but also the fact that it signifies the end of the F brand. The discontinuation of the LC isn’t far off either, and after that, Lexus might never release another passionate car again.
One never knows did Lexus say the F brand is over at this point? I wouldn't go that far just yet. I actually think it will be nuts if Lexus kills its own performance brand for its own Toyota performance GR brand although there the same i think it doesn't work well branding wise. I really have no idea what they have planned but we have seen the trademark for the LF-R so F may live again. Plus its visually so much more striking then the GR branding which in my eyes doesn't look as good as the F branding portfolio. The Lexus Racing and F branding is spot on and just begging for a new F car to take it higher.

We shall see.
 

Kelvin2020

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One never knows did Lexus say the F brand is over at this point? I wouldn't go that far just yet. I actually think it will be nuts if Lexus kills its own performance brand for its own Toyota performance GR brand although there the same i think it doesn't work well branding wise. I really have no idea what they have planned but we have seen the trademark for the LF-R so F may live again. Plus its visually so much more striking then the GR branding which in my eyes doesn't look as good as the F branding portfolio. The Lexus Racing and F branding is spot on and just begging for a new F car to take it higher.

We shall see.
I hope so too, but the fact is that the only registered F product currently is the RZ F. The only way for the F lineup to survive might be for Lexus to go fully electric, but clearly, that’s not what we want to see.
As for whether the LFR is the GR GT3 concept, it’s still hard to say. Or could it be that the LFR trademark is actually being used for the “Lexus Electrified Sport Concept”?
 

Randen Montalvo

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I hope so too, but the fact is that the only registered F product currently is the RZ F. The only way for the F lineup to survive might be for Lexus to go fully electric, but clearly, that’s not what we want to see.
As for whether the LFR is the GR GT3 concept, it’s still hard to say. Or could it be that the LFR trademark is actually being used for the “Lexus Electrified Sport Concept”?
Good points, i think Lexus will have 2 coupes one ESC in 2027/28 which is the LFA replacement in a EV. The LFR/GRF which i think will be the race program car and the halo car until the ESC releases to take over the Halo spot. Lexus has separated context for the ESC and said nothing about the LFR thats driving around and if you look at the ESC its no where near the same car as its a full EV and Lexus went out of its way to say this is the spiritual successor of the LFA. They never said the LFR/GRF was its something different i think that will be apart of a 2 car interim setup as Lexus navigates its future into a full EV brand. I also think a RC/LC replacement would be a great rumoured gem as a F car under the LFR/GRF to compete in the 4 series space using that new 4 cycle high powered engine as a F car but this is hyper speculation at this point.

Personally, im hoping since they pushed their EV plans out they realize how futile this is and please lets get back to the Yaguchi san level mentality ( yes i know its not possible ) but im afraid the biggest fear is TMC holding back Lexus as usual preferring a army of these smaller GR compact cars which to me is not my demo sadly. At the end of the day its hard to know with so much going on and such little bread crumbs from Lexus. Lexus fans have been wanting Lexus to just be let loose performance-wise for many many years we got a taste with the F brand but not a all out effort in my view power wise. I just have no clue what the narrative will be like but im excited and am hoping they keep F into the new platform. If they start doing the whole GR branding thing i just dont think thats going to be good for Lexus in terms of brand separation with Lexus price points and the allure it has that the LFA has kinda injected in F brand as a standard. Toyota is in my opinion spreading itself quite a bit much with all its current actions and i dont yet see the vision just yet for Lexus I'm eagerly looking and trying to understand it let me tell you.

BMW has a great amazing narrative with its brand and plays NO/ZERO games with updates and giving its users power and diverse packages and options. Will Lexus ever take its gloves off or are we looking at a EV future with no F performance brand and Toyota flooding the compact GR cars as the new performance portfolio? I hope thats not the future of Lexus.....but thats just my personal opinion as a F car fan.

I have zero clue at this point.
 
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ssun30

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Given that there is no plan to develop a new high-end ICE, I don't think Lexus BEV plan will be changed.
 

Randen Montalvo

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Given that there is no plan to develop a new high-end ICE, I don't think Lexus BEV plan will be changed.
The LFR engine is an ICE TT hybrid we may not know how that trickles down the line. The 4 cycle high-powered engine in that RC mule also is rather interesting since it is also ICE. I think judging from the quite frankly bizarre moves TMC has done with Lexus i cannot say with certainty anything especially with the BEV plan officially pushed out.

Lexus benchmarked the AMG GT with the LFR ....i hope they also follow Mercedes since they seem to be keen on that brand and realize that a full EV line is an exercise in uncertainty since Mercedes has also toned down its EQS ambitions publically after abysmal returns and feedback from is customers.

Its quite frankly X-files level stuff with Lexus and its performance narrative and thats a huge issue i just dont get why they dont address it consistently. Its truly baffling that we have no cohesive narrative.
 
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dylanfoos

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Either way, the LFR needs to be unveiled soon as there will be no F cars after the RC F has been retired. I think we are at a 50/50 chance the F branding will be retired or either turned into the GR brand as a whole. Lexus knows they need to address this as soon as possible as there is already been too much uncertainty already from the brand.
 

Kelvin2020

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Either way, the LFR needs to be unveiled soon as there will be no F cars after the RC F has been retired. I think we are at a 50/50 chance the F branding will be retired or either turned into the GR brand as a whole. Lexus knows they need to address this as soon as possible as there is already been too much uncertainty already from the brand.
Exactly, everything we’ve speculated about the car of Lexus as a brand here is still a mystery. They really should share some updates on their direction of performance lineup, it’s all being kept far too secretive at this point.
 

Gecko

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Every single F car has been one-and-done. No second generation and no commitment.

My .02: F is done. Even if the LFR is branded as an "F" car, with no lower products to benefit from that halo, it doesn't mean anything. F wouldn't be a sub-brand, it would be one car.
 

Randen Montalvo

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Every single F car has been one-and-done. No second generation and no commitment.

My .02: F is done. Even if the LFR is branded as an "F" car, with no lower products to benefit from that halo, it doesn't mean anything. F wouldn't be a sub-brand, it would be one car.
Ehhh with a F car even as one you logically can still have F-Sport and F performance.
 

Tyronne M

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Truly hard to be "enthusiastic" about anything Lexus has released in North America over the last decade. To me, apart from the LC, and to a lesser degree the fifth-generation LS, there has been nothing that has stood out as really great.

I don't think we will see anything exciting until the EVs start to roll out, hopefully in a couple of years. Hoping that they will not mess that up. We really need something to stir up the enthusiasts, not just sales.
 
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Every single F car has been one-and-done. No second generation and no commitment.

My .02: F is done. Even if the LFR is branded as an "F" car, with no lower products to benefit from that halo, it doesn't mean anything. F wouldn't be a sub-brand, it would be one car.
Bingo.

I think we're going to see plenty of FSP products, but not full Fs. It's bizarre behavior given how the political tides are changing globally, but Lexus will just do whatever they please.

I'm looking forward for the GR cars at this point, which I guess is what Toyota wants us to shift our focus towards, but I am starting to not care anymore about the F brand. I am patiently waiting for the LFA/LFR though. I realize this is what they want and we should pester them about the F brand, but they've made themselves much harder for us to access.
 

Kelvin2020

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Bingo.

I think we're going to see plenty of FSP products, but not full Fs. It's bizarre behavior given how the political tides are changing globally, but Lexus will just do whatever they please.

I'm looking forward for the GR cars at this point, which I guess is what Toyota wants us to shift our focus towards, but I am starting to not care anymore about the F brand. I am patiently waiting for the LFA/LFR though. I realize this is what they want and we should pester them about the F brand, but they've made themselves much harder for us to access.
Everything comes down to Toyota. They are so dominant that they have limited any possibility for Lexus to grow. This is unfortunate for the brand.