Did Lexus Racing Just Tease an LC F?

[Gor134]

Moments ago, the Lexus Racing USA instagram page shared this shadowy photo with the caption, “Highest expression of performance.” Of course we lightened up the photo to see what details could be extracted, and it does indeed look like a Lexus LC. However, while the teaser doesn’t reveal much, what is visibly different from the current LC is a power bulge in the hood.

Whether it might be a refreshed 2023 LC, an LC F SPORT Performance or a full on LC F remains to be seen. Or could it be something completely different? Head to the Lexus Enthusiast forums and give us your best guess.
With a big blue F in the background of the image, it seems clear that Lexus’ high performance brand has their hands in something...

Continue reading...

 

[CRSKTN]

Yeah sorry my dudes

That said, Lexus hasn’t abandoned performance.
You don’t talk about elevating F, terminate a project, and then do something “lower”.
So what’s higher than an LCF, which is just another higher performance variant.

This is all just speculation, of course.

 

[PeterF]

Yeah sorry my dudes

That said, Lexus hasn’t abandoned performance.
You don’t talk about elevating F, terminate a project, and then do something “lower”.
So what’s higher than an LCF, which is just another higher performance variant.

This is all just speculation, of course.

I thought someone wrote about some news of a very light and higher performance version of the RC F that had to be special ordered ? was ~800 lbs lighter? I thought I heard that, but may be wrong

 

[CRSKTN]

I thought someone wrote about some news of a very light and higher performance version of the RC F that had to be special ordered ? was ~800 lbs lighter? I thought I heard that, but may be wrong

a variant of an RCF is not really up from the LCF dude…

just… might take a couple years I imagine

 

[maiaramdan]

Donno
Maybe a V6TT with a powerful electric motors hybrid system to replace the power needed for the V8 some as Benz will do in the new generation C AMG

 

[bogglo]

The LCF being dead does not mean we cannot get an FSP for the LC. Maybe we will never get an F on Lexus flagships, but an FSP variant could still be possible.

 

[Gor134]

The LCF being dead does not mean we cannot get an FSP for the LC. Maybe we will never get an F on Lexus flagships, but an FSP variant could still be possible.

Good point.

Per the other Lexus forum again quoted from Carmaker1 "I take back my LC F claim too, because per Vegas, they might have cancelled the trademark, but something is coming...Maybe LC 500 F-Sport Performance? The LC in question is powered by the U4XA-FTS TTV8 engine and showcased on display."

So.. TTV8 still on?

 

[CRSKTN]

They are moving UP with what an F car is.
People won’t be disappointed.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

Good point.

Per the other Lexus forum again quoted from Carmaker1 "I take back my LC F claim too, because per Vegas, they might have cancelled the trademark, but something is coming...Maybe LC 500 F-Sport Performance? The LC in question is powered by the U4XA-FTS TTV8 engine and showcased on display."

So.. TTV8 still on?

??????

They are moving UP with what an F car is.
People won’t be disappointed.

Oh lordy lord......

 

[mikeavelli]

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

You need to stop. 😭

I know there was a private show in Texas, were you there too? I know the Lexus LC F-Sport Performance is a thing with the new Twin-Turbocharged V8 (hell has finally frozen over WOOO). I also heard of the new GX550 and it becoming a G-Wagen and Defender fighter. It looks like Lexus got an overwhelming response for the GXOR concept.

 

[ssun30]

FTS suggests a non-performance variant. A F engine would be named GTS.

 

[Demetrius]

Kinda going back to that February article before the IS F-Sport Performance was revealed, the rumors were "Lexus planning to reveal an IS F, LC F, and LS F this year."

All models were stated to be V8s. Fast forward, we got an IS 500 with a V8 but not an IS F. I think its just interesting to see what rumors become down the line.

Could we see an LC that's not an F, but with a twin-turbo V8? Judging by rumor patterns, it's possible.
Same with LS. We're not getting an LS F, but maybe an LS with a V8? I'm sure it's possible. F Sport Performance seems to be the bridge before whatever electrified version of F becomes.

 

[sl0519]

Kinda going back to that February article before the IS F-Sport Performance was revealed, the rumors were "Lexus planning to reveal an IS F, LC F, and LS F this year."

All models were stated to be V8s. Fast forward, we got an IS 500 with a V8 but not an IS F. I think its just interesting to see what rumors become down the line.

Could we see an LC that's not an F, but with a twin-turbo V8? Judging by rumor patterns, it's possible.
Same with LS. We're not getting an LS F, but maybe an LS with a V8? I'm sure it's possible. F Sport Performance seems to be the bridge before whatever electrified version of F becomes.

I'm getting confused. People from the above posts were hinting a TTV8 is still coming with FS Perf designation, while on the CL forum I saw, Carmaker1 firmly believes that V8 is completely dead and higher performance variants will most likely getting a mild hybrid configuration with V35A TTV6. Stop teasing us!

 

[Gor134]

while on the CL forum I saw, Carmaker1 firmly believes that V8 is completely dead and higher performance variants will most likely getting a mild hybrid configuration with V35A TTV6.

Go check again because he is the one who reconfirmed the V8 is back.

 

[sl0519]

Go check again because he is the one who reconfirmed the V8 is back.

Thanks I went back and checked the updated posts he made. U4XA-FTS it is. LC 500 FSP nomenclature seems pretty odd though. If there's to be significant power boost, shouldn't it be more like, LC 600 FSP?

 

[Gor134]

Thanks I went back and checked the updated posts he made. U4XA-FTS it is. LC 500 FSP nomenclature seems pretty odd though. If there's to be significant power boost, shouldn't it be more like, LC 600 FSP?

You're very right.. is there any trademark for LC600 or higher right now or not?

 

[krew]

Lexus has abandoned the LC F trademark in the USA, allowing it to expire unused. Needless to say, this puts a fork in the possibility of a high-performance LC coupe in the foreseeable future.

So what happened? Rumors of an LC F started even before the production model was released, almost always paired with a twin-turbo V8 powertrain. From our understanding, prototypes for both the LC F and LS F were built, only to fail to win the approval of Akio Toyota due to the weight of GA-L platform the models share.
(It’s worth pointing out that the trademark expired last year, and was only recently discovered.)

Continue reading...

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

Despite the LC F and LS F being dead though... the LC F-Sport Performance should be a thing. And if they can do that for the LC, who says they can't do it for the LS either?

This will also quench the thirst of people who want a V8 in the LS. :^)

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

I thought someone wrote about some news of a very light and higher performance version of the RC F that had to be special ordered ? was ~800 lbs lighter? I thought I heard that, but may be wrong

That was the RCF GT concept that was lapped by C&D around VIR. It was basically a street RCF with stripped out 721 lbs of weight and racing aero, suspension etc. so around 3200 lbs. It did a 2:43. For comparison, an LFA did 2:55 and 458 Italia did 2:49. It was the fastest car around that track for several years. However, it was stripped out of the interior, did not have safety equipment, racing slick tires etc.