This will be a history of how BestCar, which we now know is the best source for upcoming Japanese cars, reported on a family of Lexus high performance products equipped with the 4.0L V8 twin-turbo engine.
First report of the LC F and the 4.0L V8TT engine in July 2017
Render of LC F. Original rumored specs: 600PS/686N.m, priced at 20 million JPY (178k USD at 2017 exchange rates)
They also created their first render of the GS F using the same engine. They also said the 4.0 V8 engine will be 15% more efficient than the 5.0 2UR-GSE. BestCar never followed up on the GS F (or they deleted from their archives), and all rumors of that car came from Mag-X, which is a much less credible source.
Interestingly, they also reported a GR Crown (S220) with a 3.0L V6TT engine under development. Just a year later, GR Crown development was cancelled along with the 3.0L engine.
They got a more updated LC F render and specs on in Nov 2017. The V8 design targeted increased to 670PS/650N.m. They also correctly predicted Fall 2019 release of the LC Convertible.
First report of the LF-1 with the 4.0 V8 in May 2018. The power target for the LF-1 was 650PS. Expected release in 2021. The estimated price was 18 million JPY (160k USD at 2018 exchange rates).
In May 2018 they first reported the potential cancellation of the entire GS lineup. But they soon walked back on the prediction and said GS will only be discontinued in Europe.
First report of the new IS in Nov 2019. They expected a "major minor change" around June 2020, which became the current "3.3IS". However, they expected a full model change in mid-2021.
First report of the IS F with 2UR-GSE V8 in Feb 2020. This turned out to be the IS500 FSP. BestCar didn't get the model name and rendering right because later we know the IS500 FSP was actually a Lexus North America pet project that they pushed the Japan HQ to make. The design and prototype engineering were done entirely in US.
In May 2020 they predicted IS F release date of Oct 2020 and LC F in Nov 2021. They also confirmed the cancellation of the GS around this time.
In May 2020 they said the LF-1 development was not cancelled by the pandemic but delayed slightly to Jun 2021. The engine tuning was more torque-focused, going from 650PS/686N.m to 580PS/813N.m. BestCar was very certain the LF-1 will NOT be cancelled.
In Sep 2020 the first scoop of the LS F appeared, scheduled for Oct 2021 release. BestCar expected 2021 to be a big year for the F brand.
In Feb 2021 they got more updated renders of the "IS F" (which was actually IS500 FSP) and LS F.
In March 2021 they first reported the delay of the 4.0L V8TT engine for the LF-1, from 2021 to 2023. At this point they are still very certain LF-1 has not been cancelled, because "it will be a model to show Lexus' global presence" and Toyota cannot afford to cancel such a halo model. Keep in mind every scoop mentioned during this period turned out to be correct, so there's no reason to believe BestCar was imagining the existence of the LF-1.
In December 2021 they first reported the LFA revival. It's also in this report that they confirmed the delay of the 4.0L V8TT engine due to emissions compliance (Euro 6 to Euro 6d) and that has caused delays in the LC F/LS F/LF-1 program.
In March 2022 they finally admitted their mistake with the IS F prediction. But they only got the model designation wrong. In Feb 2022 IS500 FSP was released in North America.
In December 2022 they confirmed development of the LS F and LF-1 had been cancelled.
By early 2023 we know for sure the entire Lexus F lineup, including IS F, GS F, LS F, LC F, and LF-1 is dead.
First report of the LC F and the 4.0L V8TT engine in July 2017
Render of LC F. Original rumored specs: 600PS/686N.m, priced at 20 million JPY (178k USD at 2017 exchange rates)
They also created their first render of the GS F using the same engine. They also said the 4.0 V8 engine will be 15% more efficient than the 5.0 2UR-GSE. BestCar never followed up on the GS F (or they deleted from their archives), and all rumors of that car came from Mag-X, which is a much less credible source.
Interestingly, they also reported a GR Crown (S220) with a 3.0L V6TT engine under development. Just a year later, GR Crown development was cancelled along with the 3.0L engine.
They got a more updated LC F render and specs on in Nov 2017. The V8 design targeted increased to 670PS/650N.m. They also correctly predicted Fall 2019 release of the LC Convertible.
First report of the LF-1 with the 4.0 V8 in May 2018. The power target for the LF-1 was 650PS. Expected release in 2021. The estimated price was 18 million JPY (160k USD at 2018 exchange rates).
In May 2018 they first reported the potential cancellation of the entire GS lineup. But they soon walked back on the prediction and said GS will only be discontinued in Europe.
First report of the new IS in Nov 2019. They expected a "major minor change" around June 2020, which became the current "3.3IS". However, they expected a full model change in mid-2021.
First report of the IS F with 2UR-GSE V8 in Feb 2020. This turned out to be the IS500 FSP. BestCar didn't get the model name and rendering right because later we know the IS500 FSP was actually a Lexus North America pet project that they pushed the Japan HQ to make. The design and prototype engineering were done entirely in US.
In May 2020 they predicted IS F release date of Oct 2020 and LC F in Nov 2021. They also confirmed the cancellation of the GS around this time.
In May 2020 they said the LF-1 development was not cancelled by the pandemic but delayed slightly to Jun 2021. The engine tuning was more torque-focused, going from 650PS/686N.m to 580PS/813N.m. BestCar was very certain the LF-1 will NOT be cancelled.
In Sep 2020 the first scoop of the LS F appeared, scheduled for Oct 2021 release. BestCar expected 2021 to be a big year for the F brand.
In Feb 2021 they got more updated renders of the "IS F" (which was actually IS500 FSP) and LS F.
In March 2021 they first reported the delay of the 4.0L V8TT engine for the LF-1, from 2021 to 2023. At this point they are still very certain LF-1 has not been cancelled, because "it will be a model to show Lexus' global presence" and Toyota cannot afford to cancel such a halo model. Keep in mind every scoop mentioned during this period turned out to be correct, so there's no reason to believe BestCar was imagining the existence of the LF-1.
In December 2021 they first reported the LFA revival. It's also in this report that they confirmed the delay of the 4.0L V8TT engine due to emissions compliance (Euro 6 to Euro 6d) and that has caused delays in the LC F/LS F/LF-1 program.
In March 2022 they finally admitted their mistake with the IS F prediction. But they only got the model designation wrong. In Feb 2022 IS500 FSP was released in North America.
In December 2022 they confirmed development of the LS F and LF-1 had been cancelled.
By early 2023 we know for sure the entire Lexus F lineup, including IS F, GS F, LS F, LC F, and LF-1 is dead.