NickL

Except the guy showed the RCF half of the time while talking about the LC500. Even the guy that talks about LC500 being nobody knows about doesn’t know about the LC500.
But this is the problem about the LC500, it shares many familiarities with F cars.

Badhobz

Besides the engine (and even then on the LC we have Yamaha tuned intake and heads)

the LC shares nothing with the other F products.

We have a TNGA L platform. Shared with the LS and the crown only.

We have carbon fibre composite materials pretty much everywhere and a bespoke interior that isn’t really parts binned with any other car.

jbuffett

Not directly related to the LC500, but word is coming out today that 2026 is the last year for the Supra (and BMW Z4):

https://www.carscoops.com/2024/05/bm...unset-in-2026/

OutlawTita

iTrader: (1)

My dealership and several articles have indicated that the 2025 LC will not have the V8 as an option.

355F1

.......

Gojirra99

If true, which means no more convertibles when convertibles make up the vast majority of sales? They can forget about selling hardly any, might as well just cancel the whole thing if true lol

BruceinFla

IMO it's complete and total BS to think there'd be an actual LC 500 (not a "replacement" car) Without an available V8.
I will say AGAIN. We would not be seeing Lexus V8s winning their class in IMSA This Season if there was not going to be a Sold On Monday V8.
After the moto press have basically Totally Ignored the hybrid LC 500, in conjunction with the loving accolades they have given our V8, they would make Lexus the automotive world's laughing stock if the only available LC was the current hybrid.
​​​
Bruce in Fl
​

NickL

I call it bull and scare tactic to get rid of their 2024 model for the incoming 2025.
I mean, would you go and redesigned the dash, cameras, and all the testing and qualification for just one model year? Imagine what that does to the ‘24 resale value.
Some might not see a significant change from 23 prior to ‘24 model, but the 360 camera, the lane trace assist, and the new map and infotainment are not just a bin parts swap. All the new tech has to be calibrated and tested and qualified before it can be put on the market.
The V8 are no more in Europe because of their strict emission laws.

cwest13

I agree. One model year makes zero sense. I could see 2025 being the last model year, though. Why bother to spend the money on a refresh if you're going to offer it for one model year and sell a couple thousand? No point.

I've yet to see any legitimate source claim it's the last year in the U.S. Hell, Savagegeese just did a video on the LC 500 (and talked to Lexus reps) and said it was likely to be gone in the next model year or two, but not that it was the last year.

Any future LC without a NA V8 wouldn't be called the LC 500 anyway. And manufacturers tend to be pretty clear when something is ending - they aren't going to say "oh by the way that was the last year".

Badhobz

given just how low volumes the LC is made (max 22 vehicles in production at one time according to the automotive press guy who did the tour of the LC factory at motomachi) i think pretty much all the 2024's are spoken for/ordered already. Bespoke orders are basically done for this year as far as i know so you can only order for next year.

I think there is slightly more demand than cars currently as people who want one are all trying to get their bespoke orders in.

Reinvention

Ya know, every journalist sings praises, every youtuber sings praises, every 'in the know' sings praises... and yet it sells around 1,775 units per year on average, and that's on the backdrop of one of the strongest market economy rises we've seen in a long time!
By comparison Porsche moves around 11,000 units of 911's in a single year with an average selling price of $128k.
Chevy moves some 34,968 units per year on average over the past 3 years with an average selling price of $106k.

So dollar for dollar the LC, a far better built car than a Corvette could dream to be and a far better cheaper alternative to a 911, is getting Aston Martin numbers. Hell the LC 500 is arguably the only Japanese made car with 'soul' out right now that is going to run 300,000 miles on oil changes alone... 'Everybody' knows it, yet nobody votes for it with their wallets. But I'm guilty of this sin, too, we're strongly considering an IS 500 to make it more convenient for my five year old to jump in. On the flip side, I think this is squarely on Lexus lack of ambition to move down market with the model. Their PR around the LC is pathetic. The damn SC430 sold on average 3,551 annually between 2005-2010. A car that was paned at the time it came out by the same media machines touting the LC. And don't even start with the lower msrp - a base SC430 started at $63,575 which is $104,529 in 2024 money. Again pound for pound, a more expensive SC430 outsold the LC500 by nearly double. That's on Lexus.

I do predict the car will be an auction darling in the near future. EV's will be commonplace and mechanical things, especially well built mechanical things that sound good - like a naturally aspirated V8, and are well built, are going to have a strong enough following. Or not, maybe Gen Z peak earning power in their 40s won't care about cars. Anecdotally, while more Porsche 911's are being sold now then they were 40 years ago, I wonder if fewer are being driven and driven hard now than they were 40 years ago. Meaning, we're consuming far more - perhaps we need to adjust by population volume, but I suspect we are enjoying it less and more so interested in a luxury experience vs a purpose built machine.

I do agree with jbuffet - a silver 2018 with 83k miles isn't going to be what sets the auction stage on fire; <10k mile Inspiration Series will be the cars to do that.

Now the dumb part - for a car that is so great to drive and so reliable (like an S2000.. or NSX...) buying it to keep miles off is about the biggest highway robbery there is. What a waste of a good machine and a spit in the face to the spirit of the car - but goes back to the ethos of the day. Buy it, document it on social media, move onto the next toy.

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc...1&year2=202404
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/lexus-...es-usa-canada/
https://www.longolexus.com/blogs/307...s-lc-500-rare/
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/chevro...sales-figures/
https://www.motor1.com/news/712173/p...e-sales-price/
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_US/2...et%20in%202021.
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2024...-quarter-2023/

Badhobz

Ohhh plz don’t squirrel it away gents. Drive the **** out of it and give that Lexus reliability a real test.

We all spent 6 figures on an emotional purchase. Might as well get emotional and drive it the way it’s meant to be driven.

It potentially going up is just a fun byproduct of lc500 ownership

2959

Interesting discussions. Not sure I would consider adding some existing Technology (already on other OEM models) necessarily a design change, for me a design change relates to something larger. My idea of a design change would be the RXL to the TX or the GX 460 to the GX 550. The RXL lasted about 5yrs before the TX, the 460 much longer (also owned the 460). I had a 2021 RXL in addition to the currently owned 2018 RXL. Seemed the biggest difference between the 2018 and 2021 was Technology; the 2021 added a touchscreen, some safety stuff, CarPlay and 360* view.

My biggest fear is someone totaling my LC and not being able to score a new one (crazy drivers in Michigan). But I'm driving it while I can since for the first time I've owned a vehicle I derive pure satisfaction in it, and who knows what's going to happen tomorrow.

zmanH2

Being a wristwatch guy, I would love that clock on my 2024 dash.


Before our purchase, we visited 3 dealerships here in SoCal. We happened to stumble upon a very knowledgeable associate who did the dealership's special orders and Bespoke models. He said that even if he wanted to, the system was NOT capable of 2025 orders yet. The pulldown for the year 2025 is not even present yet. This was only a week or so ago.

fodalo

Eyes and ears peeled, it will happen soon if it is in the works.