Oh boy, here we go again. Another two-door sports coupe on rumored to be on the chopping block, primed to be discontinued. Soon.
This time around, the automotive grim reaper apparently has its sights set on the Lexus LC, the gorgeous gas and gas hybrid coupe and convertible that have been with us since 2018.
Now, before we go any further, it is important to note that Lexus parent company Toyota has not confirmed the LC will be leaving us. At least, not yet. But given the other Lexus coupe – the RC – will be discontinued at the end of the 2025 model year, rumors of the LC’s demise can’t be easily dismissed.
The source of the LC’s upcoming discontinuation is Car and Driver, where the magazine mentions a report from Japanese website Creative Trend that says the LC will be retired after the 2026 model year.
But here’s where things get a little fuzzy. Creative Trend, via Car and Driver, reports the 2026 LC will be offered in coupe and convertible for the Japanese market in Pinnacle Edition form. Pinnacle LCs will be limited to 100 coupes and 100 convertibles, and they’ll be sold in a lottery of some sort. Half of the cars will be reserved for current Lexus customers.
No photos of Pinnacle LCs are available, but according to Creative Trend, the coupes are finished in matte silver with a black and white interior. Forged 21-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler are also included.
The droptops are reportedly finished in Neutrino Gray (light gray) with a light brown, or tan, roof with an interior that is tan and white. Convertibles will reportedly be offered with the same features as the coupes.
So, what about units for the rest of the world, including North America?
The simple answer is, we don’t know. The Car and Driver story didn’t mention any Pinnacle Editions LCs bound for the U.S. When the magazine reached out to Lexus North America, a spokesperson said only that there’s no news regarding the LC for the U.S. market.
But that doesn’t mean the LC isn’t going away after 2026 and that there won’t be some sort of special edition arriving to mark the occasion. That could still happen. Lexus North America, and Lexus Canada, just may not be ready to announce anything. Yet.
Something else to keep in mind regarding the LC: sales. Toyota just released its Q2 numbers for the U.S., and let’s just say the LC hasn’t been selling like gangbusters. Just 65 were sold in Q2, which is less than half compared to Q2 2024 (135). Year-to-date figures are also down, with just 790 sold through June 30 versus 966 sold during the same period last year.
Bottom line, it doesn’t look good for the Lexus LC. It wouldn’t surprise us if 2026 is indeed the last year for this glorious V8-powered coupe, and convertible. And that would be a shame.
Photos courtesy of Lexus North America
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