- The sports coupe takes its last lap after a 10-year run
- The top RC F will only be offered in a Final Edition model with the 472-hp V-8
- A 241-hp turbo-4 and 311-hp V-6 also make their final appearance
The Lexus RC will join the ranks of discontinued cars after the 2025 model year. Lexus confirmed on Thursday that this will be the last model year for the luxury coupe, which has been in production for roughly a decade without a redesign. The final cars are scheduled to start arriving at dealerships in the first quarter of this year.
There are few changes for 2025. The sportiest RC F variant will be offered only in a commemorative Final Edition grade priced at $95,175 (all prices include a $1,175 destination charge).
The RC F Final Edition adds standard equipment such as 19-inch BBS wheels, Brembo brakes with red calipers, a rear wing, rear diffuser, front spoiler, and roof made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, red-and-black interior trim, and a Mark Levinson audio system. It’s available in four colors: Incognito, Radiant Red, Sonic Iridium, and Ultra White.
Lexus claims to have made some tweaks to the RC F’s naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 to smooth out revs and enhance the engine’s sound, and to the rear differential to improve responsiveness, but the specs are the same. The V-8 makes 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, which will get the RC F from 0-60 mph in a Lexus-estimated 4.2 seconds.
At the opposite end of the lineup, the base RC 300 costs $47,620 and is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 delivering 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. An all-wheel drive version is also available for an additional $2,690, but it uses a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 producing 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
The RC 350 has the same V-6 whether you choose rear-wheel drive ($49,375) or all-wheel drive ($51,540), but tuned to produce 311 hp and 280 lb-ft. Regardless of trim level, rear-wheel drive RC models have an 8-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel drive models have a 6-speed automatic.
These other models carry over essentially unchanged, although orange brake calipers on rear-wheel-drive F Sport models have substituted for red. The F Sport treatment is mostly cosmetic, but includes a Torsen limited-slip differential when specified on rear-wheel-drive RC 350 models.
Lexus didn’t give a reason for the discontinuation of the RC, but low sales—the luxury brand sold just 1,854 of the coupes in the U.S. last year—likely didn’t justify the investment in a replacement. The compact luxury coupe segment isn’t exactly growing, either. While Mercedes-Benz reaffirmed its commitment to the segment with the CLE-Class, and BMW is holding steady with the 4-Series, Audi is replacing the A5 coupe (and other body styles) with a sedan that also replaces the outgoing A4.