THE LEXUS RC F IS GONE — BUT IS A NEW LEXUS PERFORMANCE COUPE COMING?

Introduction

For more than a decade, the Lexus RC F represented a very different side of Lexus.

While Lexus became known around the world for quiet luxury, comfort and reliability, the RC F showed that the brand could also build an aggressive, naturally aspirated V8 performance coupe.

Now, that chapter has come to an end.

Lexus officially ended production of the RC and RC F after the 2025 model year. The final RC F was offered as a special Final Edition, giving the legendary performance coupe one last opportunity to leave its mark.

But the end of the RC F raises a bigger question:

What comes next for Lexus performance?

 Lexus RC F Final Edition

Lexus RC F driving footage

The End of the RC F Era

The RC F arrived as one of Lexus’s most serious performance cars, combining the dramatic styling of the RC coupe with the power and character of a naturally aspirated V8.

Over its production run, the RC and RC F became important parts of Lexus’s performance identity. Lexus says the two models achieved more than 90,000 combined sales across 62 countries and regions before production ended.

But the RC F’s greatest appeal was never simply about numbers.

It was about character.

The sound of its V8, the rear-wheel-drive layout, the aggressive bodywork and the feeling of driving a Lexus designed with performance as a priority made the RC F something special.

It was a performance coupe that stayed true to its own formula—and that is what made its final chapter so significant.

RC F Side Profile

The Final RC F

For its final model year, Lexus gave the RC F a special ending.

The 2025 RC F was offered exclusively as a mono-spec Final Edition, making it the final production version of the performance coupe.

Rather than introducing another major redesign, Lexus chose to celebrate the RC F's legacy before closing the chapter.

That makes the Final Edition particularly important for enthusiasts.

It represents the end of an era in which a Lexus performance coupe could combine everyday luxury with a naturally aspirated V8 and a traditional rear-wheel-drive character.

Front Three-Quarter View of the final Lexus RCF

 RC F Final Edition Performance Driving

The V8 That Defined the RC F

One of the biggest reasons the RC F became memorable was its 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8.

The engine became closely associated with Lexus's performance identity and was also related to the powerplant used in other Lexus performance models.

Unlike many modern performance cars that rely heavily on turbocharging, the naturally aspirated V8 delivered its power with a distinctive high-revving character.

That engine note became part of the RC F experience.

For many enthusiasts, losing the RC F also means losing one of the remaining examples of this type of Lexus performance car.

 RC F Engine

Why Lexus Ended the RC F

The automotive industry has changed dramatically since the RC F debuted.

Performance vehicles are increasingly moving toward electrification, hybrid technology and new approaches to delivering power. At the same time, traditional coupe sales are much smaller than those of SUVs and crossover vehicles.

Lexus ended production of both the RC and RC F after the 2025 model year, bringing the existing generation to a close.

But the end of the RC F does not mean Lexus has abandoned performance.

Instead, it may signal a change in what Lexus performance will look like in the future.

 RC F Rear Design

What Comes Next for Lexus Performance?

This is where the story becomes interesting.

Lexus is continuing to develop performance-oriented vehicles, but the company’s future is increasingly connected to new vehicle architectures, electrification, and the next generation of design and technology.

The 2026 Lexus IS, for example, continues Lexus’s focus on driving enjoyment while receiving a major exterior and interior refresh. Lexus offers the 2026 IS 350 with F SPORT Design and F SPORT grades, keeping a performance-focused sedan in the lineup.

The LC 500 also played an important role in the Lexus performance story, combining dramatic grand-touring design with a naturally aspirated V8. However, the 2026 model year marks the final production year for the LC, making it another significant chapter in Lexus’s performance history.

So although the RC F is gone, the idea of Lexus building exciting performance cars is certainly not gone.

The formula is changing — and the next generation could look very different.

Lexus Performance Lineup

Could a New Lexus Performance Coupe Return?

At this point, Lexus has not officially announced a production successor to the RC F.

That distinction is important.

There are plenty of rumors and speculative renderings surrounding future Lexus sports cars, but they should not be presented as confirmed production models.

What we do know is that Lexus continues to develop performance vehicles while also investing heavily in new-generation vehicle architectures, electrification and advanced technology.

That leaves the door open for a future Lexus performance coupe. However, whether it would carry the RC F name, use a V8, combine electrification with a combustion engine, or move entirely to electric power remains unknown.

For now, the next chapter of Lexus performance is still unwritten.

 

Future Lexus Performance Concept

A New Era for the F Badge

The Lexus F name has always represented something different from ordinary Lexus models.

It has been associated with performance, engineering and a stronger connection between the driver, the vehicle and the road. Lexus developed the F philosophy around delivering a more focused and engaging driving experience.

The RC F helped carry that identity into a new generation of Lexus performance enthusiasts, combining a naturally aspirated V8 with track-focused chassis and braking technology.

But the next F model may not follow the same formula.

A future Lexus performance vehicle could combine electric motors with a combustion engine, use a high-performance hybrid system or take an entirely different technological approach.

The important question may no longer be whether Lexus can build another V8 coupe.

It may be whether Lexus can create the same emotional connection and driving experience using the technology of the future.

Lexus F Performance Detail

The RC F Legacy

The RC F will be remembered as one of the cars that proved Lexus could build a serious performance coupe without abandoning the refinement expected from the brand.

It was fast, distinctive and mechanically interesting.

More importantly, it gave Lexus enthusiasts something increasingly rare: a naturally aspirated V8-powered luxury coupe with its own personality.

The final RC F may now be leaving dealerships, but its influence remains part of Lexus's performance history.

And that makes the RC F more than just another discontinued model.

It is a chapter in the story of how Lexus became a genuine performance brand.

RC F Driving on a Winding Road

Final Verdict

The Lexus RC F is officially finished, but its story is far from forgotten.

After more than a decade, Lexus closed the RC and RC F chapter with the 2025 model year, giving the RC F a Final Edition send-off.

There is currently no officially announced replacement for the RC F, so claims about a specific 2027 RC F should be treated as speculation.

Still, Lexus is clearly entering a new performance era.

The future could bring different engines, new platforms and new forms of electrified performance. Whatever comes next, the RC F has already secured its place in Lexus history.

For enthusiasts, that may be the most important part of the story:

The RC F is gone — but the spirit of Lexus performance is still alive.

Final RC F Hero Shot

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