Are we about to lose another V8 sports car?
The Lexus LC grand tourer is on the chopping block, according to a report from Japan.
Following a recent report by Best Car Web claiming the LC and smaller RC would be replaced by a single model, fellow Japanese outlet Creative Trend has reported the LC will close out with a special Pinnacle edition for 2026.
This appears to end the run of Lexus' long-running naturally aspirated 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine. Lexus this week revealed a Climax final edition of its IS500 sedan and a Final Edition of its RC F, the only other road cars that use this engine.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Creative Trend reports production of the LC500 and LC500h coupes and the LC500 convertible will end after the IS500, which will wrap up in November 2025.
The Pinnacle edition of the LC500 coupe and convertible will reportedly be announced on Thursday, June 26, and be offered to customers on the Japanese market via a lottery system.
Reportedly set to enter production in August 2025, the LC500 coupe will feature a matte silver exterior finish, a black-and-white interior, and 21-inch forged aluminium wheels with red brake calipers. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Other inclusions comprise a carbon-fibre rear spoiler and scuff plates, while inside there'll be a combination of semi-aniline leather and Alcantara trim.
The convertible will reportedly be finished in Neutrino Grey paint with a sand beige roof and a saddle tan and white interior, and the same wheels, spoiler, brakes and scuff plates of the coupe.
The outlet doesn't report any other changes for 2026, apart from a different brake caliper colour and some changes to colours. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
That means the LC will miss out on recently introduced Lexus features such as a larger 14-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Lexus last updated the LC in Australia in 2023, bringing a suite of connected services and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an updated suite of active safety and driver assist features.
As mentioned, a Best Car Web report pointed to the LC being replaced along with the RC (which was axed here in 2021 but lives on overseas) by a vehicle derived from the next-generation Toyota Supra. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
There's been much speculation about the future of Lexus' flagship coupe. In 2021, Lexus appeared to tease a convertible resembling a next-generation LC (above, far left), while also revealing the Electrified Sport Concept (above, centre) that pointed to an electric successor.
Subsequently, reports have pointed to an entirely different flagship for the Lexus lineup: a supercar called the LFR, powered by a twin-turbo V8, based on Toyota's GT3 GR concept car and serving as a spiritual successor to the iconic LFA.
This vehicle has been spied testing and, while Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed whether the car will wear the 'L' badge, it has said it's excited to see the product.
To the end of May, Lexus has delivered 29 LCs in Australia this year – more than the LS sedan (5) and almost as many as the RZ electric SUV (32). Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
While a low-volume proposition, the LC still outsells the rival BMW 8 Series (13) and Mercedes-AMG SL (14).
The LC entered production in 2017 as a flagship two-door for the Lexus lineup.
Lexus had participated in this space before with the SC coupe, which was never sold here, and the SC430 convertible which was.
The LC was launched around seven years after the SC430 was retired, and uses the 'L' prefix previously reserved for Lexus' flagship sedan (LS) and SUV (LX) but now confusingly seen on the entry-level LBX crossover SUV.
MORE: Explore the Lexus LC showroom
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A ceasefire in the Middle East was mostly holding, with Israel's military lifting emergency restrictions imposed during the 12-day conflict while Iran's president hailed the end of the war. Closer to home, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday that annual trimmed mean inflation fell from 2.8 per cent in April to 2.4 per cent in May - its lowest level since November 2021. "The better-than-expected inflation print should lock in a rate cut when the RBA next meets in July," said Ivy Yu, economic analyst for Oxford Economics Australia. HSBC analysts concurred, changing their call to predict that the Reserve Bank would cut rates on July 8 after previously forecasting the central bank would wait until August to do so. Seven of the ASX's 11 sectors finished lower on Wednesday, while property was flat and just three ended higher. 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Sports seats upholstered in perforated leather are standard inside, where there's a new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. There's also a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel, and the gear selector has been moved to the steering column. Several safety functions have been added too, including traffic sign recognition, a surround-view camera and intelligent park assist, while the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control systems have been updated. The Volkswagen Group's Dynamic Chassis Control Plus (DCC) system is now also standard, offering up to 15 levels of suspension damping. All up, Skoda Australia says the additions equate to more than $10,900 worth of extra equipment, despite the relatively low list price increase of $2400. While the Volkswagen Passat is dead in Australia, the fourth-generation Superb shares the same body panels as the Passat sold overseas, and wears only redesigned front and rear bumpers. It also has the same engine, which is shared with the Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line. Drive-away prices for the Superb have increased by $4000 and $3000 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Skoda Australia backs all of its models with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Superb servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Skoda offers capped-price service costs for the first seven scheduled services, as detailed below: Alternatively, customers can purchase a $3000 five-year service pack, which can be extended by two years for an additional $700. While the outgoing Superb boasted a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the new model has yet to be tested and is therefore unrated. It does, however, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing conducted on its Passat paternal twin in 2024. ABOVE: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Euro NCAP crash test. Standard safety equipment includes: The new Superb is once again available in only one premium Sportline equipment grade, which is offered in both sedan (liftback) and wagon body styles. 2025 Skoda Superb Sportline equipment highlights: A panoramic sunroof was standard on the previous-generation Superb, but is now a $1900 option for the wagon only. Seven exterior paint colours are available for the Superb. All are no-cost options bar the sole premium metallic option, which commands a $770 premium. 2025 Skoda Superb colours: MORE: Explore the Skoda Superb showroom Content originally sourced from: Skoda's fourth-generation Superb has arrived in Australia, bringing revised styling, a more advanced chassis, a different engine, fresh tech and increased prices over its predecessor. Available in a sole Sportline equipment grade in either sedan (liftback) or wagon body styles, the new Czech large car now starts at $73,990 drive-away for the former – up by $4000 on the previous model's list price of $69,990 before on-roads. The wagon, meanwhile, is priced at $74,990 drive-away, marking a $3000 increase over the outgoing wagon that was listed at $71,990 drive-away. Prices before on-roads are $67,990 and $69,690 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Per industry classification, the Superb is Australia's only remaining mainstream (sub-$70,000) large car. However, it's actually shorter than sedans officially classified as medium passenger cars, and there aren't many of those to choose from anymore either. The only remaining mainstream (sub-$60k) mid-size sedans are Skoda's own Octavia and the soon-to-depart Mazda6 (both also available in wagon guise), the Hyundai Sonata, the hybrid Honda Accord, Lexus ES and Toyota Camry, and the electric BYD Seal. Changes for the new-generation Superb include a revised tune for its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which now makes 195kW of power (down from 206kW) and 400Nm of torque – up from 350Nm for the previous generation. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been swapped out for a seven-speed unit, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time that's 0.3 seconds faster – as little as 5.6 seconds for the liftback. Outside, the Superb now sports 19-inch 'Torcular' alloy wheels and "second-generation" matrix LED headlights. Sports seats upholstered in perforated leather are standard inside, where there's a new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. There's also a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel, and the gear selector has been moved to the steering column. Several safety functions have been added too, including traffic sign recognition, a surround-view camera and intelligent park assist, while the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control systems have been updated. The Volkswagen Group's Dynamic Chassis Control Plus (DCC) system is now also standard, offering up to 15 levels of suspension damping. All up, Skoda Australia says the additions equate to more than $10,900 worth of extra equipment, despite the relatively low list price increase of $2400. While the Volkswagen Passat is dead in Australia, the fourth-generation Superb shares the same body panels as the Passat sold overseas, and wears only redesigned front and rear bumpers. It also has the same engine, which is shared with the Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line. Drive-away prices for the Superb have increased by $4000 and $3000 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Skoda Australia backs all of its models with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Superb servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Skoda offers capped-price service costs for the first seven scheduled services, as detailed below: Alternatively, customers can purchase a $3000 five-year service pack, which can be extended by two years for an additional $700. While the outgoing Superb boasted a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the new model has yet to be tested and is therefore unrated. It does, however, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing conducted on its Passat paternal twin in 2024. ABOVE: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Euro NCAP crash test. Standard safety equipment includes: The new Superb is once again available in only one premium Sportline equipment grade, which is offered in both sedan (liftback) and wagon body styles. 2025 Skoda Superb Sportline equipment highlights: A panoramic sunroof was standard on the previous-generation Superb, but is now a $1900 option for the wagon only. Seven exterior paint colours are available for the Superb. All are no-cost options bar the sole premium metallic option, which commands a $770 premium. 2025 Skoda Superb colours: MORE: Explore the Skoda Superb showroom Content originally sourced from: Skoda's fourth-generation Superb has arrived in Australia, bringing revised styling, a more advanced chassis, a different engine, fresh tech and increased prices over its predecessor. Available in a sole Sportline equipment grade in either sedan (liftback) or wagon body styles, the new Czech large car now starts at $73,990 drive-away for the former – up by $4000 on the previous model's list price of $69,990 before on-roads. The wagon, meanwhile, is priced at $74,990 drive-away, marking a $3000 increase over the outgoing wagon that was listed at $71,990 drive-away. Prices before on-roads are $67,990 and $69,690 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Per industry classification, the Superb is Australia's only remaining mainstream (sub-$70,000) large car. However, it's actually shorter than sedans officially classified as medium passenger cars, and there aren't many of those to choose from anymore either. The only remaining mainstream (sub-$60k) mid-size sedans are Skoda's own Octavia and the soon-to-depart Mazda6 (both also available in wagon guise), the Hyundai Sonata, the hybrid Honda Accord, Lexus ES and Toyota Camry, and the electric BYD Seal. Changes for the new-generation Superb include a revised tune for its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which now makes 195kW of power (down from 206kW) and 400Nm of torque – up from 350Nm for the previous generation. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been swapped out for a seven-speed unit, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time that's 0.3 seconds faster – as little as 5.6 seconds for the liftback. Outside, the Superb now sports 19-inch 'Torcular' alloy wheels and "second-generation" matrix LED headlights. Sports seats upholstered in perforated leather are standard inside, where there's a new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. There's also a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel, and the gear selector has been moved to the steering column. Several safety functions have been added too, including traffic sign recognition, a surround-view camera and intelligent park assist, while the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control systems have been updated. The Volkswagen Group's Dynamic Chassis Control Plus (DCC) system is now also standard, offering up to 15 levels of suspension damping. All up, Skoda Australia says the additions equate to more than $10,900 worth of extra equipment, despite the relatively low list price increase of $2400. While the Volkswagen Passat is dead in Australia, the fourth-generation Superb shares the same body panels as the Passat sold overseas, and wears only redesigned front and rear bumpers. It also has the same engine, which is shared with the Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line. Drive-away prices for the Superb have increased by $4000 and $3000 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Skoda Australia backs all of its models with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Superb servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Skoda offers capped-price service costs for the first seven scheduled services, as detailed below: Alternatively, customers can purchase a $3000 five-year service pack, which can be extended by two years for an additional $700. While the outgoing Superb boasted a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the new model has yet to be tested and is therefore unrated. It does, however, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing conducted on its Passat paternal twin in 2024. ABOVE: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Euro NCAP crash test. Standard safety equipment includes: The new Superb is once again available in only one premium Sportline equipment grade, which is offered in both sedan (liftback) and wagon body styles. 2025 Skoda Superb Sportline equipment highlights: A panoramic sunroof was standard on the previous-generation Superb, but is now a $1900 option for the wagon only. Seven exterior paint colours are available for the Superb. All are no-cost options bar the sole premium metallic option, which commands a $770 premium. 2025 Skoda Superb colours: MORE: Explore the Skoda Superb showroom Content originally sourced from: Skoda's fourth-generation Superb has arrived in Australia, bringing revised styling, a more advanced chassis, a different engine, fresh tech and increased prices over its predecessor. Available in a sole Sportline equipment grade in either sedan (liftback) or wagon body styles, the new Czech large car now starts at $73,990 drive-away for the former – up by $4000 on the previous model's list price of $69,990 before on-roads. The wagon, meanwhile, is priced at $74,990 drive-away, marking a $3000 increase over the outgoing wagon that was listed at $71,990 drive-away. Prices before on-roads are $67,990 and $69,690 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Per industry classification, the Superb is Australia's only remaining mainstream (sub-$70,000) large car. However, it's actually shorter than sedans officially classified as medium passenger cars, and there aren't many of those to choose from anymore either. The only remaining mainstream (sub-$60k) mid-size sedans are Skoda's own Octavia and the soon-to-depart Mazda6 (both also available in wagon guise), the Hyundai Sonata, the hybrid Honda Accord, Lexus ES and Toyota Camry, and the electric BYD Seal. Changes for the new-generation Superb include a revised tune for its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which now makes 195kW of power (down from 206kW) and 400Nm of torque – up from 350Nm for the previous generation. The six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been swapped out for a seven-speed unit, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time that's 0.3 seconds faster – as little as 5.6 seconds for the liftback. Outside, the Superb now sports 19-inch 'Torcular' alloy wheels and "second-generation" matrix LED headlights. Sports seats upholstered in perforated leather are standard inside, where there's a new 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. There's also a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel, and the gear selector has been moved to the steering column. Several safety functions have been added too, including traffic sign recognition, a surround-view camera and intelligent park assist, while the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control systems have been updated. The Volkswagen Group's Dynamic Chassis Control Plus (DCC) system is now also standard, offering up to 15 levels of suspension damping. All up, Skoda Australia says the additions equate to more than $10,900 worth of extra equipment, despite the relatively low list price increase of $2400. While the Volkswagen Passat is dead in Australia, the fourth-generation Superb shares the same body panels as the Passat sold overseas, and wears only redesigned front and rear bumpers. It also has the same engine, which is shared with the Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line. Drive-away prices for the Superb have increased by $4000 and $3000 for the sedan and wagon respectively. Skoda Australia backs all of its models with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Superb servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Skoda offers capped-price service costs for the first seven scheduled services, as detailed below: Alternatively, customers can purchase a $3000 five-year service pack, which can be extended by two years for an additional $700. While the outgoing Superb boasted a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the new model has yet to be tested and is therefore unrated. It does, however, have a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing conducted on its Passat paternal twin in 2024. ABOVE: 2024 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Euro NCAP crash test. Standard safety equipment includes: The new Superb is once again available in only one premium Sportline equipment grade, which is offered in both sedan (liftback) and wagon body styles. 2025 Skoda Superb Sportline equipment highlights: A panoramic sunroof was standard on the previous-generation Superb, but is now a $1900 option for the wagon only. Seven exterior paint colours are available for the Superb. All are no-cost options bar the sole premium metallic option, which commands a $770 premium. 2025 Skoda Superb colours: MORE: Explore the Skoda Superb showroom Content originally sourced from:
