by According to reports, Lexus has confirmed that the 2026 model year will be the last for the LC 500 model. Production of the coupe and convertible will end in August 2026. The car debuted in 2018 as the brand’s flagship grand tourer.
Official Confirmation of the End of an Era
Lexus has quietly confirmed what enthusiasts have long suspected: the LC 500 is heading for a well-deserved rest. According to an official letter to dealers dated January 23, 2026, the 2026 model year will be the last for both the LC 500 coupe and the LC 500 convertible in the American market. Production is scheduled to end in late August.
This means the countdown has officially begun for one of the most distinctive grand tourers of the modern era. It is a sad time for one of the last luxury coupes with a naturally aspirated V8 engine still offered on the market.
An Impressive Journey Since 2018
However, since its debut in 2018, the car has had an impressive journey. First presented as the LF-LC concept in 2012, the LC became the first car to use a version of the Lexus GA-L platform.
The derivative architecture from that platform still underpins the LS sedan and other Lexus sports sedans. More importantly than just showcasing a new technical base, the LC proved that Lexus is still capable of creating impressive, albeit sometimes overly luxurious, grand tourers. In 2021, Lexus expanded the lineup by adding a convertible version.
Low Sales Volumes Amid Critical Acclaim
Despite critical acclaim and unforgettable design, the LC remained a low-volume car, serving as a “halo” model. Lexus reports that the global sales volume of the LC exceeded 15,000 units as of December 2025. In the US, sales dropped to 1,464 units last year, including 18 hybrids. This is a respectable figure for a flagship coupe, but it was never enough to justify indefinite production in the modern market.
Source: Reddit User
The Brand’s Electric Future
The future for Lexus remains bright. As we saw at the end of last year, the brand is preparing a new all-electric LFA. While we don’t know the production start date, the mere knowledge that it is in preparation is better than just hoping something might appear later.
Who knows? Perhaps Lexus will find a way to integrate Toyota’s new GR GT into its own model family. That would undoubtedly feel like a true successor to the LC500 in many aspects. But considering that the development of the electric LFA is already progressing, this seems increasingly unlikely. And that means the LC could very well cement its place in history as the last V8-powered Lexus coupe, and that is truly a sad fact.
There Is Still Time to Become an Owner
If you want to become an owner of one of these cars, there is still time. The 2026 LC 500 model is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 471 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds for the coupe and 4.6 seconds for the convertible. The price starts at $101,700 for the coupe and $109,200 for the convertible, rising to over $120,000 for limited-run Inspiration Series models.
While there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the provided letter, we have reached out to Toyota and Lexus for comment. We will update the information as soon as we receive a response.
The end of LC 500 production symbolizes the end of an entire era for Lexus and car enthusiasts who appreciate pure, naturally aspirated power and luxurious design in the grand tourer segment. Its successor will most likely be electric technology, aligning with the overall trend in the automotive industry. However, the unique combination of the V8 engine’s character, exquisite interior, and bold exterior of the LC will long remain in history as an example of the company’s engineering and design artistry. This car didn’t just sell; it shaped the brand’s image and left a noticeable mark that will be hard for subsequent, even more technologically advanced, models to replicate.
