by Possible End of the Lexus F Sports Car Era
A high-ranking Lexus official hinted that the era of heroic cars with the F index may be coming to an end. Takeshi Watanabe stated that Lexus is exploring new ways to engage buyers, adding that driving pleasure remains vital for the brand, possibly through software.
Evolution of F-Division Production
It seems Lexus may be ready to discontinue separate sports models with the “F” index, at least for now. According to a recent report, future cars from the F-division production may evolve from dedicated competitors to BMW M to simple control modes in electric and hybrid models.
Emotional Connection to the Past
If you ever loved the rumble of the RC F or the higher-pitched sounds of the LFA, this news might be disappointing. These cars defined what Lexus could do when competing with brands like BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, proving that the Lexus brand offered more than just luxury and sophistication.
Lexus President Takeshi Watanabe told the Australian publication Drive that “the aspect of driving pleasure and the emotionality of F cars is still very important to us.” But he also made it clear that Lexus has many other ideas on how to enhance its image and attract customers, beyond reducing lap times on race tracks.
New Approaches to Value Creation
“At the same time… we will also expand the ways in which we try to provide different value to different customers,” he explained. “Sports will obviously be one of them, and you might see combinations of things you haven’t seen before.”
Non-Standard Solutions and Concepts
Lexus certainly had a few things to show us at the recent Japan Mobility Show that we hadn’t seen before, including a crazy six-wheeled LS minivan – whose steering wheel contained an ‘F’ button, a possible indicator of where the sub-brand is heading.
Transition from Hardware to Software
“One thing the brand is very aware of is that until now, the traditional F has really been tied to hardware or hard parts – suspension components, shock absorbers, springs, etc.,” said Watanabe.
“But, moving into the future, we are transitioning to software-defined vehicles. This will also add a new element to this whole matter – how will we provide value through advanced technologies?”
Future of F-Mode
This thinking seems to directly extend to the brand’s recent concepts, where performance may be defined more by code than by components.
“The button you saw on the steering wheel [of the concept] also represents a possible evolution forward, where F-mode is expressed through software, but we are still touching on the brand’s sportiness. This is another example of where we could go.”
Uncertainty About the Future of F-Cars
Watanabe did not explicitly rule out using the F badge on a sports car again – a future LFR supercar would be a prime candidate – but said he does not have a “specific type of product plan” for F cars.
“We will not be constrained, we will not dictate ‘this has to be like an F-car’ or anything like that,” he explained. “It will be, you know, we want to provide this, and this is the form it took, this is the end result – then we decide.”
This paradigm shift reflects broader trends in the automotive industry, where software is becoming increasingly definitive for a car’s characteristics. While traditionalists may mourn the mechanical component of F-models, the transition to software-defined vehicles opens up new possibilities for customization and adaptation. Lexus seems to be balancing the preservation of its sporting heritage with adaptation to a future where performance may be more accessible and diverse through digital solutions, rather than exclusive mechanical components.
