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First Look

Farewell, V8: Lexus is killing off the RC F at the end of 2025

After ten years on sale, Lexus has discontinued the RC, including the V8 RC F

Published: 17 Jan 2025

Another one bites the dust. Lexus has killed the V8-powered RC F. Though discontinued in the UK in early 2024, Lexus Japan has confirmed it'll be given the global chop in November, with these 2025 'Final Edition' cars the last chance to own a naturally-aspirated V8 coupe.

Indeed Lexus is killing off the entire RC model line, after a 10 year run and around 79,000 cars sold worldwide. Of that figure, around 12,000 were of the M3-rivalling-but-never-as-good RC F.

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So, to the Final Edition. It'll use last year’s 'Carbon Package' version as the base, which adds plenty of the good stuff to sections like the front splitter, rocker panels, roof and rear diffuser. There’s an active rear wing out back too.

The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 - one of the last free-breathing eight pots left in the world - remains unchanged, so there's still a healthy 479bhp and 395lb ft resulting in a 4.5s sprint to 62mph and a top speed of 168mph. Other tech highlights include a set of Brembo brakes with red calipers, adaptive suspension and a bespoke rear diff.

Looks good, too. The Final Edition sits on 19in BBS forged alloys wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres, and is available with four colour finishes including ‘Radiant Red’ and ‘Incognito’. Don’t stress, it’s a shade of grey and not a live feed of your shady Google searches.

Save for the commemorative build plaque in the centre console, it’s business as usual inside. The Final Edition retains the 10.3in infotainment touch screen and red/black leather and suede upholstery mixture. The fancy G-force meter hasn’t gone anywhere either.

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And in its last year, the non-V8-powered, regular Lexus RC will be offered in two variants. The entry-level ‘300’ has a 2.0-litre twin-turbo inline-four with around 244bhp sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed auto ‘box. Alternatively, you can have the 300 with a 264bhp 3.5-litre V6, a shorter six-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

Right at the top of the regular RC food chain sits the ‘350’, which also gets the V6 but with 315bhp (plus 280 torques). Again, two drivetrain options will be offered: AWD and RWD. The former comes with a six-speed auto, while the latter ups this to eight.

US prices kick off at $46,445 for a boggo 300 and spiral up to $94,000 for a Final Edition RC F. Will you miss it?

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