Lexus F: A Quick Rundown
Ah, yes, the Lexus F division. It's Japan's answer to Audi RS, BMW M, and Mercedes-AMG. For nearly 20 years, it's been butting heads with some of Europe's finest with, well, varying degrees of success. But regardless, its cars could, at the very least, go toe to toe against its long-established rivals.
It all started with the IS-F in 2007, which was aimed squarely at the E90 M3 and W204 C63. The formula was simple with a stonking V8 at the front, rear-wheel drive, and a great soundtrack to go along with it. The F division then aimed for the stars with the LFA. Often regarded as one of the best-sounding cars of all time, its rev-happy Yamaha-tuned 4.8-liter V10 screamer was one of the many reasons why the LFA has cemented its legacy.
But since then, Lexus' in-house performance arm has been relatively quiet. The RC F arrived in 2014 as an M4 and C63 Coupe rival, while the GS F followed suit in 2016 to chase M5s, RS6s, and E63s. It's been nine years since a Lexus rolled out an all-new and dedicated F model, which is far too long, we say.
Lexus
The F Division Now
Right now, the F division is idle. The GS F was discontinued in 2020, while the RC F will be no more by the end of November this year. Come 2026, there will be no more Lexus F models, which makes one wonder about the future of the performance brand.
One could argue that the LBX Morizo RR (not available in the US and Canada) carries the torch. However, it's a limited-run model, and it's more a project of Gazoo Racing than F. Then there's the IS500, the spiritual successor of the IS F from nearly 20 years ago. However, it too faces the chopping block soon, and Lexus brands it as an F Performance model and not a full-on F car.
Does this mean that the F division will be no more? Well, not exactly, but you might not like the answer.
Lexus
The Future Of F, According To Lexus
Takashi Watanabe, the president of Lexus, told Drive about the fate of the brand's performance arm. Watanabe told the Australian publication that while they acknowledge that the F division is part of their core, it seems that Lexus won't be building all-out performance cars in the near future.
"One thing the brand is very well aware of is, up until now, the traditional F has been really associated with hardware, or hard parts – suspension components, shock absorbers, springs, (and so on). But, as we move into the future, we're going to be going to SDVs, software-defined vehicles. That's also going to add a new element to this whole thing – how are we going to provide the value through advanced technology?" said Watanabe.
Watanabe pointed out the F-Mode featured in the concept vehicles shown at the Japan Mobility Show. While it wasn't mentioned what F-Mode can do, one can assume that it's likely a more focused version of Sport Mode. That said, we might still see a Lexus model that has been tweaked or enhanced by F, but something like a pure BMW M or AMG rival might be out of the picture.
Looking at the current crop of Lexus models, it's perhaps understandable why there isn't much of a push for a true F model. The GS is long gone, and the ES isn't exactly a prime candidate for a high-performance model. Sure, there's the IS, but it's sitting on a platform that's well over a decade old. Judging by the brand's current lineup, the best we can expect is a series of F Sport models.
