Remember the original Lexus IS F? Lexus took an otherwise ordinary compact luxury sedan, stuffed a snarling 5.0-liter V-8 under the hood, added flared fenders and stacked exhaust tips, and unleashed it into the world. That car kicked off an entire lineup of V-8-powered F models, including the RC F and GS F.
Seventeen years later, the F performance name still lingers—sort of—in the awkwardly named IS500 F Sport Performance. But if recent reports are to be believed, Lexus F models as we know them may be facing extinction.
In an interview with Australia’s Drive, Lexus global head Takashi Watanabe said the F badge only represents “one expression” of performance within the Lexus lineup. What exactly does that mean? Watanabe elaborated:
‘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… The button you saw on the steering wheel represents a possible evolution forward, where F-Mode is being expressed through software, but we’re still touching upon the sportiness of the brand.’
Photo by: Lexus
While Watanabe stops short of suggesting that F cars will disappear entirely from the Lexus lineup, the writing seems to be on the wall. Recent Lexus concepts feature an “F-Mode” button on the steering wheel—intended to capture the spirit of the F performance badge, but without the hardware to go with it.
When asked directly whether Lexus F models would continue into the future, Watanabe told Drive, “We don’t have a specific type of product plan or something like that, where we’re gonna say this either way.”
There is some good news, though: Toyota and Lexus already have a new V-8 engine in development. That powertrain is expected to appear in the automaker’s upcoming sports car—which we’ve been calling the “LFR.” Toyota might even adapt the new V-8 for more conventional vehicles, like SUVs.
Unfortunately, none of Lexus’s recent concepts or prototypes wear an “F” badge. The latest Lexus Sport Concept, for instance, shows no clear link to the brand’s performance division. Still, there’s hope that Lexus will keep the F name alive. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.
