The Lexus LC is being retired in Australia, which will also see the end of V8 power from the Japanese luxury brand Down Under.
While it’s being sent off with a special edition, you won’t be able to get your hands on one. That’s because Australia’s allocation of the LC500 Special Edition Coupe has already been exhausted, with a small but unspecified number of examples already accounted for. No pricing has been announced.
“The Lexus LC 500 Special Edition Coupe is essentially the same vehicle as the Pinnacle Edition launched in Japan last year with some minor specification differences. In respect to Lexus LC dealer stock, the Australian allocation has been exhausted,” said a Lexus Australia spokesperson.
Lexus previewed the LC500 Special Edition Coupe in October 2025 at the Melbourne Cup, when it confirmed just one example would come here, followed by a LC500 Special Edition Convertible.
It confirmed the special send-off would feature a black and white interior, a matte-grey exterior finish called Oborogin, black exterior accents, special 21-inch alloy wheels, and a fixed rear spoiler.
It’s powered by an unchanged naturally aspirated 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine producing 351kW of power and 540Nm of torque, mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Lexus in Japan confirmed the aforementioned Pinnacle edition, revealed in July 2025, features one-piece moulded front bumper canards, unique 21-inch forged aluminium wheels, matte Oboro Silver paint, and a fixed rear wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic.
Inside, there’s a unique black and white interior with special scuff plates, unique embroidery on the passenger side of the dash, and a Limited Edition centre console plaque.
Beyond aesthetic changes, Lexus also included a hollow rear aluminium suspension member that Lexus says improves grip and rigidity, as well as a retuned limited-slip differential.
Just 100 units of the Pinnacle edition were planned.
Lexus also produced a Pinnacle version of the LC500 Convertible. However, the LC500h Coupe missed out on the special-edition treatment.
The LC500h has a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain with a total system output of 264kW, a highly unusual powertrain for such a high-end vehicle given it can’t be plugged in to charge.
“The Lexus LC holds a special place in the heart of our brand and for its many dedicated fans and owners in Australia,” said Lexus Australia chief executive Jack Hobbs.
“It has been a true halo model, a flagship that perfectly blended a stunning, convention-breaking design with the luxurious performance and meticulous craftsmanship that define Lexus.
“As we celebrate the LC’s legacy and offer a final Special Edition to a select few, we also look to the future. The spirit and passion of the LC will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of Lexus vehicles as we push the boundaries of technology and design to continue creating amazing experiences for our customers.”
Previewed in concept form in 2012 and subsequently entering production in 2017, the LC uses the GA-L architecture that also underpins the Lexus LS – another vehicle at the end of its lifecycle, but which will receive another update this year.
The local LC lineup was expanded in 2020 with the launch of the LC500 Convertible, while 2021 brought revisions to the suspension and transmission tuning, followed by a new-generation infotainment system and the addition of Lexus Connected Services in 2023.
But Lexus Australia’s announcement of this special farewell edition comes as no great surprise, following the leak of a dealer bulletin in the US earlier this year which said production would wrap up in August 2026.
Lexus USA subsequently confirmed the LC would be retired in the US, the brand’s largest market, after the 2026 model year.
The LC is now the last production vehicle using the 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre V8, following the axing of the IS500 sedan which was never offered here. The V8 had previously been used in the RC F coupe and the IS F and GS F sedans, all of which were sold in Australia.
Lexus is set to add a new coupe atop its lineup, but instead of a V8-powered grand tourer it’ll be an electric supercar dusting off the LFA nameplate.