We've been waiting for a hardcore version of the Lexus LC, and we've been hearing rumors of such a machine for at least five years now. Encouragingly, Lexus all but confirmed the existence of the car about two years ago, but are we any closer to it now than we were back then? On the one hand, we received reports last year that said the LC F would be as powerful as a Ferrari, but a short while later, a Japanese publication said that the LC F project was canned altogether as a result of the global pandemic. Now we have evidence that suggests that the LC F is indeed dead, as an abandoned trademark highlights.

Uncovered by the Lexus Enthusiast forum, the trademark for the LC F name expired about a year ago after being originally filed in the US in early 2017. In the time since, the trademark has gone completely unused by Lexus, but we should point out that this does not explicitly prove the death of the LC F. Granted, the global pandemic surely caused Lexus to reevaluate its priorities, and we concede that the ongoing chip shortage makes releasing new vehicles difficult. Add ever-tightening emissions standards to the mix, and a thoroughbred sports car without electric assistance seems all but impossible to achieve.

However, in the time since the patent was first filed, much more has changed. For one thing, Lexus has brought us the IS 500 F Sport Performance, which proves that the automaker still has room to build fast and exciting cars, not just luxury sedans and SUVs. Furthermore, with the constant demand around the long-dead LFA, as well as the approach that Lexus itself has to worship the LFA, there's no doubt that Lexus management is aware of the demand that a spicy LC has. The regular car is gorgeous, detailed, and luxurious. Add the long-rumored twin-turbo V8 engine and it seems like a no-brainer. We'll continue to keep our fingers firmly crossed until Lexus itself confirms the truth, whatever that turns out to be.