The hybrid grand tourer was recently dropped for 2026—and now the reason is clear
The Lexus LC is one of the most overlooked cars on the market. It’s a stunning two-door grand tourer with a luxurious cabin and one of the last naturally aspirated V-8 engines still in production. The only thing missing? A manual transmission.
Despite its many strengths, the LC has never found mainstream success. In 2024, Lexus sold just 1,464 units in the U.S.—down from 1,761 in 2023 and 1,387 in 2022. Since its debut in 2017, annual sales have hovered around 1,500, with the sole exception of 2021 when it briefly spiked to 2,782 units.
As of mid-2025, total U.S. sales for the LC sit around 14,000. And even with a refresh coming for 2026, its low volume puts it at risk of being phased out.
The Hybrid? An Even Tougher Sell.
Dig deeper, and the outlook for the LC Hybrid is even more bleak. Lexus confirmed that just 248 LC Hybrids have been sold in the U.S. since the model’s launch—only 7 of those in 2025 so far.
Here’s the annual breakdown:
- 2018: 102 units
- 2019: 37 units
- 2020: 14 units
- 2021: 14 units
- 2022: 19 units
- 2023: 37 units
- 2024: 18 units
- 2025 (YTD): 7 units
That helps explain why the LC Hybrid has been discontinued for the 2026 model year.
Originally introduced in 2016 and sold alongside the V-8 starting in 2018, the LC Hybrid replaced the 5.0-liter V-8 with a 3.5-liter V-6 paired with two electric motors. Output dropped from 471 hp in the gas model to just 345 hp, and the powertrain relied on a dated four-speed automatic working in tandem with a CVT—hardly a recipe for excitement in a premium GT car.
Still, V-8 fans have reason to celebrate. The LC lives on for 2026, and Lexus recently unveiled a new Inspiration Series featuring two exclusive paint options. Production will be limited to 200 coupes and 350 convertibles.
