A Brief History of Lexus Sports Cars

Image via Complex Original

After a few years of making luxury sedans, Lexus branched out and made a sleek 2+2 coupe called the SC. The first generation SC was more of a cruiser than a true sports car, but it was a huge step in a more aggressive direction for the company. ST SC was powered by either a 3.0L 2JZ-GE I6 or a 4.0L 1UZ-FE V8 engine. The V8 might have been the faster car without modification, but the huge amount of aftermarket support for the 2JZ, best know for appearing in the Mk. IV Supra, meant that tuners could do crazy things with the “lesser” of the two SCs.

When the ’97 GS 400 was introduced, Lexus claimed it was the quickest production sedan based on its 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds. Although a fast sprint to 60 mph does not a sports car make, it did serve as proof that performance was a genuine concern for Lexus. The GS 400 was dethroned a year later by the 1998 BMW M5.

For 2001 the SC lost two seats and gained an automatic folding hardtop. The design was inspired by yachts seen at the Côte d’Azur, and the experience was similar—it was fairly powerful, and very luxurious and smooth, but it lacked that edge that would have it categorized as a sports car. The size and format, however, were another step in the direction.

Wow! Suddenly, and without warning, a company known for making occasional sporty luxury cars showed up at the Detroit Motor Show with a concept for an insane and very aggressive front-engined supercar. Although it was presented as nothing more than a design study, Lexus had already been developing the LFA at tracks like the Nürburgring for five years.

The second generation IS was already a hit when it dropped, but the creation of an F-Sport variant solidified it as a real turning point in the brand’s history. Lexus had been toeing the sports-luxury sedan waters for a long time, but this was the first time the company really just jumped in there and made a full-fledged car in the segment.

It was powered by a 416 hp 5.0L V8 that could get it from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and all the way up to an electronically limited top speed of 170 mph. The age of the Lexus sports car had truly dawned.

The IS-F wasn't the only big thing to happen in 2007. At SEMA, Lexus also showed off a new line of performance parts under the “F-Sport” brand name. The parts were the kind of thing we were used to seeing from TRD, and were, for the most part, made by the same people. It was all good stuff, and it was more proof that Lexus was taking this sport thing seriously.

When the LFA dropped, so did jaws across the world. Lexus’ first purpose-built sports car wasn’t just a sports car—it was an over-the-top hypercar put together with a lovably anal retentive attention to detail: 60 mph came in just 3.6 seconds, 100 mph was just four more seconds away, and a top speed of 203 mph was attainable if the driver could find enough road. All of this was courtesy of a 552HP, 4.8L V10 and a chassis and suspension set-up that could pull more than 1G on a skidpad. It was a brilliant car.

By the time that the thoroughly disappointing Mayan apocalypse rolled around, F-Sport was an entrenched part of the IS's identity, but the Grand Poobah of the Lexus universe, papa LS, was just getting its first taste of fury. It didn’t go full lunatic, like an AMG would have. Instead, the LS retained its subdued, restrained character while gaining in performance. The LS 460 F-Sport sits on a slightly stiffer, lowered suspension, is stopped by a set of nice, big Brembo brakes, and gets plenty of power from the unchanged, 386HP V8. It's just enough of a modification to give the driver a different experience.

Seven years after Lexus showed up at NAIAS with a magnetic and enthralling concept for a sports car, it happened again with the sleek and stylish LF-LC concept. The low hood line, sleek roof line, interesting integration of the various front lighting and aero elements, and complex C-pillar treatment made it an instant winner. The want was strong, and it looked bloody amazing in blue.

At long last, it has happened. That coveted segment where people can have their cake and eat it too now has an entry from Lexus (that also looks fantastic in blue). The base car is motivated by a smooth 305HP 3.5L V6, and the RC-F gets around the track with help from a 467 5.0L V8. A nice big set of brakes and a track tuned chassis and suspension are a pleasant compliment to all that power, giving the driver the experience he could hope for.