Bad news tonight for fans of angles and golden roofless things: the Lexus LF-C2 Concept, which looked like a boss from the first StarFox, will not enter production, according to a Motor Trend report.
Despite the fact that everyone (including us) assumed that concept would turn into a convertible version of the Lexus RC Coupe, sources within told Motor Trend that because Lexus' dealers clamored for a three-row crossover instead of a convertible — the former is a volume-seller and the latter just a niche — resources were put toward that instead.
If the LF-C2 looks close to production, it's because it was, the report says. Apparently the concept was planned years ago before the future plans were scuttled over dealer concerns.
In fact, dealers were in full-on "revolt" over the fact that they might get a convertible coupe over a three-row RX crossover. I'd love to know what a Lexus dealer revolt looked like. Probably a lot of middle-aged guys in bad suits throwing bottles of white wine on the ground, I dunno. From the story:
The result of the revolt is that Lexus has just begun work on a three-row crossover based on the upcoming LS platform. As that's a rear-wheel-drive platform, this will make the upcoming Lexus vehicle competitive with the likes of the aforementioned Mercedes GL and Audi Q7, as well as the Infiniti QX80. Since it's a crossover (like the two mentioned), it will have superior packaging to vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Factor in economies of scale, and building the new three-row CUV off the platform intended for the LS and the LF-LC (probably to be renamed the SC) coupe will decrease costs for all three vehicles.
Emphasis mine, because we're not quite done with more Lexus coupes yet. Word on the street is the SC name will come back as a production version of the Lexus LF-LC Concept, packing a turbocharged (and possibly hybrid) V8 with somewhere between 500 and 600 horsepower.
In the meantime, your mom is reportedly disappointed she's not getting that Lexus convertible after all.