Lexus LC500 won’t lead into a new LFA. Pity.

With the Lexus LC500 confirmed for production after next month’s Geneva debut, many assumed it might serve as the precursor to the next Lexus LFA – after all they share more than a hint of design similarity. The Lexus LFA was produced in 2012 and had a production run of 500 units – two of them were shipped to South Africa.

That hope has fizzled into hearsay as Lexus  Europe Boss Alain Uyttenhoven recently told the media that the firm would turn its attention to affordable super cars before updating the seminal LFA.

Uyttenhoven said: “It is possible that we will one day create another supercar, but in my view a super-high-end machine is not what we need right now. The trouble with such cars is that they tend to be cherished and garaged rather than seen on the roads. We are entering more emotional territory and we want our cars to be seen. What the LFA taught us was that Lexus needs to be selling cars on emotional, not just rational, ideas.”

He added, “The LFA is an icon now and possibly always – we don’t need to replace it to keep that status. It is a car we can reference for another 25 years if we choose. Its status is assured. But what’s clear is that we can create similar emotion in more attainable cars, and that is our focus now. For the future, who knows? I’m not saying we won’t do another LFA. I just don’t know. But I am certain that we will surprise you in the future with the cars we have planned.”