Lexus is Toyota's luxury division commonly known for its luxury sedans like the LS500 and brutish SUVs like LX500, all of which offer top-notch luxury and refinement, and of course, unmatched reliability. Most of its vehicles are too vanilla for the average enthusiast, but not all. So here's a list of 10 of the most exciting and sporty Lexus cars of all time:

Lexus LF-A

In production from 2011 to 2013, the Lexus LFA was the Japanese automaker's halo car that famously took nearly a decade of development and the cost of production was so high that even at $375,000, Lexus sold them for a loss. Lexus had a very simple goal with the LFA: to show what Toyota as a brand was capable of, and boy, did they surprise the world! It comes with a naturally-aspirated 4.8-liter V-10 engine that was co-developed with Yamaha exclusively for the LFA and had a manic 9,500 rpm redline, because of which it is regarded as one of the best sounding engines of all time.

The transmission was an equally impressive six-speed single-clutch automatic and it channeled the engine's 552 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via an LSD. With only 500 units made to date, the LFA is already a highly sought-after modern classic that easily deserves the title of the best Lexus product of all time. By the way, it will have an electrified successor; actually successors!

Lexus LFA

Lexus SC (Z30)

The Lexus SC, also sold as the Toyota Soarer, was a Lexus coupe that saw four generations. But, the one we are going to talk about is the enthusiast's choice, which is the third-generation model sold between 1991 and 2000.

It was offered with a range of engines which included everything from the highly sought-after 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE inline-six (same as the Mk.3 Supra minus the turbos) in the SC300 and the 1UZ-FE 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 in the range-topping SC400. The smaller mill made 225 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, whereas the SC400 put 256 horsepower. There were two transmissions on offer - a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto.

Lexus SC (Z30)

Lexus GS-F

The Sport saloon recipe was mastered by the Germans early on and they have been at the top of the game with cars like the M5 and E63 AMG setting benchmarks with each generation. However, when Lexus decided to take a shot at this niche segment, and though it wasn't a sales success, they did some things better than others.

In its fourth and so far, final generation, the GS-F packed a mighty 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 that made 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. It was accompanied by a throaty V-8 rumble and it came as a fresh breath of change in an era dominated by forced induction. It combined the RWD layout and sublime chassis balance to deliver an experience that's analog and exciting. But, its dated interiors and the lack of outright oomph led to bad sales and Lexus pulled the plug on the GS-F in 2020.

Lexus GS-F

Lexus RC 200t

The Lexus RC is a range of coupes launched by Lexus in 2014 that is underpinned by the same platform as the GS and IS models. However, the car that we are interested in is the RC 200t, a performance-oriented Lexus sports coupe with the smallest engine in the range, and most importantly, it does not wear an "F" badge. In the 200t, this 2.0-liter, inline-four with a twin-scroll turbo made a healthy 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and was mated to a Lexus staple eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Though the engine is peppy, the 3,796-pound curb weight of this RC is the biggest chink in its armor and robs some much-needed agility and excitement from this otherwise refined platform. As a result, it manages the 0-60 mph sprint in 6.7 seconds which is slower than most of its competitors. But, despite these minor flaws, it's safe to say that the RC 200t is an enjoyable sports coupe that you can drive every day.

Lexus RC 200T

Lexus IS 300 SportCross

The first-generation Lexus IS range was introduced in 2001, aimed squarely to take on the popular BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Audi A4. The IS was an over-engineered but underappreciated masterpiece that was available in both four-door sedan and wagon configurations. Let's face it, wagons are cooler than regular cars, especially if they pack punchy performance and driving dynamics, and the Lexus IS 300 SportCross (Also sold as the Toyota Altezza Gita in some regions) was the perfect blend of these attributes.

Powered by a naturally aspirated version of the famous 3.0-Liter 2JZ inline-six engine that powers the Supra, the IS 300 SportCross produced 215 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque. It was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission channeling power to the rear wheels. But, the biggest advantage of the 2JZ engine was the fact that you could bolt on Supra parts like turbo-kits and intercoolers onto your station wagon engine, thus making this one of the coolest JDM wagons of all time.

Lexus IS 300 SportCross

Lexus LC 500

Launched back in 2017 as the brand's halo offering, the LC 500 is largely based on LF-LC cars. That's a good thing because its Japanese origami-inspired design that layers the car with sharp lines and creases both inside and out, makes this Lexus one of the finest-looking automobiles of the 21st century.

In addition to the stunning looks, the Lexus packs some serious power, thanks to a naturally aspirated engine. Displacing five liters, this V-8 mill churns out 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Power is channeled via a highly advanced 10-speed gearbox, that, in reality, is a combination of two gearboxes (a CVT and a 4-speed auto) mated sequentially to function as a single unit. The V-8 rumble, combined with its timeless design, makes the LC500 one of the finest and sportiest Lexus products ever made.

Lexus LC 500

Lexus IS-F

In production from 2007 to 2014, the Lexus IS-F is the long-gone competitor to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63 that continues to be held in high regard for its incredibly balanced chassis, and throaty and reliable 2UR-GSE engine plonked under the hood. This was a 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated V-8 that produced 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque. The IS range debuted with advanced features, and the IS-F got them all. For instance, it had the fastest shifting paddle-shifted gearbox at the time - an eight-speed unit. It also featured variable intake valves and big Brembo brakes.

The IS-F also suffered from the same curse that haunts other "F" division Lexus products, i.e. the dated interiors. A special mention to one of the most infuriating infotainment systems ever created, but as far as quality goes, it is right up there with the best.

Lexus IS-F

Lexus IS 500

The latest Lexus IS 500 is the spiritual successor to the IS-F and the very existence of this vehicle is questionable in this day and age. Lexus shoved a large, naturally aspirated V-8 under the hood of its smallest sedan and called it a day, and don't be mistaken, it's not a Lexus F-division product, but can be had with an "F-Sport Performance" package at best - a truly rare and old-school recipe.

Speaking of the drivetrain, the IS 500 packs a sweet-sounding 5.0-liter V-8, codenamed 2UR-GSE. The engine makes 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque and sends it straight to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. As a result, 60 mph comes up in an impressive 4.4 seconds. This updated fourth-gen IS is also a significant step up in the quality and tech department, but more importantly, its carved itself a new niche that will appeal to purists who love this tribute to the old-school performance sedan experience, wrapped in a modern shell.

Lexus IS 500

Lexus RC-F

Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 2013, the Lexus RC-F is the souped-up version of the RC Coupe. Its party piece has to be the 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated V-8 that packs 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

But, it's not just an RC with a big engine under the skin. Lexus has given the RC-F some serious equipment like an adaptive suspension, Brembo six-piston brakes, and a limited-slip rear differential, to name a few. Even the aggressive bodywork features a set of functional vents and wing that make it all the more purposeful. Unfortunately for Lexus, the RC-F faces some tough competition from the likes of the BMW M4 and Audi RS5, both of which outperform the Lexus, all thanks to the wonders of forced induction. But, that said, the balanced and pure RC-F is a far more involving driver’s car.

Lexus RC-F 

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

Lexus spared no expense while making the LFA supercar, but it might surprise some people that out of the 500 LFAs made over the course of two years, 50 of them came with the Nürburgring package with performance improvements.

For starters, the power for the 4.8-liter, naturally aspirated V-10 was up by 10 horsepower for a raised total output of 562 horsepower, while torque figures remained unchanged at 339 pound-feet. The six-speed automated manual gearbox was recalibrated to deliver even faster shifts. In addition to the tweaked drivetrain, it received a whole host of updates, including new lightweight magnesium wheels from BBS, a large fixed-wing, retuned suspension, and sticker rubber, which is why the LF-A Nürburgring editions are highly sought-after collectibles now with values estimated to be around the $1.5 million mark.

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

FAQ

Q: How much does the new Lexus sports car cost?

The most affordable Lexus sports car in the brand's current portfolio is the 2022 RC 300 coupe with a starting price of $38,400.

Q: Does Lexus have an AWD sports car?

Though Lexus offers AWD with many of its SUVs and sedans, no Lexus sports car comes with AWD from the factory.

Q: Is the Lexus LC 500 a supercar?

No, the Lexus LC500 is the brand's flagship that's positioned as a sporty Grand Tourer.

Q: What is the fastest Lexus car?

The title of the fastest Lexus production car goes to the Lexus LFA which has a top speed of 202 mph.