Is This the Lexus RC F Coupe We’ll See at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show?

For Lexus, 2013 has been all about rebranding. They’re in the process of refreshing most cars in their lineup, while releasing new vehicles for market segments in which they want a bigger presence (eg. the Lexus  LF-NX Concept).  Another segment that Lexus has been strangely absent from for the better part of the past 5 years is that of the coupe.

The Lexus LFA was the last coupe Toyota’s premium brand manufactured, but that was extremely expensive (think somewhere around $400K) and only 500 units rolled off the production line over the course of 2 years. However, all that will change next year when Lexus releases their new RC and RC F coupes.

We’re expecting (hoping) to see the Lexus RC F debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in just a couple months, but until then we have a couple possible teasers to keep your mouth watering. These images were taken from Japan’s Best Car magazine, and they appear to be the very first official images of the Lexus RC F coupe:

Compare that image to the spy shot we saw earlier this year of a confirmed Lexus RC F prototype undergoing on-road testing and, as you can see, the two vehicles look very similar. They have almost identical front clips, with the same large air-intakes, the same Lexus grill and headlights, and even the same ram-style air hood. They have an almost identical roofline, and they both feature the same style of rear spoiler… Although the official photos make it look like it has shrunk a bit since the prototype.

Here’s the second image depicting the back of the Lexus RC F, which gives us some more information:

Here we see the quad-tailpipe configuration originally seen in the Lexus IS of old, the same rear bumper design as in the spyshots, and more of the roof (which we know is made from carbon fiber).

To refresh your memory, the Lexus RC F coupe will reportedly run on an upgraded 5.0L V8 engine capable of outputting 455 bhp and 401 lb/ft of torque, which allows it to burst from 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds. There will also be a regular RC coupe that will run on a not-as-face-meltingly-powerful 3.5L V6 with 306 hp. However, both cars have been designed with fuel economy in mind, so don’t expect a gas-guzzling supercar.

It should be noted that Lexus hasn’t actually confirmed either of these two images outside of what Best Car magazine has reported. While it’s unlikely, there is an outside possibility that these images are actually artist renderings and not the real metal.

Either way, we’ll know for sure when Lexus debuts their new coupe at either the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show or the Detroit Auto Show following in January. The coupe will definitely go on sale in September of 2014 – that, at least, we know for sure.