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These cars are headed to the Great Crusher In The Sky

It happens every year. We bid adieu to some cars and trucks that will be missed, and say good riddance to others wondering how they stayed around so long. Whether they're being killed off for slow sales or due to a new product coming along to replace them, the list of vehicles being discontinued after 2012 is surprisingly long and diverse.
CNN Money has compiled a list of departing vehicles, to which we've added a few more of our own. In the slow sales column, cars like the Lexus HS 250h, Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the full Maybach lineup appear, while the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Veracruz are all having their gaps filled with more modern and more fuel-efficient alternatives. Obvious exceptions to the rule include models that still sell in decent numbers like the Jeep Liberty and the Chrysler Town & Country (which will eventually be replaced by a crossover-like vehicle).
Check out our gallery of discontinued cars above, then scroll down for more information.

Lexus takes to Pikes Peak in RC F GT Concept

Lexus is gearing up to take on Pikes Peak with the RC F GT Concept you see here, developing the new racing prototype for the venerable hillclimb event. Different from the more extreme GT3 and GT500 racing concepts we've seen to date, the new GT concept is more closely based the road-going RC F. Only it's leaner and meaner and ready to take on the grueling 12.4-mile race to the clouds and all its 156 turns. The RC F GT packs the same 5.0-liter V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission as the production model. The major difference is that it weighs some 800 pounds less, thanks largely to the widespread use of carbon fiber body panels and polycarbonate windows. It also incorporates a more aggressive aero kit and rolling stock, and allows the technicians to tune the engine for competition applications. To tackle the Peak, Lexus is handing the keys over to none other than Justin Bell, the former GT2 class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA GT Championship. He'll be fielding the RC F GT in the Time Attack class for production-based vehicles, while providing Lexus engineers with valuable performance data and the chance to develop components for future applications. Two years ago, the IS F CCS-R prototype competed in the same event, and served as a test bed to develop the powertrain that went into the RC F that followed. Related Video: LEXUS TO COMPETE IN 2015 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB WITH ALL-NEW RC F GT CONCEPT - V8 Powered, Production Car-based Coupe to be Driven by Justin Bell - RC F GT Program to Serve as Key Developmental Tool for F brand Engineering June 22, 2015 TORRANCE, Calif. (June 22, 2015) – On June 28th, Lexus will compete in the Time Attack class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The luxury automaker will be campaigning the all-new RC F GT Concept, a vehicle that builds upon the legacy of the IS F CCS-R vehicles that last competed at Pikes Peak in 2013. This historic event, now in its 93rd running, is a race against the clock that tests man and machine with the changing elements, altitude, and a treacherous 12.42 mile, 156 turn course that winds up the peak from 9,390 feet up to the 14,115 foot summit. The new Lexus will be piloted up the mountain by British driving ace, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, and automotive media personality Justin Bell. "With very little time behind the wheel, the RC F GT Concept has already proven fast and easy to drive, very much like the production models, actually.

Lexus LC500 Convertible gets Marine Blue interior and top ... in Japan

Japanese customers of the Lexus LC will soon have a wider selection of exterior and interior colors, including a stunning Marine Blue option exclusive to the LC 500 Convertible. The announcement came on Thursday, along with news of some minor handling improvements. The Marine Blue selection adds an tidy navy lid to the LC droptop, paired with a matching interior. However, the entire cockpit hasn't been slathered in blue. Instead, the cobalt hue has been applied judiciously to the steering wheel, dash pad, gear selector, and sections of the door panels. Most of interior is actually white, giving the two-tone cabin an elegant nautical feel. In addition, Lexus is introducing two new colors to Japan's LC palette: Sonic Iridium, which looks like yet another silver variant, and Terrain Khaki Mica Metallic, which looks like the beautiful Nori Green special edition we got in the U.S. and was previously exclusive to the convertible, is now available on the LC500 and LC500h coupe. Buyers can tick a box for new orange brake calipers as well. Lexus says they've also improved the LC's steering feel, ride quality, and controllability during high-g cornering by making minor adjustments to the coil springs, dampers, and stabilizers. Coupled with tweaks to the settings of the variable gear ratio steering and dynamic rear steering systems, Lexus says the overall responsiveness has been improved. Lastly, the LC coupe's panoramic roof now uses a tinted privacy glass.  The Lexus LC menu has always been slightly different between the U.S. and Japan regions. For example, we get three interior options — tan, black, and a red-on-black two-tone. Even before Marine Blue Japan had a fourth, black-and-orange. It's not quite as Halloween-y as it sounds to American ears; the orange is more of a saddle brown. Lexus hasn't said whether Marine Blue (or any of the other improvements) will come to the U.S., but the LC is likely to receive a refresh soon. If the new interior is part of the package, we won't complain. Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.