2015 Lexus Rc 350 on 2040-cars

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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.

2015 Lexus RC F configurator heats up

Just over two weeks after Lexus activated its online configurator for the 2015 RC350, the Japanese luxury marque is flipping the switch on the car we really want to customize – the 467-horsepower RC F. In addition to letting us play about with various configurations for the new sports coupe, Lexus' latest builder is decidedly different and more visually pleasing. It also does away with the brand's typical, and occasionally unintuitive, grouping of options. In its place, we have a trio of simple, logical packages. There's a navigation pack that adds, um, navigation. It also includes in Lexus' Enform telematics suite. You can also select a Premium Pack, that adds luxury features like heated and vented seats, park assist and LED headlamps, while an all-weather pack tacks on a heated steering wheel, headlamp washers and a deicer for the wiper blades. There are some secondary options, too, including an attractive set of 19-inch wheels, an updated leather interior, adaptive cruise control and a moonroof. All in all, pretty standard fare. Prices for the RC F start at $62,400, not counting a $925 destination charge. Head over to Lexus' consumer page and build your ideal RC F.

Lexus RX successor headed for NY Show

The redesign of the popular Lexus RX crossover will finally make its official debut in April, at the 2015 New York Auto Show with an on-sale date slated for later in 2015, Edmunds is reporting. This will be an important job for Lexus, as its next-gen midsize luxury crossover will need to measure up to a segment that is very different than the one the current RX debuted in, way back in 2008. Cars like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK are now supported on the lower end by more compact models. Lexus is no different; the RX has been joined by the entry level NX, allowing the Japanese luxury marque to do a bit more for the fourth-gen CUV. That means New York will herald a larger and pricier crossover, Edmunds claims, even boasting a third row. That fits with our previous round of spy photos. Despite the baby NX's hardcore, knife-edge styling, it's expected that the next RX will be a more evolutionary version of the current model's conservative looks. Still, as our previous spy photos show, there will be some Lexus styling trademarks, including a revised version of the current crossover's spindle grille. Keep your eyes open come April, as we can expect the full details on the 2016 Lexus RX.