Now that production of the Lexus LF-A has come to an end, the Japanese automaker is left without a sports car in its lineup. While it's a hard to replace a “halo car” like the LF-A, Autocar is reporting that the LF-CC Concept, the same one that made its debut at the Paris Auto Show last September, could take the reins from the LF-A as the company's next sports car.

According to the report, steps are already underway to begin development of a production LF-CC. This stems from a Lexus source saying that the objective this time around isn't to showcase a limited-edition supercar the way they did with the LF-A, but to build a car that was “exciting and emotional,” and one that reflects Lexus’->ke47 intended future image as a “sporting” brand.

The new sports car will wear both coupe and convertible guise, and will carry styling cues from the concept LF-CC. A rear-drive platform is also likely to be used, similar to the setups Lexus used on the new IS->ke500 and GS->ke439 models. But most importantly, the production LF-CC is poised to carry a hybrid powertrain.

We have no illusions that the production LF-CC will eventually supplant the LF-A as Lexus' fabled supercar, but we do understand the latter's impact in giving Lexus some sports car chops, something it hasn't had in a long time.

Here's to hoping that the production LF-CC can carry that tradition when it makes its reported debut by 2015.

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