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Lexus RC350: Australian trademark filing hints at new sports coupe

Lexus has trademarked three new alphanumeric codes in Australia, including one that is believed to reveal the name of the Japanese luxury marque's new sporty Lexus IS-based coupe.


The federal government's IP Australia website reveals Lexus' parent company Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) applied to trademark the name 'Lexus RC350' on November 2, and had its application approved on November 6.

The Lexus RC350 is expected to supplement the third-generation IS sedan and convertible range, giving the resurgent brand a competitor for the likes of the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series Coupe, Infiniti G Coupe and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

Lexus gave the world a preview of its all-new mid-sized two-door at September’s Paris motor show in the form of the dramatic Lexus LF-CC concept.

The concept is powered by a hybrid system that teams a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, although the RC350 nameplate suggests the production model will feature a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 – likely to be shared with the next-generation Lexus IS350.

The all-new Lexus IS sedan is set to launch in Australia early in 2013, with the high-performance IS F expected in 2014, followed by coupe and convertible variants.

Lexus has also trademarked the codes ‘NX200t’ and ‘NX300h’ in Australia, following a similar action by TMC in the US and Canada to protect the names that are expected to be applied to the luxury car maker’s upcoming compact SUV.

The Lexus NX range is expected to slot in below the RX and LX lines in the brand’s global showroom, rivalling small premium SUVs like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

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