[shyn]

When Lexus first showed off the LF-LC concept back in 2012, it dropped jaws with its evocative, swoopy GT coupe design. Turns out, it wasn't just a concept design. Meet the 2017 Lexus LC 500, a luxurious muscle coupe packing 467 horses.

At the LC 500 unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show, Lexus Chief Branding Officer and Master Driver Akio Toyoda kicked off his remarks by reading a list of descriptions of Lexus from the motoring press. Words like "boring" and "bland" were featured. With the LC 500, Toyoda hopes to abolish that impression entirely.

"Everyone, including the engineers, wanted to keep this car as close as possible to the original concept," Toyoda remarked. Looks like they just about nailed it.

When Lexus first showed off the LF-LC concept back in 2012, it dropped jaws with its evocative, swoopy GT coupe design. Turns out, it wasn't just a concept design. Meet the 2017 Lexus LC 500, a luxurious muscle coupe packing 467 horses.

At the LC 500 unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show, Lexus Chief Branding Officer and Master Driver Akio Toyoda kicked off his remarks by reading a list of descriptions of Lexus from the motoring press. Words like "boring" and "bland" were featured. With the LC 500, Toyoda hopes to abolish that impression entirely.

"Everyone, including the engineers, wanted to keep this car as close as possible to the original concept," Toyoda remarked. Looks like they just about nailed it.

Powered by the same naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 found in the RC F and the GS F, the new LC 500 wears styling that's shockingly similar to the original concept car. That swoopy body rests on an all-new, rear-wheel-drive platform dubbed GA-L. Lexus says it prioritized a low center of gravity and excellent weight distribution in this first iteration of the chassis, which along with aluminum, carbon-fiber, and composite bodywork, provides the LC 500 with a 52/48 front/rear weight distribution.

"The LC 500 has been an important product for Lexus and me personally," said Toyoda. "A few years ago, we decided to guide the future of the brand with products that had more passion and distinction in the luxury market. This flagship luxury coupe's proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brand's emotional direction and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal globally."

The LC 500's 467 horses and 389 lb.-ft. of torque are sent through an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. Six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers counteract a claimed 0-60 sprint of "less than 4.5 seconds."

But don't think this is a bare-bones speeder. Lexus wants this four-seater to offer both performance and luxury, and the stylish interior, with its optional Mark Levinson audio package and a host of next-generation safety features ensures pampering to go alongside the power.

Lexus tells us the LC 500 coupe will come to market some time next year; an LS sport sedan based on the same platform will follow. Considering how nicely Lexus made the transition from concept to production car, we can only hope there's an LF-LC Vision Gran Turismo-inspired racer in the works.

Source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...-lexus-lc-500/

[arnabchak]

Wow!!

Jawdropping. Loved the looks and the design.
Two thumbs way up for the LC.

[srishiva]

Really like the dash and interior bits. I think they had to go away from Lexus way of designing it . The exterior with the green house being as small it could be for the size of the car between the wheels.
Good job by Lexus

[shyn]

And here's a couple of videos

https://youtu.be/i2pdwQrIOLU

https://youtu.be/3k6-3UoUhJ8

[hybridpetrol]

Very interesting interiors and the overall design!
It is commendable that they actually planned to go so close to the concept car. It is refreshing to see that a manufacturer actually trying to go with the concept version of the car - this is a luxury that only luxury car manufacturers can afford to!
A mass market manufacturer would have changed the head lamps to traditional Swept back design, tail lamps would have been revised to some more rounded design, Wheels would have been undersized, GC would have been increased, and of course, they would have removed that powerful motor and tried to fit something like 1.2L engine, if it is India?
By the way, is it a limited edition?

[Divya Sharan]

Wow! This thing is gorgeous to my eyes. Not sure about the interior color though!

Originally Posted by shyn

Lexus wants this four-seater to offer both performance and luxury, and the stylish interior, with its optional Mark Levinson audio package and a host of next-generation safety features ensures pampering to go alongside the power.

Where do the 3rd and 4th passengers sit and how do they get in?

[saion666]

Nice looking car. Is it just me who was reminded of this thread on seeing this:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...h-grilles.html

[DicKy]

The front spindle grille will sure polarise opinions and the rear is trying too hard to remind one of the gorgeous LFA rear style.

But overall the style looks and feels radical, and with Lexus engineering behind one can be sure that it would be good in one way or the other.

But the one that takes my cake is the interior styling. Sure, it has the new Lexus design philosophy that i so love, but the passenger side of the dashboard makes me go deja vu as it evokes american luxury car dashboards of the 80s and 90s if i am right.

[shyn]

Originally Posted by hybridpetrol

By the way, is it a limited edition?

No, not a limited edition. Lexus will make as many as long as there's people buying it.

And if anyone thought the LC 500 didn't look radical enough, here's a race-spec version as imagined by the extremely talented YasidDesign!

[GTO]

Love the car, love the meaty stance, except for...

Originally Posted by saion666

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...h-grilles.html

Originally Posted by DicKy

The front spindle grille will sure polarise opinions

Gosh, the grille treatment is ugly . Toyota designers simply don't have the taste or panache of their European counterparts and they should accept it. Whenever Toyota tries something outlandish, it ends up looking weird. Remember:



Toyota should stick to clean designs. That's what they do best. This grille has to go before it affects the entire family.

[deetjohn]

The car looks good, the side, the rear, some details at the front and the overall silhouette. But I still haven't been able to make peace with Lexus' new predator grille. High time they ditch that.


And I hope this one does justice to the amazing sound that Lexus gave the world with the amazing LFA. I don't think I have heard any-other car make such a glorious note.

Here is it again, can't get enough of it. Wish the note was continuous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6D7S2rcyIQ

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Here is it again, can't get enough of it. Wish the note was continuous.

Why is that rpm needle so jerky, They could have used a simple first order filter to dampen out the signal before displaying it on the screen.

I believe their design philosophy for the car, perfection, made them to update the actual rpm on the display.

Did anyone else notice the jerky rpm needle?

EDIT: I vaguely remember Richard Hammond telling something like the traditional tacho meter wasn't able to keep up with change in rpm. You guys tell me, if I'm wrong.

[mayankk]

That looks a little AI/Minority report, though, doesnt it?
I cant imagine this thing moving around ye olde countries (Europe's streets). Maybe more for americans and japan themselves?

Originally Posted by ecenandu

Why is that rpm needle so jerky, They could have used a simple first order filter to dampen out the signal before displaying it on the screen.

I believe their design philosophy for the car, perfection, made them to update the actual rpm on the display.

Did anyone else notice the jerky rpm needle?

EDIT: I vaguely remember Richard Hammond telling something like the traditional tacho meter wasn't able to keep up with change in rpm. You guys tell me, if I'm wrong.

Yes. Hammond did say that. He said the engine revs so quickly that the traditional mechanical guage cannot keep up. So they had to do a digital one. It's jerky probably because it can respond to even single or double digit delta in the revs. I think.

[Luv_Jaiswal]

WOW! The design elements common between the LC 500 and the LFA are stunning!
Maybe the Baby LFA?
This Lexus looks mean!

P.S.:- Off topic, but I am so used to the car reviews of Top Gear UK, I can not even imagine understanding a review of a car if it is not from Top Gear. I hope they soon come out with their own show. It is sad what happened with the management.

Cheers,
Luv.

Originally Posted by mayankk

That looks a little AI/Minority report, though, doesnt it?
I cant imagine this thing moving around ye olde countries (Europe's streets). Maybe more for americans and japan themselves?



Yes. Hammond did say that. He said the engine revs so quickly that the traditional mechanical guage cannot keep up. So they had to do a digital one. It's jerky probably because it can respond to even single or double digit delta in the revs. I think.

Yes you are right, the V10 of the LFA is so fast, that it goes from idle to 9000 rpm in JUST 0.6 seconds!
Only digital can possibly keep up with that speed.

[Activ8]

Originally Posted by hybridpetrol

By the way, is it a limited edition?

It's designed to be the successor of the old SC. And pitched against top of the line coupes from Benz. (The RC is the mid-price segment entry). So while lower in volume, it's not intended to be a halo car like the LF-A. Get in line already

Originally Posted by GTO

Gosh, the grille treatment is ugly . Toyota designers simply don't have the taste or panache of their European counterparts and they should accept it. This grille has to go before it affects the entire family.

the entire new design language is European FYI. Lexus switched to Italian designer Leonardo Fioravanti a decade ago to change from their clean-line 'lose-it-in-the-carpark' styling to get people to notice and talk about their cars. That's what the L-Finesse design theme was specifically aimed at and it seems to have worked if it polarizes folks one way or other.

The spindle grill, while not universally loved, has already got imitators like Infinity copying its elements, apart from being able to visually reduce the pedestrian protection bulbous height in the front.

As the post above states, the chairman himself is championing the change so reviews would talk about Lexus in words other than boring. Just to know how dedicated he is, it is important to remember that before assuming the top job, he spent 2 years in sheet metal, learning why that took the longest cycle-time in the company's product development process. That philosophy is key to the Toyota Way.