Based off the LF-LC Concept which was shown four years ago, the LC is the brand’s new provocative, athletic flagship coupe that makes the strongest statement about Lexus’s future direction. Seeing it first at the Detroit Motor Show in January, it is making its public debut at the Philippine International Motor Show.

Beyond its styling and impactful performance, the new LC serves as a symbol of the achievement from an intense collaboration between design and engineering. Driven by strong fundamental design targets found in the LF-LC, the engineering teams worked to find new solutions to maintain as much of the concept car in the product car as possible.

The LC is defined by an athletic aerodynamic shape with sensual curves and emotional forms. The LC’s front fascia features a powerful interpretation of Lexus’ distinctive grille, bordered by chrome on three sides and a radical new 3D mesh design. The “L”-shaped daytime running lights rest below a new Triple LED headlamp unit, specially designed to include one of the industry’s thinnest projectors enabling a low hood with a short front overhang. Functional venting also plays into the LC’s exterior design to help improve aerodynamic stability and cooling. The sexy curves and flowing lines maintain a consistent tension in sheet metal through to the rear end that features slimly designed, multi-layered tail lamps with a unique lighting effect that helps convey a sequential L motif. A rear diffuser and available active rear spoiler also help manage airflow during performance driving.

The interior design of the LC is influenced by the dynamic luxury theme of the exterior with a layout that is both cockpit-focused and elegant. In fact, for LC, the driver’s hip point was engineered to be as close as possible to the vehicle’s Cg (Center of gravity) where feedback from the car is the most communicative to the driver. The front seats offer excellent support and comfort for long drives while available sport seats offer additional bolstering and lateral support during cornering.


The LC is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform and is part of the new corporate global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA-L). The underpinnings of this new coupe will become the blueprint for the company’s future front-engine/rear-wheel-drive vehicles. In an effort to sharpen the car’s handling, the LC’s engineers focused on the platform’s fundamentals by placing most of the mass, including the engine and the occupants, in a position more centralized and lower in the chassis to improve the center of gravity.

The power delivery to the rear wheels for LC is handled by a new, very well matched set of components that maximize output to the wheels. The heart of the new LC is derived from the proven, high-revving 5.0-liter V8 that is found in the RC F and GS F. The LC 500 offers a naturally aspirated V8 selected for its smooth, linear throttle response and emotional engine sound. The all-aluminum, 32-valve V8’s output targets 467 HP and 527 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the LC 500h packs a cutting-edge multi-stage hybrid system with a 3.5-liter V6, a battery pack, and two electric motors.

Helping power transfer to the rear wheels is a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission—the first ever in a luxury automobile—with shift times rivaling those of a dual-clutch transmission. The component is smaller and lighter than some current 8-speed transmissions.

The new transmission is just one key element in a vehicle that has had all of its dynamic control elements such as power application, braking, and steering tuned to operate rhythmically in sport driving conditions. Drivers will feel the controlled balance between the quick, smooth shifting actions, the application of linear engine power, and the deceleration afforded by 6-piston front brake calipers (4-piston at rear).

All of the platform and drivetrain engineering helped endow the LC 500 with performance and agility uncommon for a four-person coupe; the vehicle does 0-100 km/h in a time of less than 4.5 seconds.