Lexus LC

The Lexus LC (Japanese: レクサス・LC, Rekusasu LC) is a grand tourer manufactured by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division. Based on the 2012 LF-LC Concept, it was revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It replaced the SC, which was produced from 1991 to 2010. It is the first Lexus model to utilize the GA-L platform, which, along with other components, is shared with the full-size LS 500 sedan. According to Lexus, the name "LC" stands for "Luxury Coupe".[13]

Lexus LC (XZ100)[1]
2019 Lexus LC 500 (URZ100)
Overview
ManufacturerLexus (Toyota)
ProductionMarch 2017 – present[2][3]
Model years2018–present[4][5][6][7][8]
AssemblyJapan: Motomachi, Toyota, Aichi (Motomachi plant)
Designer
  • Tadao Mori (chief designer)
  • Pansoo Kwon (Production exterior: 2013)[9][10][11]
  • Edward Lee (Concept, Initial Production: 2013)
Body and chassis
ClassGrand tourer (S)
Body style
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
PlatformTNGA: GA-L[12]
RelatedLexus LS (XF50)
Powertrain
Engine
Electric motor132 kW (177 hp; 179 PS) 2NM AC synchronous (LC 500h)
Power output
  • 351 kW (471 hp; 477 PS) (LC 500)
  • 220 kW (295 hp; 299 PS) (LC 500h; petrol engine only); 264 kW (354 hp; 359 PS) (LC 500h; combined system output)
Transmission
  • 10-speed Direct Shift-10A automatic (LC 500)
  • 10-speed Multi Stage Hybrid System automatic (LC 500h)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,870 mm (113.0 in)
Length4,760 mm (187.4 in)
Width1,920 mm (75.6 in)
Height1,345 mm (53.0 in)
Curb weight1,931–2,002 kg (4,258–4,413 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorLexus SC/Toyota Soarer

History
See also: Lexus LF § LF-LC

Development

The LC was developed under the program codename "950A" from 2011 to 2016. It was previewed by the LF-LC Concept, which was designed at Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California. The concept vehicle was revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Design work was later transferred from Calty to Toyota Technical Centre in Aichi, Japan in January 2013, with a final production design freeze in the first half of 2014.[14][15]

Introduction

Four years after the concept's debut, the production model, dubbed LC 500, was introduced in January 2016 at the same venue.[16] It shares the same 5.0-litre 2UR-GSE V8 engine with the RC F and GS F with power slightly increased to 351 kW; 471 hp; 478 PS.[17][18] It is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.[19][17]

A hybrid-electric model, dubbed LC 500h, was revealed in Geneva in February 2016.[20][21] It is powered by a 3.5-litre 8GR-FXS V6 engine, a hybrid transmission, and a lithium-ion battery pack with a combined 264 kW; 354 hp; 359 PS output at 6,600 rpm,[22] and an estimated 500 N⋅m (370 lb⋅ft) of combined torque at 3000 rpm.[23] The battery has 44 kW and 1.1 kWh and can power the car for 6 km (4 miles).[24]

Manufacturing

The LC is built at Toyota's Motomachi facility, the same plant that produced the LFA.[25] The factory was reconfigured for LC production, which included finishing the entire facility's interior in white.[25] Many of the "Takumi" master craftsmen who built the LFA continue their work on different areas of the LC, including carbon fibre parts, leatherwork and paint. Series production commenced in March 2017, with the first example completed on April 23, 2017.[26]

Concept cars

The LC Convertible Concept is based on the LC. It has 22-inch wheels and white leather trim with gold accent stitching. Tadao Mori was the Chief Designer.[27] It weighed more than the LC coupé, therefore the top speed and acceleration times dropped slightly.[28]

Convertible

The LC 500 Convertible, based on the concept car, was unveiled at the LA Auto Show on November 20, 2019.[29] Its four-layer soft top roof can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph). Its features include a transparent polycarbonate wind deflector, neck heaters, and Active Noise Control (ANC) technology.[30]

Design

The LC retained the overall design of the concept model. It has a variant of Lexus' corporate "spindle" grille with a gradient pattern; a tightly compressed mesh at the top transitions to a wider diamond at the bottom. However, unlike other vehicles in the lineup, the top of the spindle grille does not have a chrome surround.[26] The compact LED triple-projector headlight is in the small overhang between the bumper and wheels.[26][31]

  • Lexus LC 500 (URZ100)
  • Lexus LC 500 (URZ100)
  • Lexus LC 500h (GWZ100)
  • Lexus LC 500h (GWZ100)
  • Interior

Chassis

The LC is the first vehicle to use Lexus' front-engine, rear-wheel drive platform, dubbed "Global Architecture – Luxury" (GA-L). It consists of various materials, including high-strength steel, aluminium, and carbon fibre.[32][33] The GA-L platform will underpin future rear-wheel drive models, including the Lexus LS 500, which was introduced in January 2017. The platform is designed to provide lower overall mass, improved front/rear weight distribution, and a low center of gravity. Run-flat tires are also used to avoid the need for a spare, and the vehicle battery has been relocated to the trunk to improve weight distribution.[26]

The suspension is a double-joint multi-link suspension with a forged aluminium upper arm is secured at two points, which ensures all movements are mirrored from the lower arm. The double-joint design reduces the necessary height of the suspension system, as placement is lower than a traditional single-joint setup.[26]

Powertrain

LC 500

The LC 500 is powered by a 2UR-GSE 5.0-litre V8 engine which is an updated version of the engine found in the RC F and GS F. It uses D-4S direct and port fuel injection, Atkinson cycle operation and VVT-i. The engine produces 351 kW (471 hp; 477 PS) at 7,100 rpm and 540 N⋅m (398 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm and is mated to a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission.[26]

LC 500h

The LC 500h employs a hybrid powertrain, known as the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid system.[34] It consists of a 3.5-litre 8GR-FXS V6 engine which produces 220 kW (295 hp; 299 PS) at 6,600 rpm and 356 N⋅m (263 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,100 rpm, in addition to two electric motors whose total output is 132 kW (177 hp; 179 PS) and 300 N⋅m (220 lb⋅ft) of torque.[35] Combined power output over the entire system is 264 kW (354 hp; 359 PS) and 500 N⋅m (369 lbf⋅ft) of torque.[35][23]

The engine and motors are coupled to a unique transmission, which consists of a four-speed automatic transmission embedded inside a continuously variable transmission. This “dual” transmission provides stepped access to the torque generated by the electric motor, and functions similarly to a 10-speed automatic transmission.[26][36]

Motorsport

Super GT
Lexus LC 500 GT500
CategorySuper GT GT500
ConstructorLexus
PredecessorLexus RC F GT500
SuccessorToyota GR Supra GT500[37]
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, pushrod operated, twin dampers and torsion bars
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone, pushrod operated, twin dampers and spring
Length4,960 mm (195 in)
Width1,950 mm (77 in)
Height1,220 mm (48 in)
Wheelbase2,750 mm (108 in)
EngineLexus RI4AG 2,000 cc (122 cu in) inline-4 single-turbocharged, front-mid-mounted
Transmission6-speed sequential semi-automatic gearbox
Power483 kW (657 PS)
Weight1,020 kg (2,249 lb)
FuelVarious
LubricantsVarious
BrakesHydraulic ventilated carbon disk. AP Racing calipers
TyresBridgestone Potenza and Yokohama Advan
Competition history
Notable entrants Lexus Team SARD
Lexus Team LeMans Wako's
Lexus Team WedsSport Bandoh
Lexus Team TOM'S
Lexus Team ZENT-Cerumo
Notable drivers Kohei Hirate
Heikki Kovalainen
Andrea Caldarelli
Kazuya Oshima
Yuhi Sekiguchi
Yuji Kunimoto
Kamui Kobayashi
Kazuki Nakajima
Daisuke Itō
James Rossiter
Ryo Hirakawa
Nick Cassidy
Hiroaki Ishiura
Yuji Tachikawa
Debut2017 Okayama GT 300km
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
241476
Constructors' Championships2
Drivers' Championships2

The LC500 GT500 is a GT500 GT race car derived from the road-going LC500 for use in the Super GT from 2017 onwards. The car is the direct replacement to the Lexus RC F GT500, which competed in the 2014 to 2016 Super GT seasons.[38] The LC500 GT500 car made its début at the 2017 Okayama GT 300km,[39] and claimed 14 race wins of the 24 overall entered races from 2017 until 2019 (26 with the SuperGTxDTM events). In 2020, with the introduction of the new Class One, the Toyota GR Supra 2020 will take its place in the GT500 Category.

  • 2017 winner of Keeper TOM'S LC500
  • Lexus LC SP-PRO at the 2018 24 Hours of Nürburgring

Marketing

For Marvel Studios' Black Panther Lexus provided LC500's for filming in South Korea during the car chase sequence.[40] Lexus also produced two specific LC Models named "Black Panther Editions" with a large Black Panther mask decal on the hood, blue underbody lighting, 24-inch wheels and blue paint with subtle striping.[41]

Sales
Calendar year Europe [42] US
2017 548 2,484[43]
2018 810 1,979[44]
2019 361 1,219[45]

European statistics include sales from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.[42]

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gollark: ++exec```shrust="Rust"rusT=$rust $rustruSt=$rusT $rusTruST=$ruSt $ruStrUst=$ruST $ruSTrUsT=$rUst $rUstrUSt=$rUsT $rUsTrUST=$rUSt $rUStecho $rUST```
gollark: ++exec```shrust=RustrusT=$rust $rustruSt=$rusT $rusTruST=$ruSt $ruStrUst=$ruST $ruSTrUsT=$rUst $rUstrUSt=$rUsT $rUsTrUST=$rUSt $rUStecho $rUST```
gollark: ++exec```pyprint("R" + "u" * 1000 + "st")```
gollark: Ruuuuuuuuust.

References
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  3. Keegan, Matthew (February 24, 2017). "First Drive: 2018 Lexus LC Series". Business 2 Community. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  4. Colwell, K.C. (February 22, 2016). "2018 Lexus LC500h Hybrid Coupe Photos and Info". Car and Driver. US. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  5. Wong, Jon (December 8, 2016). "2018 Lexus LC 500: New flagship coupe is a looker and bona fide driver's car". CNET. US. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  6. Halvorson, Bengt. "2018 Lexus LC Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos". The Car Connection. US. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  7. Austin, Michael (December 8, 2016). "Anything but boring | 2018 Lexus LC 500 First Drive". Autoblog. US. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
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