The North American International Auto Show 2016 opened to the public and visitors got their first look at the fascinating expressively designed Toyota luxury coupe that defines a new era for the global luxury brand.
Toyota’s luxury brand showed off its provocative, athletic flagship car, the Lexus LC500; a big, muscular coupe with a huge engine that’s designed to go up against Audi S5, Mercedes-AMG S63 and the BMW 6 Series of this world.
The LC 500, made the strongest statement yet about Lexus future product direction in Detroit and Akio Toyoda, chief branding officer and master test driver for Toyota’s luxury brand promised that the words “Lexus” and “boring” would never appear in the same sentence again, and with that promise he cued the arrival of the brand’s latest high performance sports coupe, the LC 500.
At first glimpse, the Lexus LC 500 affirms a fruitful collaboration between the design and engineering teams at Lexus. Designed by Lexus Design in Toyota City, Japan, the LC 500 represents the future direction of exhilarating and progressive design for Lexus. The LC 500 includes a carbon-fiber roof and wide, deep, gleaming version of Lexus’ signature spindle, honeycomb grill. A rear diffuser and active rear spoiler manages airflow and creates downforce during high speed driving.
The new LC500 also comes with its 5.0-liter V8 engine and a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission, with 467 horsepower, which is the first of its kind in the luxury automobile segment, and Yes, it is fast with a 0 to 60mph (approximately 100kmh) time of less than 4.5 seconds and designed to corner like a cheetah.
This car is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform, which promises enhanced dynamic capability and performance. it also relies on run-flat tires to improve packaging, reduce weight and help shorten overhangs to achieve dynamic targets. The 12-volt battery has been relocated to the trunk as part of the mission to redistribute weight. The power delivery to the rear wheels for LC 500 is handled by a new, very well matched set of components that maximize output to the wheels.
The LC 500’s front fascia features a powerful interpretation of Lexus’ distinctive grille, bordered by chrome on three sides and a radical new 3D mesh design that varies its visual tension. 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.
it is a classy ride for men of class, and also “of means” because the LC-500 will go for $100,000 when it arrives in a year or so.
The interior design of the LC 500 is influenced by the dynamic luxury theme of the exterior with a layout that is both cockpit-focused and elegant. Inside the LC 500 you will find Alcantara-clad sports driving seats that sit very low to the floor making you feel as if you are behind the wheel of a GT3 racer. The driver’s hip point was engineered to be as close as possible to the vehicle’s Center of gravity where feedback from the car is the most communicative to the driver. LC 500 is a top flight sports coupe that won’t shake your teeth lose when the road gets a little rough.
Everything about the interior, from the leather driving wheel to the magnesium paddle shifters, to the race inspired instrument cluster and cockpit like feel of the entire cabin are designed to inspire you to drive. Which may be why the back seat is a complete afterthought, with only enough room for a duffle bag to hold all the cash you’ll need to pay off your speeding tickets. Lexus has been transitioning away from “stately, stuffy” luxury to much more engaging passion and sportiness. Koji Sato, Lexus Chief Engineer, said they spent more than triple the usual amount of Research and development time to pursue linear steering and to find the sweet spot for road contact feel.” This effort is designed to result in a car that offers exceptional handling dynamics while still delivering the ride quality people expect from a Lexus
Four years after winning the EyesOn Design best concept car award for the Lexus LF-LC 2+2 Hybrid Sport Coupe, Lexus has received high accolades for the production car, the all-new LC 500 luxury coupe. The Lexus LC 500 was named 2016 EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Production Car and EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Interior Design at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
I am overwhelmed by Lexus’ ability to produce performance cars that balance excitement and passion with control and coziness. I am also looking forward to get behind the wheel of the new LC 500 to see if it delivers as Akio Toyoda promised. The LC 500 is a clear result of the desire, collaboration passion and hard work between the engineers and designers that would take Lexus into better future.
