RE: Lexus LC500: Driven

[dufunk]

As you say an F sport will be on its way in future I just hope it wont be more carbon tweaks etc it will need a supercharger if it falls into the 100k+ bracket. This is an all new platform which seems to be so balanced, agile and rigid so it should handle extra power.

[Audemars]

The IS300 Fsport is the best looking saloon (far better than the M3 and the Alfa) (forget about the dull monstrosities from Merc and Audi)
The Rx450H is the best looking SUV (F- pace is a close second)
The LC500 is the best looking non supercar GT.

With Lexus you also get the best reliability and exclusivity. What is not to like?

If I was doing more than the 2k to 3k miles per year I currently do I would be in a Lexus of some sort. Until then my 675LT is perfect.

Edited by Audemars on Friday 9th December 16:18

[underphil]

kambites said:

underphil said:

bit lame that the peak power is at the same RPM as the rev limit !!

That, for me, is torque-curve nirvana.

Don't get me wrong - I can't stand cars with more torque than bhp, but it's nice to have a bit of headroom after peak power to optimise the power from shift to shift, and so that there are just more revs, 7100 isn't that great really

Edited by underphil on Friday 9th December 17:07

[Quickmoose]

Brave, in a mad stupid crazy brilliant way... can't wait to see them out and about...

[jason61c]

underphil said:

bit lame that the peak power is at the same RPM as the rev limit !!

do you actually like engines?

[em177]

kambites said:

underphil said:

bit lame that the peak power is at the same RPM as the rev limit !!

That, for me, is torque-curve nirvana.

Exactly.

(Coming from a normally aspirated and turbo owner)

[RenesisEvo]

Well done Lexus, not just for the incredible achievement of getting an off-the-wall concept car into production without ruining it, but also for sticking with high-revving, sonorous, naturally-aspirated engines in a world over-run by bland, farting turbocharged units with insipid flat torque curves. Great to see a car manufacturer doing its own thing, and doing it very well.

I agree on the face of it, 10spd seems pointless. Having spent time with some 8 and 9spd units, the reality is in manual mode, you tend to use the first 4 or 5 gears, and the rest of the time let the 'box do the work for you if mooching about. Hopefully it is a step on from the good but sluggish previous transmissions of the IS-F/RC-F (two cars I'm itching to own. This joins the list).

[leglessAlex]

I'll add my name to the 'love it' camp, I think it looks great inside and out and sounds great too.

[ultimateporka]

I think this looks lovely... well done Lexus to taking much of the concept and creating a great package.

[Fittster]

Audemars said:

With Lexus you also get the best reliability and exclusivity. What is not to like?

Lack of estate versions of their saloons.

[AmitG]

I love this. The exterior is very cool and I really, really like the interior. It looks gorgeous

I believe that the 10-speed transmission is single clutch (robotised manual) rather than dual clutch. I remember reading an interview with one of the engineers where they said that dual clutch transmissions were too complicated and not reliable enough, and that with good engineering they can get a single-clutch transmission to shift just as quickly.

The hybrid will have an all-new transmission which is apparently very novel - some sort of combination of a CVT and 4-speed auto, I believe.

I was considering a Honda NSX as a retirement present for myself, but I'm tempted to get one of these instead

I really like where Lexus is heading. The IS has won awards, the NX is doing really well and the RX recently won a Car Magazine group test against the Germans, which was most unexpected. Someone made an earlier comment about Lexus being the new Saab, and I can see that.

The CT and GS let the side down, and should really be replaced ASAP. And the LS is still rather "old Lexus" i.e. superbly built but a bit boring. Needs replacement.

[anonymous-user]

PHWOAR!!!

[anonymous-user]

Fittster said:

Audemars said:

With Lexus you also get the best reliability and exclusivity. What is not to like?

Lack of estate versions of their saloons.

No point IMO, the SportCross was a massive failure when people asked for it, no one wants a Lexus estate apart from PH ers.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

theholygrail said:

Not been a fan of recent Lexus styling - LFA aside- but this is instantly my new favourite, non-hypercar, car. The yellow one in Evo looks fab, even though I hate yellow cars!

To add to my earlier comments, pretty much word for word where I'm at. My father once said to me a line that I think is true, "if it looks right it usually is". To me at least, and I sense (surprisingly) that this is a Marmite car, this upon first sight grabbed me, surpassing the AM V8V as my must have real world car.
The earlier posted youtube link was well received too, confirming that it's V8 does indeed sound like pure filth!

[likesachange]

Credit to Lexus for making it happen and sticking the the V8, but that weight will make it hard work without the torque... not really sure that engine will work so well in a heavy GT car, as much of a gem as it is.

Long mundane motorway cruises may get frustrating with out that extra torque ..
To me that engine is really suited to something where you want to ring its neck on familiar b-roads.... sadly I doubt this car will be much fun doing that.

In this day and age where your getting 400bhp 1500kg hot hatches they should have just put price up another 10k and made that LFA v10 fit. Then it may take some extra sales from Maserati .

However i hope it meets targets and they continue producing these interesting cars.

[Patrick Bateman]

Is there even such a thing as a long, frustrating motorway cruise with any 5 litre V8 under the bonnet?

[Emw993]

Lexus parked one of these on larger wheels in Manchester's Spinningfields back in July. It looked even better than the pictures.

[RenesisEvo]

likesachange said:

Credit to Lexus for making it happen and sticking the the V8, but that weight will make it hard work without the torque... not really sure that engine will work so well in a heavy GT car, as much of a gem as it is.

Long mundane motorway cruises may get frustrating with out that extra torque ..
To me that engine is really suited to something where you want to ring its neck on familiar b-roads.... sadly I doubt this car will be much fun doing that.

Patrick Bateman said:

Is there even such a thing as a long, frustrating motorway cruise with any 5 litre V8 under the bonnet?

+1 I owned a much older 1800+kg car with a 5.0 N/A V8 with similar peak torque (500Nm vs 540Nm for the Lexus), it was a joy when cruising, effortless. 540 Nm is still rather a lot to be getting on with; of course these are peak figures, but a big capacity engine is quite able to generate torque low down, unlike heavily-boosted small units. I've searched around for a graph but can't find one.

[rodericb]

Gandahar said:

daveydees said:

Considering this is big and heavy it still puzzles me why Toyota have not released the FT-1 as a Lexus to to fill out the lighter side also

Given they have the cohesive design of the FT-1 here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=toyota+ft+1&... Why on earth have they released the 500?

Isn't the FT-1 on its way to becoming the next Supra/BMW Z5?

[big_rob_sydney]

Just also wanted to point out that Lexus are one of the few remaining NA manufacturers. People used to carp on about the germans, but look how things have turned out. To think Lexus are now the flag bearers for the NA crowd...