Wednesday 4th January 2012

Lexus LF-LC concept unveiled ahead of Detroit

New 2+2 coupe concept could point way to a production car

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No, it's not a Lexus LF-A that's melted. These are the first images of the Lexus LF-LC, a new coupe concept that Toyota's luxury brand is readying for the Detroit show next week.

As well as the usual concept car trick of previewing future Lexus production cars (in this case an evolution of the Lexus 'L-Finesse' form language), the LF-LC could well more directly influence a future 2+2 coupe.

This would most likely come in the form of a 2+2 spiritual successor to the unloved SC430 coupe-cabriolet (except rather more loved, Lexus most probably hopes), which could take on the likes of the Jaguar XK and Mercedes SL as soon as 2015.

As for a potential powertrain - expect something hybrid, hopefully in connection to a V8 internal combustion engine, a la LS600h...

 

 

[infernal]

Putting the IS250 engine in with a couple of turbo's would be my preference - sort of a new supra, I wonder if it'll be thre years developing this like they did with the gt-86

[nsa]

The front reminds me of Predator...



...which is a shame because I'd be interested if it looked more like the LFA.

[Justayellowbadge]

Isn't the profile lovely?

[Frimley111R]

Justayellowbadge said:

Isn't the profile lovely?

Yep, looks like the LFA though (not that's a bed thing)

[bobbylondonuk]

just build the damn thing. put a tried and tested engine/gearbox combo in there and sell it.

[TheHeretic]

Looks stunning. Front on it is very different to anything else, and side on it has a classic line.

[galro]

Not a fan of the front, love the profile.

[XJ40]

The profile is nice, quite 370Z to my eye. It's a face only a mother could love though, why so angry?

[SWoll]

Profile's not bad at all, although I get the feeling someone has been spending a lot of time looking through Ferrari/Maserati brochures as I see a lot of 599/Gran Turismo in there personally.

That front-end is pretty dire though and I'm sure wouldn't get any further than the concept phase.

Any pics of the rear?

[geoffracing]

Profile near perfection,
but
front is the most HIDEOUS thing possible on the road.
I would never dare to show myself in THAT!

[PHMatt]

That profile view - wow! Looks like a Ferarri.

http://aussieexotics.com/drivers/albums/userpics/1...

http://aussieexotics.com/drivers/albums/userpics/1...

[kingdoddy]

The front end looks very much like the Honda VFR - same designer?

[Mini1275]

Not keen on the front but it looks fantastic side-on.

[BMWill]

Lexus used to make really good plain Jane 'boring' looking cars... That was their style! And it worked! Now though, they're spitting out designs that are.... horrid really... LFA, this thing... why can't we go back to the plain looking cars?

= )

[IanDH]

Love the side profile but not so keen on the front, but hey, this is only a concept and normally when they go into production they are usually toned down a bit.

Now why hasn't Lotus been designing, making and shipping something like this instead of the new (and rediculous) 5 car line up of the future.

[TheHeretic]

BMWill said:

Lexus used to make really good plain Jane 'boring' looking cars... That was their style! And it worked! Now though, they're spitting out designs that are.... horrid really... LFA, this thing... why can't we go back to the plain looking cars?

= )

because then people would just shout "Boring japanese snooze box, blah blah"

It's a lose lose situation for them. make something 'plain' they get slated, make something different, they get slated.

[kambites]

IanDH said:

Now why hasn't Lotus been designing, making and shipping something like this instead of the new (and rediculous) 5 car line up of the future.

You want Lotus to design a mass-market hybrid GT car rather than a selection of sports and mini-supercars?

[TheOrangePeril]

Looks like a an LFA gen 2. I would be peeved if I'd just spent umpteentrillionyen on an LFA and this came out for 50k GBP

[sparkister]

Anyone else see Supra in the profile ?

Maybe they could share the base car ?

[robinessex]

Should've done the front screen/cockpit a la Stratos. Then it'll have looked boggling.