It was at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2012 that Lexus first stunned audiences with the original LF-LC concept .
. The sexy two-door proved such a hit that almost immediately after the reveal Lexus managers were already hinting at production. Now the production version of the LF-LC concept has been revealed, arriving in the form of the 2018 Lexus LC, on show this week at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
The arrival of the LC is hardly a surprise. There have been numerous official hints and prototype sightings over the past year. Thankfully, the LF-LC concept's lines have been transferred faithfully to the LC. The car is a spiritual successor to the SC convertible, though it’s a coupe, and it serves as a flagship for the Lexus brand alongside the LS sedan.
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Right now Lexus has only announced an LC 500, though we expect an LC 500h hybrid variant further down the track. The LC 500 is powered by the familiar 5.0-liter V-8 engine found in high-performance models like the RC F and GS F and sticks with an output of 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. But while the engine might be old, there’s a lot of new tech making its debut alongside the LC.
2018 Lexus LC
Enlarge Photo
2018 Lexus LC
Enlarge Photo
2018 Lexus LC
Enlarge PhotoThe car rides on a new rear-wheel-drive platform that's said to be much more dynamic than anything we've seen from Lexus, apart from the LFA supercar. Called GA-L, the platform will eventually form the basis of several front-engined, rear-wheel-drive vehicles from Lexus and also Toyota. The next recipient is likely to be the next-generation Lexus LS.
In an effort to sharpen the handling of cars based on the platform, engineers placed 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. For example, the driver hip and heel points have been lowered, wheels have been pushed to the corners of the car with shortened overhangs, and the drivetrain mass has been located behind the front axle line to create a front mid-ship layout. As a result, weight distribution is a near ideal 52/48 front/rear. The overall length is about 187 inches—so it’s mid-size by U.S. standards, and a few inches longer than the RC—while it rides on a 113-in wheelbase; so overhangs are extremely short.