2018 Lexus LC 500 is a Spicy 467 HP Flagship Coupe
The brand-new Lexus LC 500 is a spicy-looking flagship luxury coupe, a production version of the company’s LF-LC concept that debuted back in 2012.
According to the press release, this 2+2 underscores the brand’s “passion” and strongly indicates where Lexus is going in the future.
Engineering and design teams worked extra closely while developing this machine in order to avoid watering down the original concept’s dashing good looks.
The LC 500 features a brand new architecture that’s purpose-built for enhanced dynamics and performance. Called the premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform, this global structure will serve as the basis for the company’s upcoming front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
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Riding on a 113-inch wheelbase with an overall length of about 188 inches, this vehicle is a couple inches smaller than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, but it’s in the same ballpark.
Keeping unwanted mass in check, a carbon-fiber roof is optional, glass is standard. Additionally, the door skins are made of aluminum, while the inner supports are carbon fiber. A composite trunk floor further reduces weight, as do run-flat tires, which eliminate a cumbersome spare.
2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
Amazingly, this advanced engineering has graced the LC 500 with the stiffest unibody structure Lexus has ever produced – it’s stiffer than the carbon-fiber intensive LFA supercar, and that’s nuts!
Near 50-50 weight distribution enhances this vehicle’s driving dynamics, as does a low center of gravity. Twenty-inch wheels are standard, 21s are available.
Under its graceful hood, the LC 500 features a familiar 5.0-liter V8. With forged connecting rods and 32 titanium valves clacking away, it delivers 467 horses and 389 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant is matched to a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission, which is smaller and lighter than rival eight-ratio units. All of this engineering goodness can deliver a zero-to-60 spring time of just 4.5 seconds.
And there you have it; that’s a quick look at the all-new 2018 Lexus LC 500 coupe. What do you think? Is this the star of this year’s Detroit auto show or is the Buick Avista more interesting? That’s a tough question …
Discuss this story on our Lexus LC 500 Forum
Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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It is a very stylish car but the front-end (headlamps) has too much going on and the rear is O.K. The side profile is nice but the C-pillar with the dark-out look makes the car less attractive IMO. The interior is very nice but not on the level of the S-Class Coupe and all the buttons should not be dark plastic and should be brushed aluminum, metal or Galvoni chrome for a flagship coupe. Overall the car is very stylish but I am not excited about it unfortunately. But overall, I think this car will do O.K. for Lexus.
I'm just confused why they are using the same v8 as their RCF sports coupe. If this is a flagship model and considering the higher cost of entry compared to the RCF wouldn't it make sense to use a more potent engine maybe the 4.8l v10 used in the lfa? I love the looks and it makes for a great fantasy car, I just feel they missed it on the engine.