Remember a few months ago when a Lexus LF-LC was spied testing in the twisty roads of the Californian mountains? It’s back once again, at the recent North American International Auto Show, Lexus showcased the incredible coupe winning the hearts of many and pretty much stole the entire show. Sporting a new badge, sleek coat of red paint and a body ready for asphalt.
Maintaining many visual aspects of the LF-LC concept from a few months ago. It’s made from Lexus’s strongest unibody, even stronger than the carbon chassis used for Lexus LFA’s. Comprised of lightweight yet ultra-durable high-grade steel with unique struts found in the engine bay. Carbon fibre is used on this model, as the roof is made from it and with aluminium door skins and exact placement of key features gives the LC 500 an almost pitch-perfect weight distribution of 48/52.
Powering this beauty is an eight cylinder 5.0-litre petrol engine, also found in Lexus RC F and GS F models. Generating 467 horsepower and 526 Nm of torque, expect a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds. Those are no LFA beating specs, still impressive though. Power like that would need some heavy duty brakes, that’s why Lexus have fitted six-piston brake calipers at the front and four-piston ones at the rear.
A range-topping LC R is said to be considered with a smaller displacement of 4.0 litres but with two turbochargers to pump out over 600 horsepower. This is expected to come at later date.
No word on drivetrain is mentioned (expect rear or all-wheel drive), power is sent via an Aisin 10-speed automatic gearbox said to be smaller and lighter than some eight-speed transmission’s floating around the market. 20-inch rims are standard with the option to upgrade to some more performance enhanced 21-inch tyres.
Although it is a coupe for now, fans have been going nuts of what it could look like in different guises. Renderings of a convertible version have flooded the net and a tricked out “F” version has recently surfaced. Both of which are unofficial for now, Lexus better listen to these budding designers and put them into production alongside coupe variants.
It’s even been rendered as a drift car with a few bruises and massive tyres. It’s not a long shot to assume someone in the drift scene will snatch one up as a Lexus LFA was converted into a drift machine a few years ago. Although, the stock V10 motor was removed and replaced with a TRD Nascar V8, petrol heads had to keep one eye closed when watching the driver throw the 1.4 million AED car hard into the corners.
Aimed towards at BMW’s 6 series and Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class lineup’s, looks like the newly revamped Acura NSX has some stiff competition as well. And how could we possibly forget Infiniti’s luscious Q80 concept.
Pricing hasn’t been revealed, however, expect it to be cheaper than the Lexus LFA. As for release date, that to hasn’t been spoken about, expect it in the near future possibly 2017. Can’t wait? Here are new Lexus RC F and used Lexus RC F for sale in Dubai.
