Born in Corsica, France, his talent blossomed after studying French cuisine under the Master Chef, Michel Troisgros. He then moved to Japan, where his philosophy towards cooking changed as he spent time reflecting on the art. What prompted the change was nature and the earnestness of the farmer-producers interacting with the Japanese landscape. “I used to cook to express myself,” Lionel explains, “but when I encountered the amazing wonders of Japanese nature and the people empowered by it, I realized that it ought to be ingredients that are expressed in the food, not the chef.” Now, he believes that “it is my mission and responsibility as a chef” to embrace and value this connection with nature.

And so to experience the power of nature directly, the LC Convertible was the partner of choice. “The natural, flowing design makes it look as if it had been born that way. What it symbolizes is similar to what I look for in a dish,” according to Lionel, giving his first impressions of the LC Convertible. Lionel begins his journey behind the wheel of the LC convertible, a car that resonates with his own philosophy.

Lionel, eager to discover the true meaning behind his cuisine, heads back to Oita Prefecture in southern Japan, a region he has visited in the past. This is a place energized by the earth’s power, nestled as it is, in the bosom of Mount Aso, one of Japan's most famous volcanoes. It is a locale where water is pure, plants are fresh, the air is clean, and the people live in harmony with nature. For Lionel, this is a special place that once helped him connect with nature and changed his views on cooking.

 “People say that my cuisine is unique because I possess both French and Japanese viewpoints, allowing me to show two different sides. So, experiencing Japan again through this drive is great for shaping my mentality and philosophy as a chef,” he says.

He takes the wheel and starts driving along the highland route. With the roof open, he can experience the mountain air directly; the steady acceleration releases all five senses to connect with nature.

“You feel at one with the car.” The drive creates a profound sense of freedom, as if the mind were blending into nature. While driving through the magnificent landscape, an image of wild birds, leisurely flying in the sky, occurs to Lionel. He feels as if he too could fly freely to wherever he desired. “Liberté absolue (absolute freedom)” were Lionel's words to describe the drive in the LC Convertible.

When Lionel returned to Tokyo after his trip, he prepared a dish based on his driving experience. One of the key ingredients was the wild bird that came into his mind as he drove through the highlands. “Free and wild, yet graceful and elegant. That is the shared image I had in my mind when I thought of the LC Convertible and wild birds,” Lionel explains. “What you discover through traveling enriches you and, in my case, is food for thought as a chef,” says Lionel as he reflects on his trip.

Food and cars. At first they may seem unrelated but Lionel explains that there are definite similarities: “Eating and driving are both physical sensations. They both need to appeal to the five human senses.” Those words signify the determination of a man set to satisfy the endless desires of the "human senses". Lionel concluded that, "There is no final goal to creating things. So, just as LEXUS continues evolving, I hope to take on further challenges myself."

We called upon professional driver Paul Swift to take on this unique challenge. Firstly, Paul had to safely drive the frozen Lexus LC out from the freezing climatic chamber with zero visibility. And then, ice still dropping from the LC Convertible, he put the open-top Lexus through its paces around a challenging test circuit.

Discover Paul's impressions from the driver's seat - both of the LC Convertible's awesome V8 power and its luxurious Climate Concierge system - in our short film.

It was a frosty start to the day - inside the car at least. "This morning I got in the freezer and sat inside the car which was quite crispy," explains Paul. "The steering wheel was freezing, and it was all completely dark."

"This morning I... sat inside the car which was quite crispy"

Professional driver Paul Swift on our frozen Lexus LC Convertible

Darkness wasn't the only challenge inside the chamber. The frozen Lexus LC had a coating of ice on the windscreen, just as with a normal vehicle defrost test. Combine that with an instant cloud of condensing cold air around the car once the chamber opened and Paul was driving blind. "It's quite unnerving not being able to see anything," he continues. "The screen was completely frozen up, so I was guided by the team over the radio for the first part... You could hear the crispness of the tires on the ground as I was turning the wheel. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before."

With the car running, the situation in the sculpted leather driver's seat rapidly improved. Our LC Convertible's Climate Concierge includes a heated steering wheel, heated seats and the optional neck heater. These features would be welcome on any chilly day, especially if you enjoy open-top motoring no matter the temperature. For Paul, they were a blessing in the conditions: "[I] started the engine and immediately I could feel the steering wheel warming up and [heat] coming through from the seat... There's even some vents behind your neck to keep that warm." His verdict on Climate Concierge? "Considering it was minus 18, immediately I felt quite comfortable in the car."

"Considering it was minus 18, immediately I felt quite comfortable in the car."

Professional driver Paul Swift on Lexus Climate Concierge

The windscreen completely defrosted within minutes so Paul and the team could head out onto Millbrook's famous Alpine Test Track. Paul highlights the challenges from a driver and vehicle perspective: "The Alpine Route's quite testing because it undulates quite a lot. It's got some quite fast-flowing corners into some tight hairpins, so you can feel the chassis. You're really asking a lot of the car as you're dipping into these corners and then turning in."

How would our luxury soft-top respond to this test? "It does everything you want from a performance point of view, but also it's comfortable," Paul relates. "There was no problem with understeer, the gear change is effortless, and it has the blipper as you're going down so you get that little [blip of revs] which is quite appealing." And as well as looking stunning from every angle - roof up or roof down - the LC Convertible sounds the part: "It's a 5.0-litre V8 engine," he explains, "You can give it full power and...you can hear the exhaust opens up and you could hear the full V8."

So, what was Paul's verdict after experiencing the frozen Lexus? "I've never really experienced anything as dramatic as this where you're going from such extreme cold back to sort of normal temperatures for the UK in May," he reveals. "In regular UK May temperatures, it's still not St. Tropez [but] I felt comfortable in the car, so it does exactly what it's meant to do: keeps you up to temperature." Paul continues: "It does everything you want from a performance point of view, but also it's comfortable. I'd like to keep it..."

Oshima and Yamashita went into the final race of the season at the top of the points standings and as title favourites. However, two other crews were bidding to deprive them of the title, including the #37 LC 500 entered by KeePer TOM’S and driven by Ryo Hirakawa and Nick Cassidy.

The race winner in the GT500 class was the #37 KeePer TOM'S, allowing the team to claim the Team Championship title for the 2019 season.

The #6 WAKO'S 4CR LC 500 finished 2^nd in Motegi, giving Oshima and Yamashita their first Drivers Championship title.

The third place of the Motegi race podium went to the car #36, the au TOM’S LC 500 of Kazuki Nakajima and Yuhi Sekiguchi, followed by car #38, ZENT CERUMO LC 500 driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura, locking out the top four positions for Lexus in the LC 500’s final race in the Super GT Series before it is retired from competition.

2019 Final ranking drivers – GT500 class

1. #6 Kazuya Oshima / Kenta Yamashita 85 pts
2. #37 Ryo Hirakawa / Nick Cassidy 83 pts
3. #23 Tsugio Matsuda / Ronnie Quintarelli 52.5 pts
4. #38 Yuji Tachikawa / Hiroaki Ishiura 46.5 pts
5. #39 Heikki Kovalainen / Yuichi Nakayama 44 pts
6. #36 Kazuki Nakajima / Yuhi Sekiguchi 38 pts
7. #19 Yuji Kunimoto / Sho Tsuboi 27.5 pts

2019 Final ranking teams – GT500 class

1. #37 LEXUS TEAM KeePer TOM'S 107 pts
2. #6 LEXUS TEAM LEMANS WAKO'S 106 pts
3. #23 NISMO 69.5 pts
4. #38 LEXUS TEAM ZENT CERUMO 65.5 pts
5. #39 LEXUS TEAM SARD 64 pts
6. #36 LEXUS TEAM au TOM'S 53 pts
7. #19 LEXUS TEAM WedsSport BANDOH 46.5 pts

For more information please visit: https://supergt.net/news/single/19719

• au TOM'S LC500 No. 36 with driver Kazuki NAKAJIMA / Yuhi SEKIGUCHI achieved victory for the first time this season at the 2019 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series at Suzuka Circuit.
• LEXUS LC500 swept the podium for the first time this season, with KeePer TOM'S No. 37 co-piloted by drivers Ryo HIRAKAWA / Nick CASSIDY in second place, followed by WAKO'S 4CR LC500 No. 6 with drivers Kazuya OSHIMA / Kenta YAMASHITA in third place.

GT300 class

• K-tunes RC F GT3 No. 96 co-piloted by Morio NITTA / Sena SAKAGUCHI won their second victory this season.

Driver comments: 

Kazuki NAKAJIMA (au TOM'S LC500 No. 36)

The car condition was good, so I tried to make some gap in the beginning. The other LC500 cars behind were faster than I expected, but we were able to race as planned. It was unlucky about the safety car, but the pit stop timing was perfect, and there was no time loss at the pit. After changing to Yuhi, there were some brethtaking scenes, but I knew that he wouldn't let anyone to overtake, and he came back in slamming first place. It really was a perfect race.

Yuhi SEKIGUCHI (au TOM'S LC500 No. 36)

The gap that driver Nakajima built disappeared due to the safety car, but the team made a good decision for the pit stop timing, and I was able to do my best in the out lap. To be honest, the pace was not good in the beginning, and we got stuck in the GT300 class cars that were laps behind, so I didn't push here to take care of the tires, and let the cars behind to use their tires. I was able to decide this from my experience at Thailand last year, that if I pushed hard in the back, I wouldn't be able to overtake later. Afterwards there was a timing that the the cars behind me were stuck in the GT300 class cars, so I pushed hard to increase the gap. As there was distance between the competitors, I knew I wouldn't be overtaken, and everything went well as I expected. Personally I am satisfied to achieve this excellent result with the outcome of my previous experience.

Ryo HIRAKAWA (KeePer TOM'S LC500 No. 37)

We did what we could do, so there is no regret. We wanted to win, but in reality our pace was not as good as No. 36 and No. 6. We lost our position at the pit stop, and raced with No. 6, so we thought we will be in third place, but Nick did a good job and got the chance to overtake. We couldn't get much points in the previous two races, so we were able to recover and get into the gear. The next circuit is Thailand, where our team has good match, but we have weight-handicap, so we will try hard to get the points and will also aim for huge points at the FUJI GT 500mile RACE.

Nick CASSIDY (KeePer TOM'S LC500 No. 37)

We did a great job. Thank you very much to the team and LEXUS, I'm glad I was able to contribute to LEXUS 1-2-3, and TOM'S Racing 1-2. I think that my passing of the final stage was a good move. We will keep pushing and we will try our best for the next round. The next race is at Thailand, which is the track I like and have confidence, so I will do my best.

Kazuya OSHIMA (WAKO'S 4CR LC500 No. 6)

The team did a good job at the pit stop. We had the chance to win several times, so we regret that we couldn't achieve this. Our aim is to win, so we are not satisfied with today's result, but it is the first podium this season, and our fans and team are happy, so that is good. We had speed, but there was something that was not enough, so we will keep to roll up our sleeves. The track of the next race at Thailand is my favorite, and we have the chance with less weight-handicap, so we will push hard to get the points.

Kenta YAMASHITA (WAKO'S 4CR LC500 No. 6)

We had the chance to win, so even if we got third place, we are not satisfied. It is too bad that we lost from the same car, and not the other manufactures. I am looking forward to racing in the next Thailand race, as I heard that the team is good match with the track, but I expect our rivals have less weight-handicap and will be very fast. Personally, I got third place last year at Thailand, so it shouldn't be bad, and I have the strong aim to win at least once this season.

This season, Lexus is represented by 6 teams running LC 500 in the GT500 Class of the Super GT championship, and 3 teams running RC F GT3 in the GT300 Class.

For more information please visit: https://supergt.net/news/single/19158

Drivers Standings (GT500)

Team Standings (GT500)

The Fuji GT 500km race, Round 2 of the 2019 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series, took place at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture on May 4th. Rain began to fall just before the race’s start and then stronger rain in the early going caused the race to be halted for a time. When the weather improved to allow a restart, what followed was exciting racing throughout that finally ended with a GT500 class victory for the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO LC500 (Yuji Tachikawa/Hiroaki Ishiura).

“It was a battle we could not lose with concentration from beginning to end, and overall it was a good race”, Yuji Tachikawa commented. “This season, we implemented a new structure in our team. There is a new responsibility for me and also pressure that we really need to win. We finished with a tough result for the first race, and TRD and the team made huge efforts, so we raced with a new mind set: where else could we win if we don’t win Fuji! We are happy we realized this. In yesterday’s qualifying, we could not choose the right tires and started in the middle of the grid. We had no idea what was going to happen in the rain, but it was good that we were able to come into the front at the beginning. After the track became dry, we had to concentrate until the very end to race with our rivals.”

This victory marked the first win of the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO LC500 since the 2017 Round 2 race at Fuji, as well as the 19^th career win for Yuji Tachikawa and the 6^th for Hiroaki Ishiura.

This season, Lexus is represented by 6 teams running LC 500 in the GT500 Class of the Super GT championship, and 3 teams running RC F GT3 in the GT300 Class.

For more information please visit: https://supergt.net/news/single/19056

The annual Driver Power survey is based on the opinions of more than 80,000 UK motorists, offering criticism – or praise – in nine categories and 31 different areas.

“Our Driver Power satisfaction survey allows owners to leave no stone unturned when giving feedback on their cars,” revealed automotive managing editor Stuart Milne. He added: “To be crowned the best, a manufacturer can have no slip-ups, and this year the competition was extremely tough.”

Lexus owners have already rated the brand strongly across the board, topping the rankings for interior quality, comfort and build quality. But for this award it was the more emotional element of our sleek, concept-like LC that drew particular praise.

Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler went on to explain: “When Lexus revealed the LF-LC concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, few people thought the car would make it to the showroom looking that good – including us. Surely Lexus wouldn’t be brave enough to bring out a production car that bold.

“Rarely are we so happy to be that wrong. The Lexus LC is every bit as special to look at as its concept, and to drive one is just the same.”

In collecting the award, Lexus UK director Ewan Shepherd said: “The LC has driven home the message that our brand is one of the most visionary, original and exciting out there. With LC we have shown these are not just words but that our bold vision for the future of Lexus goes beyond concepts and in to showrooms.

Lexus Team SARD drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Kamui Kobayashi took the chequered flag in their LC 500, giving Lexus its first win of the season and Kobayashi his first ever victory in the series.

In the hands of Kovalainen and Kobayashi, the DENSO KOBELCO SARD LC 500 took just 1:36'42.8 to complete 66 laps of the four-year old circuit north-east of Bangkok to take the win.

Crossing the line in second place just 2.86 seconds behind the winning LC 500 was the Lexus Team LEMANS WAKO'S LC 500 of Kazuya Oshima and Felix Rosenqvist with Team WedsSport BANDOH's pairing of Yuji Kunimoto and Kenta Yamashita taking third in their LC 500 to give Lexus a clean sweep.

In a thrilling fourth round of the season, it was a fierce battle from the halfway mark in the 300km race as four Lexus LC 500s led the field.

The au TOM'S LC 500 driven by Kazuki Nakajima and Yuhi Sekiguchi showed astonishing speed with Sekiguchi having clocked the fastest lap time of the race of 1'24.977 and was in with a chance to vie for the lead.

But the car suddenly slowed and stopped on the final lap having run out of fuel, leaving the way open for the WAKO'S and WedsSport cars to take podium positions with another Lexus LC 500, the Team ZENT CERUMO car driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Hiroaki Ishiura, rounding out the top four.

Victory in Thailand has given Finnish driver Kovalainen a narrow three-point lead in the drivers' standings, while Lexus Team SARD is also at the top of the teams' leaderboard with four rounds to go.

For Kobayashi, it was a thrilling first victory that came together through a complete team effort. "The team has worked very hard, and I am very happy to win in this condition, he said. I would like to thank the team for putting things together, and also appreciate Heikki for pushing and passing me the vehicle in first position. It was not an easy race, but I tried my best to maintain the position by using the margin Heikki made."

The Super GT Championship heads back to Japan on August 4-5 for the Fuji GT race at the iconic circuit below Mount Fuji.

The launch of the Lexus LC luxury coupe has a wider significance than being an exciting and technologically advanced addition to Lexus’ global model range. The visual impact of its emotional design and its exhilarating performance are manifestations of a radical shift in the Lexus brand that has been developing during the past few years.

In automotive terms, Lexus is still a young brand, just 28 years old, but even in that short time the perceptions of what luxury means have changed. Back in 1989 people would choose a prestige car as a status symbol. Today the concept of luxury has evolved into a mindset that values quality and exclusivity not just in things, but in experiences and social interactions.

One of the qualities that has distinguished Lexus ever since it entered the highly competitive luxury car market is our commitment to delivering highest standards of customer service. Our philosophy is based on Omotenashi, interpreting and developing the best traditions of Japanese hospitality I n treating customers as you would guests in your home and anticipating their every need and preference. The result is an exceptional, personalised experience and an approach to business that has earned Lexus multiple awards for customer satisfaction worldwide.

Such is the solid foundation on which Lexus is now taking its work beyond automotive into new arenas where it can nurture and inspire innovation, creativity and craftsmanship. For example, in the world of international design we have been a leading contributor to Milan Design Week since 2005. W e also host an annual competition for up-and-coming talent and present specially commissioned works that capture key themes from our own design philosophy.

Lexus is supporting film-makers, too. Working with leading international producers such as The Weinstein Company we provide a showcase for new talents in the Lexus Short Films series, established in 2013. We are also bringing our design vision to the big screen. Collaborating with the EuropaCorp studios and acclaimed director Luc Besson, Lexus has helped create a futuristic pursuit aircraft – the SKYJET – for the science fiction blockbuster Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

A focus on imaginative technology has brought numerous world-first features and capabilities to Lexus cars. This drive for technical innovation has spread further to embrace exciting new challenges commanding wider public attention and acclaim. For instance, Lexus succeeded in building a fully functioning hoverboard. And, earlier this year, we unveiled the sleek and powerful Lexus Sport Yacht Concept, applying our technology and design skills for the first time to the world of marine high-performance.

Lexus’ vision is not confined to creating great cars like the new LC. Our ambition is to build an exciting global lifestyle brand with a much wider outlook, an approach captured by our new brand tagline, “Experience Amazing”.

In this way, Lexus is defining its own territory in the premium market, going beyond the purely numerical understanding of what a luxury car should be. The result is a holistic brand experience that is supported by a passion for design, craftsmanship, quality, technology and an unparalleled customer experience – qualities that are perfectly showcased in the new LC luxury coupe.

​LEXUS LC KEY FACTS

BRAVE DESIGN

• An all-new luxury GT with a dynamic design and evocative, fluid lines.
• The first model in its segment to be offered with 21-inch wheels.
• A driver-focused cabin providing both luxury and a sporting feel with a low-set driving position, helping create an ideal connection between driver and car.

EXHILARATING PERFORMANCE

• Lexus’ all-new, ultra-rigid GA-L platform, allowing to improve inertia specifications by moving all the critical weight to the car’scentre and offering a lower centre of gravity and a more sporty driving position.
• A highly rigid and lightweight body.
• New multi-link front and rear suspension systems secure precise handling characteristics.

IMAGINATIVE TECHNOLOGY 

• LC 500h equipped with a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine and Lexus’ all-new Multi Stage Hybrid System, delivering excellent efficiency and the most engaging hybrid driving experience yet.
• LC 500 equipped with a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine and a new direct shift 10-speed automatic transmission – a world first for a premium passenger car.

TAKUMI CRAFTSMANSHIP

Developed and produced by highly-skilled, high-precision Lexus Takumi workers using their knowledge from the LFA supercar development and utilising high-quality materials.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM + 

Comprehensive Lexus Safety System + fitted as standard to ensure the highest active safety standards.

A CHOICE OF TWO PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEMS

• 13-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Product audio system or
• 12-speaker Pioneer premium audio surround system.

A FLAGSHIP LUXURY COUPE

The LC is a new flagship 2+2 luxury coupe for Lexus’ global model range, not only showcasing the qualities of design, engineering and advanced technology that define us as a premium vehicle manufacturer, but also symbolising our ambition as a luxury lifestyle brand.

This isn’t simply a car that looks good. It has been engineered in every dimension to deliver unique driving experience. “Even sharper and more refined” were the constant watchwords as Lexus honed every aspect of the LC’s performance, ride and handling.

The LC is a contemporary interpretation of the finest traditions of the grand tourer, a coupe focused on the road, not the track. Its handling, responsiveness and comfort have been tuned on some of the world’s great driving roads, to deliver a rewarding and hugely enjoyable experience.

The quality is equally high in both versions of the car that are being brought to the marketplace, the LC 500h and the LC 500 – two models that offer unique propositions for customers.

The LC 500h marks a revolution I n the development of hybrid technology being the first model to benefit from Lexus’ Multi Stage Hybrid System. Adding a multi-stage shift device to the 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain helps transform the driving experience, witnessed in greater torque, more usable power across a wider range of engine speeds, and rhythmic, linear acceleration that gives the driver the sensation of working with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

Moreover, these qualities are delivered with all the smoothness and efficiency for which Lexus Hybrid Drive is renowned, together with improved environmental performance.

The LC 500 is powered by the latest development of Lexus’ normally aspirated V8 petrol engine, tuned to deliver 477 PS/351kW, with improved acceleration feel to the driver and the kind of engine note that only a normally aspirated V8 can deliver. This unit is matched to the world’s first 10-speed direct shift automatic transmission for a premium car, to secure a genuinely rewarding driving experience.

The first new Lexus LC luxury coupes for the European market enter production today (May 22), manufactured on an exclusive new assembly line.

Lexus has transformed its Motomachi plant in Japan, formerly home to the LFA supercar, to create a highly focused working environment, dedicated to delivering the highest standards of precision, quality and craftsmanship.

The final assembly area has been reshaped and made an all-white area to help the engineers maintain the best focus on their work. The average time for each person’s task is almost 20 minutes, so there is more time to ensure every part of the process meets Lexus’ exacting quality requirements.

The line culminates in a new glass-walled booth where every millimetre of the car’s bodywork is subject to intense scrutiny beneath a battery of LED lights. The area for exhaust silencer inspection is surrounded by thicker glass panels so that the slightest abnormality in sound can be detected. The operation and quality of functional components, such as the doors, are also checked here.

The LC is built by a team of specially selected and trained Takumi craftspeople, all of whom have years of experience in Lexus manufacturing.

As well as being assembled in the same facility as the LFA, the LC benefits from a number of technologies which Lexus first developed for production of its hand-crafted supercar. These include the use of a special process, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) for the production of CFRP composite material. By adapting RTM for volume production, Lexus has been able to incorporate CFRP in key areas of the LC, which makes a significant contribution to reducing the car’s weight.

Production of the new LC marks a revolutionary step for Lexus, not only in achieving an unprecedented synergy between its design and engineering teams, but also in helping establish the company as a global luxury brand that reaches beyond the manufacture of prestige vehicles

The LC, scheduled to arrive in European showrooms in August, is available with two powertrains. The V8-powered petrol LC 500 is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, a world-first for a passenger car. The full hybrid LC 500h benefits from the new Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, a next-generation technology that delivers multiple benefits in terms of performance and an enhanced driving experience, including higher torque and more direct, linear acceleration from start-off.

Inspired by the ground-breaking LC luxury coupe and sights & sounds of globally-renowned musical hotspot Ibiza, viewers have the opportunity to become the DJ themselves by accessing a bespoke platform to create their track, based on the industry-leading Novation Launchpad music sequencer.

An avid driving and (of course) music fan, Mark has himself created a track to his own version of the drive, as inspiration for those taking on the challenge, available to view here: https://www.lexus.eu/lexus-today/make-your-mark/behind-the-scenes/

Celebrated for its musical heritage, having played host to some of world’s most innovative music artists, Ibiza was the perfect location to showcase the Lexus ambition to create amazing experiences in the realms of music, art and technology. Renowned for its iconic coastal roads and crystal blue waters, the stunning Ibizan vistas provide the backdrop to highlight the uncompromising design and performance of the LC.

The LC immersive driving experience marks the next phase in the Make Your Mark campaign, which over the next five months will give consumers and fans the chance to get hands on with some exciting content and amazing experiences.

The design of the LC coupe remains remarkably true to that of the LF-LC concept car, making both winners of the EyesOn Design Award. The LC is the figurehead of an evolving vehicle development culture at Lexus, which embraces an unprecedentedly close collaboration between design and engineering teams to create new models.

To score your track to the ultimate LC driving experience, go to: https://www.lexus.eu/lexus-today/make-your-mark/

The collaboration with Ronson continues Lexus’ ambition to create amazing experiences in the realms of music, art and technology. It follows on from 2015’s campaign ‘The Life RX’ with Jude Law which gave attendees of an immersive theatre event the chance to get in the driving seat of their own movie star lifestyle.

Over the next six months, the Make Your Mark campaign will give consumers and fans the chance to get hands on with some exciting content and amazing experiences.

Speaking about the campaign, Mark Ronson said: “I always like to work with collaborators who are innovative and unique in and out of the studio. When I was approached by Lexus with the concept of this campaign and saw the new LC, it felt fresh and exciting. I was drawn to the idea of using music to inspire and create an experience around this car.”

The design of the LC coupe remains remarkably true to that of the LF-LC concept car, making both winners of the EyesOn Design Award. The LC is the figurehead of an evolving vehicle development culture at Lexus, which embraces the collaboration between design and engineering teams to create a stunning car which surpasses all expectations.

Commenting on the partnership between Lexus and Mark Ronson, Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe said: “Mark Ronson is an iconic music producer behind some of the biggest hits of the decade and we couldn’t have thought of a better collaborator for the ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign. The Lexus LC symbolizes the beginning of a new phase for Lexus, which is all about creating greater synergy between engineering and design. Who better to work with on this than Mark – a man who has made a significant contribution to the world of music through his incredible performances and collaborations.”

To find out more and to stay updated on the Make Your Mark campaign, go to www.lexus.eu from 11 April.

The peer-reviewed award was presented at a gala ceremony in Geneva yesterday (7 March) and is featured in the Car Design Review 4 yearbook, which was launched the same night.

Car Design Review 4’s editor Guy Bird said: “It was great to see the fantastic LF-LC concept faithfully translated into the beautiful LC production car with so little compromise. This is a rare thing in the automotive industry and should be celebrated.

“Our esteemed, but hard-to-please professional car design judging panel clearly agreed, giving plaudits to the curvaceous coupe for its daring surfacing, unforgettable face and unique character. It was a tough project to execute, by all accounts, but a wonderful end result and a deserving winner of the 2016 Production Car Design of the Year.”

Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the Lexus LC, said: “This was one of the first times for Lexus that designers were closely involved in the dynamic engineering development, so we could understand the driving goals and support them with the car’s design. The 2012 LF-LC concept model was the starting point, not our final goal. This means we didn’t just duplicate LF-LC’s surfaces and lines onto the production platform. Even though we decided to maintain LF-LC’s design language and theme, we added more emotion. I’d like to thank very much all the colleagues who were involved in the car’s development at Lexus International.”

The Car Design of the Year awards are organised by the team behind the Car Design News website. Their special quality is distinguished by the fact the judging panel is made up of some of the world’s top car designers, together with leaders of major international automotive suppliers and universities. In order to select the 2016 Production Car Design of the Year, judges named their top three choices from a 12-strong shortlist compiled by Car Design News’ editorial staff.

Note to editors:

Car Design News (CDN) is the leading resource for car designers worldwide published from London, UK by Ultima Media. Since 1999 it has provided invaluable information, advice and insights to students and design directors alike, thanks to its network of writers and industry analysts, many of whom have contributed to the latest Car Design Review 4 book. CDN’s primary presence is online, allowing it to deliver the latest news, reviews and opinions to the design community. In addition to its unrivalled editorial, it houses a careers section that has helped place many designers in key positions.

The model, revealed soon after the premiere appearance of the twin-turbo petrol V6-powered LS 500 at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, is a further manifestation of how Lexus has reimagined the luxury sedan, presenting brave design, exhilarating performance and a sophisticated appeal to capture the imagination of forward-thinking, younger customers.

The car’s design successfully brings together the virtues of a long-wheelbase four-door sedan with a low, coupe-like profile, positioning the LS perfectly across the two growing sedan and coupe segments.

The cabin has benefited from an equally new approach, focusing on “progressive comfort,” interpreting Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship traditions in the context of an advanced, luxurious and innovative vehicle interior such as the original door trim ornamentation. Notably the LS 500 was honoured at NAIAS with the EyesOn Design Award for excellence in interior design.

Conceived as the new global pinnacle of the Lexus brand, the LS goes beyond what the world expects from a luxury car. Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi explained: “Developing such a flagship model required a massive paradigm shift. Rather than being bound by the conventions that had defined luxury cars in the past, we aimed to create a car with innovative, emotional and sensual appeal that would draw customers’ eyes away from other luxury cars and provide entirely new values.”

The LS 500h is equipped with the new Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, a technology that transforms the performance and driver appeal of hybrid, providing improved responsiveness and more rewarding, linear acceleration, particularly when moving off from stationary. At the same time, the inherent fuel and emissions efficiency of Lexus Hybrid Drive has been further improved.

The powertrain features a 3.5-litre V6 Dual VVT-i V6 petrol engine and two electric motors, together delivering maximum system power of 354hp/264kW. While the LS 500 will be available in Europe exclusively as all-wheel drive model, the LS 500h will be introduced in both rear and all-wheel drive versions.

The LS 500h is built on the new Lexus Global Architecture – Luxury platform, which ensures a low centre of gravity and optimum weight distribution, contributing to the car’s essential stability and handling agility, which in turn deliver increased driver rewards. The fundamental high rigidity of the chassis allows the new multilink suspension to be tuned to achieve a great handling performance and the supreme comfort for which the LS is renowned. In Europe, Adaptive Variable Suspension, with air suspension are a standard feature of higher specification models.

The car’s dynamic performance benefits also from the co-ordination of braking, steering and stability systems through Lexus Dynamic Handling.

Advanced technologies are further used to deliver impressive safety performance. The LS 500h’s Lexus Safety System+ package additionally includes a new advanced safety system, which features the world’s first intuitive pedestrian detection function with active steering among other innovative technologies.

Omotenashi, expressing the unique sense of Japanese hospitality, defines the LS 500h’s whisper-quiet and luxurious interior. Supreme comfort is provided by front and rear seats with multiple power adjustment, heating, cooling and massage functions. There is also an optional rear seat arrangement that includes an extending leg ottoman and the most generous leg room of any LS generation. Notably the new LS 500h is longer even than the current long wheelbase LS. The wheelbase increased from 3,090 mm to 3,125 mm.

Lexus Takumi craftsmanship also contributes to the special quality of the LS 500h’s cabin, in luxurious new trims, materials and detailing, including a new pleating treatment and Kiriko glasswork on the inner door panels.

Testing of the race car is expected to start in September 2016 with the new coupe making its race debut in Japan's Super GT series during the next year, replacing the Lexus RC F in the series.

The LC 500 and its hybrid version, the LC 500h, have been designed as grand touring coupes. The race car version has therefore been substantially modified for racing purposes, including the fitment of an enhanced aerodynamic package, weight reduction measures and a bespoke race-spec powertrain.

Striking body work for the LC 500 race car incorporates boldly widened fenders, muscular skirts, large spoiler and rear diffuser and multiple vents for downforce and heat extraction.

These features enhance the flagship coupe's aerodynamic shape, dramatic curves and wide, imposing stance while retaining the distinctive Lexus spindle grille and L-shaped lights.

With a minimum weight of 1,020kg, the lightweight race car will be powered by a 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder turbocharged engine driven through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

Lexus LC 500 race car specifications:

• Length (mm): 4960
• Width (mm): 1950
• Height (mm): 1220
• Wheelbase (mm): 2750
• Engine type: Four-cylinder turbo
• Engine capacity (cm3): 2000
• Fuel system: Direct injection
• Transmission: Six-speed sequential
• Weight (kg, minimum): 1020

Brussels, Belgium - The LC, Lexus’ new luxury coupe, will continue its European debut tour (#LCOnTour) in France this Sunday, September 4th, participating in the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille *.

The LC will be one of the main features in the Concours d’Elegance, the highlight of the event. Adding extra exclusive appeal to its appearance, it will be accompanied by a model wearing a dress created especially for the occasion by leading fashion designer Jørgen Simonsen.

"When designing the dress, I took inspiration from the Lexus LC," says Simonsen. "Its high-quality materials and colour, speed and power, its finishes and emotional shapes: all these resulted in ultra-feminine yet contemporary, bold yet sensual shapes."

Simonsen is also the creator of the dresses the Lexus hostesses will wear at the Paris motor show. The young Danish designer has already gained rich experience with several major French and Italian fashion houses, working with celebrated couturiers John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen before becoming artistic director for Versace and Valentino. His creations have attracted prestigious clients, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Taylor, Olga Kurylenko, Nicole Kidman, Marisa Tomei and Michelle Rodriguez.

The Chantilly date is the latest in a series of prestigious appearances for the LC in Europe, its tour itinerary having taken in events in Spain, at the Nürburgring in Germany and the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, and in Belgium.

Following its participation in the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille, the LC will again be in the spotlight in France, featuring on the Lexus stand at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris from September 29th.

The LC, Lexus’ flagship coupe, will be launched in spring 2017 with two powertrain options. The full hybrid LC 500h will feature a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and Lexus’s all-new Multi Stage Hybrid System, engineered to deliver a more direct response for genuine high performance. The LC 500 will be equipped with a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine coupled to a new 10-speed automatic transmission – a world first for a luxury vehicle. The LC is the first model to be built on Lexus’ all-new GA-L platform, designed to deliver a much sharper and more refined driving experience.

* www.chantillyartsetelegance.com

** http://jorgensimonsen.com

Brussels, Belgium - The LC 500 coupe enjoyed a sensational debut earlier this year as the stand-out star of the Detroit motor show, before its hybrid version, the LC 500h was revealed at the Geneva motor show. Now the dynamic brilliance of its design and engineering are being celebrated in a short film that helps build anticipation towards the car’s market launch next year.

The film is released today on Lexus’ YouTube channels, together with a supporting feature on how the movie was made: www.youtube.com/user/LexusEurope/videos

The aim is to give viewers an immersive visual and aural introduction to the LC, before they actually experience the car in the metal.

Shot in a remote area of Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, the film brought together the talents of leading motion designer Edgar Davey and a team from projection mapping specialists QED Productions, led by Paul Whigfield. Davey produced a set of visuals that takes the viewer under the skin of the LC 500, evoking elements of its 467bhp V8 engine and its world-first 10-speed transmission. He had to be sure each could be faithfully rendered when projected against the jagged mountainside – the film’s natural backdrop and the canvas for Davey’s artistry – requiring precise positioning of each camera and projector.

The filming required a team of 20 working on location. Equipped with four of the brightest projectors in the world, they had just three nights in which to translate Davey’s visuals into finished footage. Whigfield explained the scale of the challenge they faced: “I don’t think this would have been possible a year or two ago, it just wouldn’t have been a practical proposition. I would have been easy to try and fake something like this, but to do it for real is such an incredible challenge”

In the movie, the Lexus LC 500 accelerates on a twisting mountain road and as it passes, its thrilling engine note shatters the rockface to reveal a battery of pounding pistons and spinning gears. In another scene a face in the mountain side turns to watch the car speed by.

This ground-breaking film-making project has shunned CGI trickery in favour of real-world projection mapping artistry on an unprecedented scale.

Multiple projectors had to be linked to create a seamless backdrop of images moving over the mountainside, timed to synchronise perfectly with the LC 500 as it powered along the twisting road. As well as the evocative projections, the film also focuses on some of the design and engineering features that define the new coupe, such its arresting bodywork design, carbon fibre roof and retracting rear spoiler. Inside the car, craftsmanship detailing such as the stitching of the suede-effect Alcantara trim and the sculpted surface of the magnesium gear shift paddles, is contrasted with the hi-tech appearance of the 3D instrumentation that greets the driver when they fire up the engine-start button.

The new LC 500 is currently touring Europe for a series of preview events. Next is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will make its UK debut. Follow #LConTour for further updates.

Brussels, Belgium -

• Goodwood Festival of Speed to host the official UK debut of the Lexus LC
• Luxury coupe to be driven on the famous hill climb course by international racing stars Mike Conway, Alex Wurz and Scott Pruett
• Lexus LFA, RC F and GS F also set to appear on the hill climb
• LC to be the central attraction on the Lexus stand, alongside the RC F and GS F high-performance models, RC coupe, NX crossover and RX SUV

The new Lexus LC is to make a suitably prestigious debut appearance in the UK, on display and in action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (23 to 26 June).

The internationally famous automotive celebration in the grounds of Goodwood House in Sussex will provide a fitting stage for the LC, a luxury coupe that has attracted huge critical and popular acclaim for its revolutionary styling since it first broke cover at the Detroit motor show earlier this year.

A V8-powered LC 500 will be appearing in the “First Glance” category on the hill climb, reserved for exciting new models ahead of their market launch. Driving duties will be shared by Mike Conway, scheduled to be at Goodwood fresh from competing with the Toyota Gazoo Racing team at the Le Mans 24 Hours; Scott Pruett, a multiple Grand Am champion with Lexus in North America who is currently racing an RC F in IMSA GT3 sportscar competition; and former Formula 1 and Toyota Gazoo Racing pilot Alex Wurz.

Festival-goers will be able to take a close-up look at the LC on the Lexus stand, where it will take pride of place alongside the LFA supercar, RC F, and GS F, together with F Sport versions of Lexus’s latest hybrid models – the RC 300h coupe, NX 300h crossover and RX 450h luxury SUV.

The LC, Lexus’s flagship coupe, will be launched in spring 2017 with two powertrain options. The full hybrid LC 500h will feature a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and Lexus’s all-new Multi Stage Hybrid System, engineered to deliver more direct response for authentic high performance. The LC 500 will be equipped with a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine coupled to a new 10-speed automatic transmission – a world first for a luxury vehicle. The LC is the first model to be built on Lexus’s all-new GA-L platform, designed to deliver a much sharper and more refined driving experience.

Lexus will also be taking part in the Moving Motor Show, the curtain-raiser to the festival on 23 June. Members of the public will be able to take test drives of the high performance Lexus RC F and GS F coupes within the Goodwood estate

Brussels, Belgium - The amazing Lexus experience started on the way to the roof top. In a tailor-made elevator, guests enjoyed an exclusive cocktail spray to get in the mood for Creating Amazing.

Arriving in the Sky Lounge, a series of extraordinary experiences greeted guests starting with a range of various experiential “food stations” and “Wasmannen” – men washing the guests’ hands and entertaining them at the same time. Double Robotics approached guests and sang their personalised song. Many more exciting attractions awaited the guests. The musical host of the event was Spinkit DJ Lara with her moving DJ station.

The absolute highlight of the Creating Amazing event was the touch and feel session of the new Lexus LC luxury coupe conducted by the Dutch star illusionist, Victor Mids. The artist let guests experience the car without even touching it. The guests very much appreciated the opportunity to experience the amazing luxury coupe on top of one of the tallest buildings in Amsterdam with its fantastic city scenery as the backdrop.

Next destination of the #LCOnTour will be Germany, from which we will send out regular reports.

The Lexus flagship coupe LC will be launched in spring 2017 with two powertrain versions: the 3.5l, V6 petrol-engined full hybrid LC 500h which will feature the all-new Multi Stage Hybrid System for more direct response. The LC 500 will be equipped with a 5.0l, V8 petrol engine coupled to a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission – a first ever in a luxury vehicle. The LC will be the first model with the all-new GA-L platform which will deliver a much sharper and more refined driving experience.

Brussels, Belgium - Lexus Europe: The precision skills of Lexus’ Takumi craftspeople famously differentiate the luxury quality of Lexus models. Where can we see the rewards of their work in the new LC?

Tadao Mori: “I would highlight the exquisite stitching of the Alcantara upholstery, it gives the LC a sporty yet luxurious feeling. In fact, you won’t find any plastic parts in the interior, as we have covered almost everything in upholstery.

“I also love the creative stitching and the small perforations in the seat fabric, and the steering wheel is a piece of art.”

Lexus Europe: What makes the steering wheel such a special feature?

Koji Sato: “A Takumi master driver helped define the best possible shape for the steering wheel. Driving the car and checking the details again and again, he constantly refined the profile to come up with an ideal elliptical grip that fits best in the driver’s hands when cornering with high G-forces.”

Tadao Mori: “Then our Takumi master driver created an amazingly complex cross-sectional drawing, with different profiles for every section of the wheel. It is an incredible piece of work.”

Koji Sato: “The same intensive process was applied to the paddle shifters to achieve the perfect fit and placing for the hands. The Takumi driver works exclusively on the development of the LC, making fine adjustments all the time. In fact this process will continue right up to the moment the car goes into production.”

Lexus Europe: How have you been able to make use of the craftsmanship skills that were developed for the LFA?

Koji Sato: “The LC will be built at the Motomachi plant, the same factory where we produced the LFA and some of the Takumi who worked on that model are now working exclusively on the new coupe.

This way we have been able to tap into their knowledge and experience in areas such as the carbon fibre components, leatherwork and hand-finishing.”

Brussels, Belgium - On the programme, a series of events and activities in more than 25 iconic European cities, covering a distance of more than ten thousand kilometres.

The initial destination of the Lexus sports coupe is Madrid, where, during an exclusive VIP event today, the LC will demonstrate its V8 engine’s aural symphony. As from May 10, the car will be displayed at the Madrid Motor Show.

After Madrid, the LC will have a stopover in Amsterdam, where, during a #CreatingAmazing event on May 18, special guests will be surprised by some unexpected attractions and activities.

In Germany at the end of May, the car will participate in the prologue[1] to the acclaimed 24 hours race at Nürburgring after which it will star in a photography contest in front of renowned landmarks across the country.

As from mid-June the LC will be present at many exciting events across the United Kingdom starting with the well-known Goodwood Festival of Speed where it will conduct several hill climbs throughout the event.

Stay tuned for more news about the tour.

The Lexus flagship coupe LC will be launched in spring 2017 with two powertrain versions: the 3.5l, V6 petrol-engined full hybrid LC 500h which will feature the all-new Multi Stage Hybrid System for more direct response. The LC 500 will be equipped with a 5.0l, V8 petrol engine coupled to a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission – a first ever in a luxury vehicle. The LC will be the first model with the all-new GA-L platform which will deliver a much sharper and more refined driving experience.

[1] Prologue is a one-lap show drive which can be joined by all car manufacturers participating in the 24h race. It takes place before the race itself.

Lexus Europe: How has the experience of the LFA and the technologies it pioneered been applied to developing the dynamic performance of the LC 500 and LC 500h?

Koji Sato: “Before we started on this job, we drove the LFA day after day – it certainly attracted a lot of attention around Los Angeles. You will find the carbon fibre composite technology we developed for the LFA in the lightweight parts we have designed for the LC, such as the compression—moulded sheets of re-impregnated carbon fibre used for the inner door panels.”

Lexus Europe: Remarkably, the LC is the stiffest Lexus ever built, including the LFA.

Koji Sato: “Yes, we are thrilled to have achieved world-class torsional stiffness levels that bear comparison with those of the very best German cars. The LC is actually 60% more rigid than the current Lexus GS performance sedan.

‘'This results in sharper and more precise, linear handling. In fact, the LC goes further, with a smoother and more lateral level of performance.”

Lexus Europe: Weight distribution is essential, too, as we witnessed with the LFA. What weight distribution have you achieved on the LC models?

Koji Sato: “We managed to create a 52:48 front-to-rear balance for the LC 500 and 51:49 for the LC 500h.”

Lexus Europe: This obviously makes for a very rewarding experience for the driver?

Koji Sato: “In the past, engineers would concentrate on specifications and performance data, but really great cars go further than this. Customers want a great experience that connects with the body and mind alike, so we focused on appealing to their senses.”

Lexus Europe: Where did your team go to develop the LC’s handling for European customers?

Koji Sato: “We tested extensively on the Nürburgring’s famous Nordschleife, on German Autobahns and on Europe’s country roads. We will continue to tune and perfect the car this year, with lots of development time spent in Europe.”

Lexus Europe: Akio Toyoda himself has also been involved. How has he contributed to the development programme?

Koji Sato: “Toyoda-san has driven the LC at all the important stages during the car’s development, and will continue to do so.

“After taking the car around the Shibetsu proving ground in northern Japan in snowy conditions, he made several requests about how we might improve its characteristics, so you can be sure it is going to be a fun car to drive.”

Lexus Europe: The LC is the first model to use the new Lexus GA-L (global architecture for luxury vehicles) chassis. Will we see this used for other models?

Koji Sato: “The LC uses a completely new chassis concept. It is very much the blueprint for possible future front-engine/rear wheel-drive models.”

Lexus Europe: Although the LC presents a visually arresting design, preserving a great deal of the cutting edge styling that gained the original Lexus concept model such universal acclaim, it still – like the LFA – achieves aerodynamic excellence that matches the best in its segment. How did you create this?

Tadao Mori: “We achieved this result by introducing new features, such as the air pods just in front of the rear wheels, which manage the airflow within the wheel arches, We studied the shape and location of elements such as underfloor fins, the door mirrors, front bumper intakes and the rake of the windscreen, all of which contribute to the overall aerodynamic quality.”

Lexus Europe: Are there any plans for the LC to be developed for motorsport?

Koji Sato: “I hope so, but I cannot reveal exactly what we will be doing.”

Lexus Europe: The LC 500h coupe has drawn great praise for its remarkable styling, but the drivetrain under the skin is just as revolutionary. Can you explain what you set out to achieve with the new Multi Stage Hybrid System?

Koji Sato: “In the past, people associated hybrid with ‘eco’. We wanted to change that perception and create a true high-performance package.

“We’ve taken our pioneering Lexus Hybrid Drive to the next level, combining a V6 petrol engine and motor generator with an automatic transmission. This was how we could engineer a system that responds much more directly to driver inputs, while still delivering all the smoothness and efficiency characteristic of a Lexus full hybrid.”

Lexus Europe: Clearly this was a complex task, what were the biggest challenges you faced during the development of the new system?

Koji Sato: “The biggest hurdle we had to overcome was creating a control system for the new drivetrain that delivered on our aim to give the driver an amazingly responsive car, both on winding roads and on the Autobahn. We had to harness the ‘torque on demand’ that is characteristic of electric motors to secure the right kind of sports driving. It is thanks to the new automatic transmission that we have been able to do this.”

Lexus Europe: What do you expect the driver to experience when they take the wheel of the LC 500h?

Koji Sato: “The car will do exactly what the driver wants. If they are in a sporty mood, they can take advantage of the instant and linear torque delivery. In fact there is more torque at start-up than with our V8 hybrid and you can drive at higher speeds on electric power, thanks to the Multi Stage Hybrid System.

“This is the first Lexus hybrid that can spin its rear wheels which is a sign of the amount of power on demand.”

Lexus Europe: The automatic transmission that is central to the Multi Stage Hybrid System has been placed behind the hybrid transmission. It has four gears, but you created the sensation of a 10-speed system for the driver. Why is that?

Koji Sato: “Like the best athletes, true performance cars are about rhythm. We wanted the LC 500h to have the same fundamental philosophy as the V8-powered LC 500 (which uses a 10-speed automatic transmission).

“We came up with 10 speeds as the result of our search for the perfect rhythm – it could have been 11 or nine, but 10 felt best during the many test drives we made.”

Lexus Europe: The LC 500h’s 299 DIN hp 3.5-litre V6 Atkinson cycle petrol engine is derived from the unit we know from the GS 450h. How has it been adapted?

Koji Sato: “The engine has been extensively modified for the LC 500h. In particular, its speed has been increased. So while it will reach 6,000rpm in the GS 450h, here it peaks at 6,600rpm, but still with the efficiency that the Atkinson cycle delivers.”

Lexus Europe: The remarkable sound the powertrain makes is part of the LC 500h’s special driving experience. How has that been achieved?

Koji Sato: “The sound has been developed by Lexus. We followed the same philosophy as with the LFA in wanting to create a unique sense of sound harmony, using the natural sound of the engine and adjustable acoustic valves in the exhaust system, rather than the Active Sound Control featured on some of our models.

“We succeeded in creating a distinctive sound for the Multi Stage Hybrid System which responds in a linear fashion to the way the driver uses the throttle pedal to accelerate continuously up to the engine’s high rev band.”

Lexus Europe: What was the thinking behind using a lithium-ion battery – a first for a Lexus full hybrid?

Koji Sato: “This brought a number of advantages both in terms of packaging and vehicle dynamics. It’s compact so we can provide more space for luggage, and it’s lightweight (at just 50kg) which helps us improve weight distribution and the car’s yaw inertia moment.”

Lexus Europe: Will the Multi Stage Hybrid System be used on other Lexus models?

Koji Sato: “Although we cannot confirm anything at present, we do expect that this drivetrain will be used on larger front-engine/rear wheel-drive Lexus models in the future.”

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe

Good morning and welcome to Lexus!

Let me start today’s press conference with this figure: One million!

Indeed, Lexus will deliver this month its 1 millionth hybrid vehicle to a customer in the world and we are extremely proud of this milestone!

Lexus is the leading provider of premium hybrid vehicles – by a comfortable margin. We have the largest range with no less than 10 hybrid models on the market. And only last year, we sold 150,000 hybrid cars in the world.

Europe is a leading region in that respect. Did you know? In Europe, almost ONE out of every TWO hybrid premium vehicles sold in 2015 is a Lexus! We delivered more than 40 thousand hybrids here last year, representing 64% of our total sales. And if we focus on Western Europe the mix is even 95%.

Hybrid is our defining powertrain technology. It also drives the highest satisfaction rates from our customers and this naturally leads to sustained sales growth.

Looking at last year, Lexus sold 652 thousand vehicles in the world, which is a progression of 12% versus 2014 and our 3rd record year in a row.

2015 was also our best-ever year in Europe, with a 20% sales increase versus 2014 even 31% if you consider only Western Europe. Also, looking to the East and Russia in particular, Lexus is one of the very few premium brands able to increase sales by 6% in 2015 despite challenging market conditions.

Our key sales driver was the new midsize crossover, the NX, of which we sold already more than 187 thousand units in the world since its launch at the end of 2014 including nearly 37 thousand units in Europe.

You know, it’s already the third year that I stand in front of you, here in Geneva time flies and I’m still amazed by the speed of transformation at Lexus!

In just a couple of years, we have completely renewed our line-up. We have launched new models, like the very successful NX, the RC coupe and our F performance cars, RC F and GS F. And we have introduced new versions of several core models including the 4th generation RX just a couple of months ago.

We are raising Lexus to the next level with a bold and instantly recognizable design identity with a more engaging driving experience and with innovative technologies for instance in terms of safety and powertrains.

Lexus is on a roll and we have even greater ambitions for the future. We aim to exceed the mark of 70 thousand units in Europe this year and 100,000 by 2020.

Indeed, there’s much more to come from Lexus. Our design journey will take us even further we will introduce more models and brand new powertrains.

The two cars we have on display in Geneva today show you the direction we are taking.

First, have a look at the LF-FC concept. This is our vision of a future Lexus flagship harmonious, seductive, sleek lines almost like a coupe but with all the usability of a large sedan.

And FC also stands for ‘fuel cell’ – the powertrain technology of the future. It’s our commitment today: we will launch a Lexus fuel cell vehicle around 2020. It will be a highly refined vehicle, with strong performance credentials and yet zero emissions and zero dependence on oil.

The LF-FC also previews advanced technologies such as autonomous driving on highways and a very innovative interface operated by natural hand gestures.

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And the second model standing next to me under this cloth represents our short term future. I really can’t wait to reveal it to you so without further delay. Ladies and gentlemen here is the brand new Lexus hybrid sports coupe please welcome the LC 500h!

Judging by the reactions after its reveal in Detroit earlier this year, we seem to have got it right.

As Akio Toyoda said in Detroit, in order to make this vehicle possible engineers and designers had to collaborate in an innovative way.

The starting point was the LF-LC concept that we unveiled 4 years ago. Great looks as well but conceived purely as a design exercise, with no production constraints in mind.

So our mission was simple but challenging: bring this concept to life with great driving dynamics and while retaining the concept’s stunning visual identity.

Designers had to understand the engineers’ image for the LC driving dynamics and incorporate it into their work so we let designers do several test drives with performance cars so they could better understand the ideal positioning of meters and controls and – more importantly – the engineers’ passion for a great driving experience.

And our engineers also had to integrate our design requirements. Look at the front of the car. They had to develop a front suspension that: fits within a remarkably low hood line, accommodates 21’’ wheels AND provides GREAT handling.

Also, the LC is the first model to benefit from our brand new corporate platform architecture it’s the most rigid structure we have ever built.

And finally powertrains. We launched the LC 500 with V8 powertrain in Detroit.

Today we are proud to introduce, for the first time, our next generation performance hybrid system on LC 500h: the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System.

What we wanted to do was very simple: expand the benefits and the attractiveness of hybrid to performance vehicles. This means: more power, greater acceleration and traction, higher efficiency and last but certainly not least more fun to drive.

To achieve this, we added a 4-speed automatic transmission to our current hybrid system. Together with the hybrid transmission, this allows the multi stage system to generate no less than 10 gears to respond precisely to driver inputs at any speed and in any driving conditions.

One figure summarizes it all: LC 500h will surge to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds.

Really, we can’t wait to let you drive this car ahead of its launch in Europe in the spring of 2017.

To conclude, let me invite you to welcome on stage the chief engineer of LC: Mr Koji Sato and the Multi Stage Hybrid engineer: Mr. Koji Oshima for a photoshooting opportunity.

Thank you for joining us today!

• Dynamic luxury - a more elegant, evocative, and fluid interpretation of Lexus’ L-finesse design philosophy
• Brand New Multi Stage Hybrid System offers exhilarating performance and greater efficiency
• Ultra rigid, yet light body with multi-link suspension for precision handling

First revealed by Akio Toyoda at the 2016 North America International Auto Show, the styling, performance and craftsmanship of the new Lexus LC 500 clearly position it as the flagship coupe of the Lexus line-up.

Inspired by the acclaimed LF-LC concept that debuted in 2012, the LC represents a shift in Lexus’ engineering processes and design direction, and marks the beginning of a new phase for the Lexus brand.

Following the world premiere of the V8-powered LC 500, Lexus introduces the all-new LC 500h, which features the world’s first Multi Stage Hybrid System, next generation of hybrid powertrains specifically designed for performance vehicles.

Design: Seduction & Technology

Combining avant-garde elegance with dynamic coupe proportions, the seductive form of the new LC 500h remains remarkably true to the key design elements, proportions and visual dynamism of the award-winning LF-LC concept car that inspired it.

The LC 500h is enveloped by a glamorous exterior which represents a uniquely evocative, more fluid interpretation of Lexus’ L-finesse design philosophy.

With a long 2,870 mm wheelbase, compact 920 mm front and 970 mm rear overhangs and a notably low bonnet line, the coupe’s athletic profile is characterised by a sweeping roofline which tapers from the central position of the occupants, creating a uniquely human-centred silhouette.

Front and rear wings that house wide, large diameter wheels flare away from the centre position of the occupants, whilst the door sides are pulled inwards to create a powerfully three-dimensional form –in plan view, a new spindle architecture shape which mirrors Lexus’ signature spindle grille.

To the front, the latest interpretation of that spindle grille motif features chrome trim and a radical new mesh design of varying visual tension. The LC 500h’s unique lighting signature combines independent, arrowhead Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with a triple LED headlamp unit, the ultra-compact engineering of which has helped to maintain the coupe’s low bonnet line and short front overhang.

To the rear, the sweeping cabin roofline tapers between broad, muscular rear wheel arches to reinforce the LC 500h’s wide, stable stance. The rear lamp signature is equally unique, a sequence of increasingly strongly lit L-shaped LED lamps that creates an exceptional three-dimensional impression.

The outstanding driving dynamics of the LC 500h are also reflected in subtle yet functional aerodynamic measures. Front and rear wheel arch venting improves high speed stability, and a rear diffuser and active rear spoiler further manage airflow during performance driving.

The new LC 500h will be available with a choice of bespoke, 20” cast and 20” and 21” forged aluminium alloy wheels.

Driving Pleasure & Comfort

The all-new interior design of the LC 500h reflects the exterior design theme of dynamic luxury with a cabin that combines all the elegance, quality and sophistication of a Lexus premium coupe with high driving pleasure and comfort for passenger.

Whilst the front passenger area is shaped to spread out towards the front, creating a comfortable and welcoming space, the driving position has been painstakingly created to invite spirited driving, and promote driver confidence through an intuitive control layout and ergonomic excellence.

The driver’s hip point has been engineered to be as close as possible to the coupe’s centre of gravity, maximising feedback from the vehicle to the driver. And the holding performance of the seats has been enhanced through a renewed focus on the cross-section design.

Particular attention has been paid to the design of a new steering wheel, which features a change in cross-sectional shape throughout the rim circumference to accommodate variations in grip and the twisting of the wrist during operation. And new, larger magnesium alloy paddle shifters have been shaped for easier reach and a more positive action.

All information displays have been carefully arranged in order of importance by their proximity to the driver’s sight line. The instrument binnacle itself houses a variation of the innovative driver’s meter with moving centre ring from the LFA, and the centre console features a next-generation touch pad of the Remote Touch Interface (RTI).

The 2017 Lexus multimedia package debuts with the LC, and features faster, more flexible software enabling future enhancements and an updated graphic user interface. Listeners will also be treated to an exceptional audio experience inside the cabin: in addition to the available audiophile-worthy Mark Levinson audio package, a new premium Pioneer audio system comes as standard equipment.

Throughout the new interior, the quality and finish of upholstery, hand-stitched leather centre console and dash pad, and drape forming Alcantara door trim, reflect a level of Takumi craftsmanship and attention to detail for which Lexus is globally renowned.

Multi Stage Hybrid System

The Multi Stage Hybrid System was developed with opposing goals in mind: to create a hybrid with a more sporting and engaging driving experience by closely aligning engine speed with throttle inputs, and to achieve the best possible balance of power and fuel consumption.

The new Multi Stage Hybrid System marries the elements of a traditional full hybrid powertrain -including a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine, a powerful electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack- to a 4-speed automatic gearbox mounted at the rear of the hybrid transmission.

The electric motor generates better acceleration feel than a conventional engine, and adding physical gears more closely aligns engine rpm with the driver’s inputs. The result is a much more direct connection between the accelerator pedal and vehicle acceleration, and 0-100 km/h times well into the sub-5 second range

The Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System also features ‘M’ Mode - the first driver-initiated gear shifts offered on a Lexus full hybrid powertrain. ‘M’ Mode gives drivers the ability to initiate direct and responsive gear shifts for the most sporting and engaging drive yet from a Lexus hybrid.

A new lightweight and compact electric motor and a lithium-ion battery offset the weight of the added automatic transmission, and so the Multi Stage Hybrid System weighs the same as the current hybrid powertrain—an amazing feat of engineering.

All-New Platform

Heralding a new generation of more engaging and responsive vehicles, the new LC 500h has been designed to offer customers a significantly sharper, more refined driving experience. It combines the superior ride quality befitting a flagship luxury sports coupe with an engaging, dynamic drive and a depth of character unlike that of any previous Lexus.

The LC 500h is the first Lexus to benefit from the company’s all-new, premium rear-wheel drive platform; part of a new corporate global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA-L). The underpinnings of this new coupe will become the blueprint for future front-engine/rear-wheel drive Lexus models.

Platform design is fundamental to dynamic handling characteristics. At the outset, Lexus engineers focused on what they refer to as the LC 500h’s ‘inertia specification’, placing most of the vehicle mass, including the engine and occupants, as low and centralised as possible within the chassis.

The powertrain mass is located behind the front axle line creating a “front mid-ship” layout while very short front and rear overhangs push the large diameter tyres to the vehicle extremities. The wheels are shod with run-flat tyres that eliminate the weight and weight-distribution penalty of a full-size spare tyre, while driver hip and heel points have been substantially lowered.

The centre of gravity has been further lowered by the introduction of numerous technical innovations which reduce the body weight of the LC 500h. These include aluminium front hood and fenders, aluminium door skins mounted on a carbon fibre structure, a carbon and glass composite boot lid, aluminium front suspension towers, ultra-compact LED headlamps, available forged alloy wheels and carbon fibre roof.

The extensive use of strategically located high-tensile steel body structures reduces weight, improves weight-distribution and increases body rigidity, all of which promote consistent, predictable handling behaviour and sharper steering responses.

Particular attention has been paid to the development of the LC 500h’s multi-link front suspension system, adopted to allow for the vehicle’s large diameter wheels while at the same time accommodating a very low bonnet line.

The system features two upper and two lower control arms, with double ball joints on each arm. This arrangement optimises suspension geometry to facilitate precise control from driver inputs and road conditions, creating a more precise steering response.

Optimising the sharpness in both steering and suspension movement, sprung weight has been reduced as much as possible through the extensive use of lightweight, forged aluminium componentry. And the system demonstrates exceptional rigidity under lateral g loading.

In combination, these chassis and suspension development measures offer an entirely natural, non-taxing driving experience which combines sharp responses, exceptional handing balance and straight line stability with the ride comfort appropriate to a Lexus flagship coupe.

Class-Leading Safety Standards

The new LC 500h is fitted, as standard, with the Lexus Safety System +, a newly developed portfolio of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic situations.

Combining a camera and millimetre-wave radar for a high level of detection performance, the Lexus Safety System + features a Pre-Crash safety System (PCS) with a pedestrian detection function, which helps prevent or mitigate the severity of collisions, All-speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Keep Assist (LKA) and Automatic High Beam (AHB) headlamp technology.

Specifications

Length: 4,760 mm

Width: 1,920 mm

Height: 1,345 mm

Wheelbase: 2,870 mm

Layout: Front Engine/Rear Wheel Drive

Fr/Rr overhang: Fr: 920 mm, Rr: 970mm

Wheel size:

1. 21 “ (forged aluminium-available)

2. 20 “ (forged aluminium-available)

3. 20 “ (cast aluminium-standard)

Tyre size:

1. Fr: 245/40 RF21, Rr: 275/35 RF21

2. Fr: 245/45 RF20, Rr: 275/40 RF20

3. Fr: 245/45 RF20, Rr: 275/40 RF20

Engine type: 3.45L hybrid engine

Engine capacity (cc): 

3,456

Valve mechanism: 24- Valve DOHC VVT-i

Cylinders: 6

Bore (mm): 94

Stroke (mm): 83

Engine Maximum output (kW): 220 @ 6,600 rpm

Battery Maximum output (kW): 44.6

Battery type: Lithium-ion

Battery voltage (V): 310

Battery weight (Kg):50

Total System Output kW (hp_ps): 264 (354_359)

Target 0-100 km/h (sec.): below 5

Brussels, Belgium - Lexus will unveil the hybrid version of its all-new LC luxury coupe at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The LC 500h is equipped with Lexus’ next generation hybrid powertrain, the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, providing more performance, enhanced driving pleasure and greater efficiency.

The LC was first revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Its styling, performance and craftsmanship position the vehicle as one of Lexus’ flagship models. The LC also utilizes Lexus’ new architecture that promises enhanced dynamic capability.

Inspired by the acclaimed LF-LC concept that debuted in 2012, the LC represents a shift in Lexus’ engineering processes and design ideologies, and marks the beginning of a new phase for the Lexus brand. Its outstanding visual appeal has been unanimously praised and recognized by professionals who granted LC two EyesOn Design awards for Best Production Car and Best Interior Design at the 2016 NAIAS.

Lexus will also display the LF-FC concept at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. LF-FC is a visionary new vehicle that offers a peek into the design and technology direction of Lexus’ future flagship sedan. Initially revealed at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the LF-FC is powered by a high output fuel cell system. It also features an advanced touchless human machine interface as well as automated driving technologies.

The Lexus Press Conference will take place on March 1 at 11:30 at the Lexus stand (number 4211) in Hall 4, Palexpo

Detroit, Michigan, USA - The Lexus LC 500 was named 2016 EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Production Car and EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Interior Design at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on Tuesday, January 12.

The NAIAS 2016 EyesOn Design Awards honor the best production and concept vehicles making their worldwide auto show debut at NAIAS. The awards are selected by active and retired design heads of automotive manufacturers and transportation design chairs from top art schools.

Designed by Lexus Design in Toyota City, Japan, the LC 500 represents the future direction of exhilarating and progressive design for Lexus. The Lexus designers were challenged to work closely with engineers to take the LF-LC show car and make it a reality. They were seeking new ways to redefine the Lexus design style with dynamic design and advanced technology, yet remain within reach for luxury buyers.

“I am so honored to receive the EyesOn Design awards for best interior design and design excellence for the LC 500 from our designer peers,” said Tadao Mori, chief designer of the LC 500. “The LC 500 is a clear result of the passion, hard work and collaboration between the designers and engineers for the future chapter of Lexus.”

MONDAY, JAN 11, 2016

AKIO TOYODA

LEXUS CHIEF BRANDING OFFICER

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION PRESIDENT

Detroit, Michigan, USA - Good afternoon and thank you for joining us!

This is my first time speaking at a Lexus Press Conference here in Detroit.

Hopefully my English will be ok for you.

I’m told I have a slight accent, you know, kind of like Sophia Vergara.

But the one language I do speak fluently … is car.

I really do love cars!

Always have.

Always will.

In fact, when I was a little boy I wanted to grow up to be a taxi driver.

Instead… I’m doing this!

But it’s why I trained to become a master test driver as you saw in the video. I don’t want to sit behind a desk. I want to sit behind the wheel, because that’s how I can best advise my team. That’s how I can help create cars for people who love them as passionately as I do.

And that’s why I take a hands-on role in producing the cars you have seen recently from Lexus, and will see today.

But in many ways, all of you have also had a direct role in creating these cars. It’s true!

Perhaps some of you will recall the talk we had at Pebble Beach in 2011?

You had some very good questions and candid comments for me about Lexus!

I actually happen to have a few with me. Here's a good one: “My impression is that Lexus cars are well made but boring to drive.” Here’s another: “Lexus should clearly define their brand” And finally: “Lexus is at a crossroads.”

Those were some strong opinions! And honestly, I want to thank you for them, because I really took them to heart. I was determined to make sure we became a more emotional brand, and that the words ‘boring’ and ‘Lexus’ never showed up in the same sentence again!

So it was just after Pebble Beach that I decided to take direct responsibility for the brand. I also decided to form Lexus International as an independent company, a company that would be more imaginative, with its own design, engineering, and marketing resources.

Since then, we’ve introduced many exciting new cars and emotional concepts. 4 years later, I can confidently say that this is a brave new Lexus, with a new commitment to amazing products and experiences.

We don’t want to make cars to simply fill a category. We want to make cars to fill people’s hearts. Cars that are exhilarating in every way, inside, outside, and under the hood. We also want to make cars that push the limits of technology. Cars that help improve the world we live in.

Today, I am pleased to introduce, for the first time here in North America, the Lexus LF-FC concept, the luxury fuel cell sedan of the future.

Building on our proven fuel cell technology, with this Lexus concept, we hope to achieve a total of… zero. That’s right: zero! Zero emissions. Zero dependence on oil. And with its advanced automated driving features, our long-term goal is to reduce accidents to zero. All this, with zero compromise on performance and design.

In fact our commitment is to have a fuel cell car in the Lexus line-up around 2020.

So if that’s our view of tomorrow. What about today?

In 2012, we debuted the LF-LC concept right here in Detroit. And again, many of you had strong opinions, but this time thankfully they were good ones!

When we designed the LF-LC concept, it was to showcase the future Lexus design. We had no intention of turning it into a production car, but your positive reaction as well as the reaction of our customers, changed our minds. We listened, and we made it real.

The car I’m about to show you is the result of the combined passion of our engineers and designers who worked together to turn the LF-LC into reality. As you know, engineers and designers, they don’t always get along, but this project was completely different.

Everyone, engineers included, wanted to make this car as close as possible to the design concept, with the most dynamic driving performance since LFA.

Thanks to Chief Engineer Sato and Chief Designer Mori, the teams worked as one, and what they created is truly amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the all new Lexus LC 500.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this LC 500 is what a more emotional Lexus looks like to me and it’s also what it sounds like and I hope you will agree, that it is anything but boring!

It will arrive in showrooms next year and having driven this car many times during prototype testing I can personally assure you it is very sugoi or as you say here in the states, awesome!

So once again, thank you for your time and your input, and for helping us make the Lexus brand that I personally love so much, everything it can and will be! Toyoda might be my last name, but believe me, Lexus is my middle name!

And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is just the beginning.

Thank you very much!

• The coupe’s styling, performance, and craftsmanship help position the vehicle as one of Lexus’ flagship models
• LC 500 utilizes the brand’s new architecture that promises enhanced dynamic capability and performance
• A symbol of an evolving vehicle development culture that embraces heightened collaboration between Design and Engineering teams

Brussels, Belgium - When the Lexus LF-LC Concept debuted at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, the press, loyal customers, and enthusiasts wondered if the concept’s arresting styling and dramatic proportions could ever evolve into a production 2+2 coupe. Today, four years after the debut of the breakthrough concept that inspired it, Lexus has revealed the all-new LC 500 luxury coupe. This provocative, athletic flagship coupe makes the strongest statement yet about the brand’s future product direction.

The past five years have seen Lexus evolve rapidly with the creation of the luxury brand’s globally-focused organization, Lexus International. Exciting new models involving elevated levels of emotional styling and dynamic driving characteristics such as NX, RC, and IS have also helped propel the brand’s shift with consumers.

Akio Toyoda has been at the centre of the Lexus global expansion, personally driving a heightened level of collaboration between design, engineering and marketing teams to help build a luxury brand better suited to meet the needs of the next generation of consumers. “The LC 500 has been an important product for Lexus and me personally,” said Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer and Master Driver for Lexus. “A few years ago, we decided to guide the future of the brand with products that had more passion and distinction in the luxury market. This flagship luxury coupe’s proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brands’ emotional direction, and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal globally.”

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING TEAMS UNITED

Beyond its styling and impactful performance, the new LC 500 serves as a symbol of the achievement that can result from heightened collaboration between design and engineering groups, and their commitment to help overcome each other’s hurdles. When Akio Toyoda challenged these development groups to produce this special car, it meant surpassing many manufacturing, design, material, and dynamic obstacles that could typically compromise a vehicle’s targets or design vision.

The LC 500 was driven by a strong, appealing fundamental design target (LF-LC), and engineering teams worked tirelessly to find new solutions to maintain as much of the concept in the production car as possible. Likewise, vehicle designers were very involved from the earliest stages of the dynamic development process to understand the engineering targets and collaborate with design viewpoints and potential solutions. With LC 500, additional levels of prototype vehicle build also allowed both teams to better study design or engineering ideas and refine key elements.

For the Lexus organization, the LC 500 project became much more than simply the development of a new coupe. The LC 500, with the shift in engineering processes and design ideologies it represents, symbolizes the beginning of a new phase for the Lexus brand. “Design and engineering sides worked together on issues and obstacles that were overcome one by one. I feel we achieved something greater than simply preserving the spirit of the concept’s design” said Chief Engineer Koji Sato.

EXTERIOR DESIGN

At first glance, it becomes apparent that the engineering and design team’s collaboration was highly successful considering how much of the LF-LC’s design ideology the team was able to transfer into the new LC 500. The new production model shares many of the key design elements, proportions and visual dynamism of the concept car that inspired it. The LC 500’s visual appeal is defined by an athletic aerodynamic shape, with sensual curves, emotional forms, an available flowing carbon-fibre roof (glass roof standard), creating a low, wide imposing stance that come together for a highly functional, passionate package.

The LC 500’s front fascia features a powerful interpretation of Lexus’ signature “spindle” grille, bordered by chrome on three sides and a radical new 3D mesh design that varies its visual tension. The “L”-shaped daytime running lights rest below a new — Triple LED headlamp unit specially designed to include one of the industry’s thinnest projectors to enable a low hood with a short front overhang.

Functional venting also plays into the LC 500’s exterior design to help improve aerodynamic stability and cooling. The car’s athletic profile is characterized by its fast, sloped roofline, its wind-cutting silhouette, a long 2,870 mm wheelbase with compact front 920 mm and rear 970mm overhangs and low hood height. The sexy curves and flowing lines maintain a consistent tension in sheetmetal through to the rear end that features slimly designed, multi-layered tail lamps with a unique lighting effect that helps convey a sequential L motif. A rear diffuser and available active rear spoiler also help manage airflow during performance driving. It rides on machined cast aluminium 20-in. or available 21-in. forged aluminium wheels.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The interior design of the LC 500 is influenced by the dynamic luxury theme of the exterior with a layout that is both cockpit-focused and elegant. The coupe’s driving position was calibrated to invite spirited, sporting driving, and help develop easier confidence with a more intuitive control layout. In fact, for LC 500, the driver’s hip point was engineered to be as close as possible to the vehicle’s Cg (Centre of gravity) where feedback from the car is the most communicative to the driver. The front seats offer excellent support and comfort for long drives while available sport seats offer additional bolstering and lateral support during cornering.

Lexus engineers put considerable effort into creating an engaging yet seductive atmosphere for the driver, focusing on details such as the size and angle of the steering wheel, the feel and positioning of magnesium alloy paddle shifters, and available supple leather and Alcantara seating surfaces. The LC 500’s exquisite door panels, centre console and dash pad structures feature elements of Lexus’ world-renowned, detail-obsessed Takumi craftsmanship in their finish.

“At an early stage, the designers collaborated with the engineers to understand their image for the LC 500’s driving dynamics, and they incorporated this into the design,” said Tadao Mori, the chief designer of the LC 500. “For example, we gave serious consideration to where the driver’s eyes would focus, and designed the surface shape in that area to help support a driver’s mindset. This project was one of the first times that designers were closely involved in the dynamic engineering development so we could understand the driving goals and support with the car’s design.”

CHASSIS

In helping to drive the future of the Lexus brand, the mission for LC 500 was to offer a dynamic driving experience and character unlike any Lexus vehicle prior to it. The pursuit of a sharper, more refined driving experience became the mission for the development team who also sought to maintain a superior Lexus ride quality befitting a flagship luxury sport coupe.

The LC 500 is the first Lexus to use the brand’s all-new, premium rear-wheel-drive luxury platform that does not share with any current Lexus models and is part of the new corporate global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA-L). The underpinnings of this new coupe will become the blueprint for the company’s future front-engine/rear-wheel-drive vehicles. In an effort to sharpen the car’s handling, the LC 500’s engineers focused on the platform’s fundamentals by placing most of the mass, including the engine and the occupants, in a position more centralized and lower in the chassis to improve the centre of gravity.

Internally, Lexus engineers referred to this menu of mass-arranging tactics as the “inertia spec”. The driver hip and heel points have been lowered, wheels 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. The LC 500 also relies on run-flat tires to improve packaging, reduce weight (thanks to no spare), and help shorten overhangs in the interest of dynamic targets. The 12-volt battery has been relocated to the trunk as part of the mission to redistribute weight.

Other mass management measures include the available carbon fibre roof, aluminium door skins mounted to the carbon fibre door inner structure, and a composite trunk floor. The LC 500 also represents the Lexus brand’s most intensive use of high-strength steel. This provides enhanced rigidity, while reducing—and ideally positioning—vehicle mass to optimize dynamics. As a result, the LC 500 is very balanced with a nearly ideal front/rear weight distribution of 52/48.

To help achieve the level of chassis performance targeted for this new coupe, Lexus engineered the stiffest unibody the brand has ever produced. For LC 500, the strategic use of lightweight, high-strength steel helps make for a high degree of torsional rigidity that is more resistant to twisting forces than the exotic, carbon fibre-intensive LFA supercar. The platform design maintains a consistent level of resistance to flexural forces and stiffness across the vehicle’s wheelbase to help create consistent, predictable handling behaviour, and sharper steering responses. Special braces in the engine compartment (usually a more twist-prone part of the chassis), the adoption of stiff aluminium front suspension towers, and the addition of a ring structure near the rear fenders are all measures that help further bolster the strength of key chassis structures.

Particular attention was devoted to the LC 500’s multilink suspension system. Double ball joints on the upper and lower control arms allow for control of the smallest movements from the driver inputs and road conditions. Beyond sharing workload, a dual ball joint arrangement helps optimize suspension geometry to increase wheel control and create a more precise steering response with better initial effort. To help reduce unsprung mass and improve suspension response, all but one of the control arms are made of lightweight forged aluminium. Providing the grip on the show prototype car are Michelin Sport tires: 245/40RF21 up front and 275/35RF21 at the rear. When all the handling elements come together, LC 500 becomes a world-class luxury sports coupe that exhibits razor-sharp reflexes, exceptional handling balance and rock-solid stability. This all-new platform will continue to undergo continuous improvement and enhancement throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.

Said Sato: “We spent more than triple the usual amount of R&D time to pursue linear steering and to find the sweet spot for road contact feel. We also focused our efforts on suspension rigidity and enhancing geometry. Thanks to advancements in product engineering, we are now at a world-class level for suspension rigidity, and performance when lateral g’s are applied.”

POWERTRAIN

The power delivery to the rear wheels for LC 500 is handled by a new, very well matched set of components that maximize output to the wheels. The heart of the new LC 500 is derived from the proven, high-revving 5.0-liter V8 that is found in the RC F and GS F. The naturally aspirated V8 was selected for its smooth, linear throttle response and emotional engine sound. The all-aluminium, 32-valve V8’s output targets 467 HP and 389 lb.-ft. of torque. The new engine is built for durability with lightweight, high-strength forged connecting rods and titanium valves that allow the engine to flourish at high rpm. The engine in the LC 500 uses a dual intake inlet that helps improve breathing and allow the engine to produce its fantastic sound. This naturally aspirated engine makes an ideal pairing to a balanced sports coupe with its linear power delivery that allows easier control and exhilaration behind the wheel.

The LC 500’s special exhaust sound-control valves activate during start-up, helping to provide a robust growl when coming to life. During acceleration, a Sound Generator enhances the engine’s raucous melody into an aural thunder that helps distinguish the LC 500 in its competitive segment.

Helping power transfer to the rear wheels is a newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission—the first ever in a luxury automobile—with shift times rivalling those of a dual-clutch transmission. The component is smaller and lighter than some current 8-speed transmissions. The wide bandwidth of shifting afforded by 10 closely spaced gears is ideal for all forms of driving, providing an optimal gear in all conditions. This transmission is matched to a new electric control system with software that helps anticipate the driver’s inputs by monitoring acceleration, braking and lateral g forces.

The new transmission is just one key element in a vehicle that has had all of its dynamic control elements such as power application, braking, and steering tuned to operate rhythmically in sport driving conditions. Drivers will feel the controlled balance between the quick, smooth shifting actions, the application of linear engine power, and the deceleration afforded by 6-piston brake calipers.

All of the platform and drivetrain engineering helped endow the LC 500 with performance and agility uncommon for a four-person coupe; the vehicle targets a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 4.5 seconds.

INTERIOR ELECTRONICS

This flagship coupe will debut the 2017 Lexus Multimedia package that will feature updated, faster, and more flexible software enabling future enhancements and a graphic user interface. Occupants will also be treated to an exceptional audio experience inside the cabin: in addition to the available audiophile-worthy Mark Levinson audio package, a new premium Pioneer audio system comes as standard equipment. Pioneer’s sound engineers worked in collaboration with LC 500 body and cabin designers to enhance interior sound performance within the cabin, studying the acoustic environment and driving structural changes to enhance sound performance.

The LC 500 will also boast Lexus’ renowned safety technology, Lexus Safety System +, which integrates several of Lexus's active safety technologies: the Pre-Collision System (PCS) helps prevent and mitigate collisions; Lane Keep Assist (LKA) helps prevent vehicles from departing from their lanes; Automatic High Beam (AHB) helps ensure optimal forward visibility during night-time driving, and All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (All-speed DRCC).

As part of a multi-faceted approach to active safety, the Lexus Safety System + package combines millimetre-wave radar with a camera, achieving high reliability and performance.

SPECIFICATIONS

Horsepower: 467 hp_473 DIN hp/PS @ 7,100

Torque: 389 lb-ft_527 Nm @ 4,800

Transmission: 10 speed Automatic

Seating capacity: 4

Overall length: 4,760 mm

Width: 1,920 mm

Height: 1,345 mm

Wheelbase: 2,870 mm

Driven Wheels: Rear Wheel Drive

Overhang Front: 920 mm – Rear: 970 mm

Wheel size (front and rear): 1. 21 inches / 2. 20 inches / 3. 20 inches

Tyre size 1. Fr: 245/40 RF21, Rr: 275/35RF 21 / 2. Fr: 245/45 RF20, Rr: 275/40RF 20 / 3. Fr: 245/45 RF20, Rr:275/40 RF20

0 – 60 mph: Under 4.5 seconds

Brussels, Belgium - The exciting new Lexus LC 500 luxury sports coupe wore MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tyres at its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today. For the first time, Michelin engineers deployed a new hybrid sidewall technology that allows the tire to maintain its run-flat capabilities and superior handling performance while also reducing the tire’s overall mass and rolling resistance.

Available on the all-new Lexus LC 500 model, the specially tuned MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tyres were designed to contribute significantly to handling and performance. During an intensive development period, the project included more than 1,200 prototype tyres and countless hours of testing at Michelin facilities in Greenville, S.C., and Ladoux, France, as well as Higashifuji proving ground and the Japanese Automobile Research Institute in Shirosato, Japan.

“Michelin’s global development team worked very closely with the Lexus team to develop a Pilot Super Sport that helps meet the high performance and safety needs of the Lexus LC 500,” said Thom Roach, vice president of original equipment marketing, Michelin North America. “Owners will enjoy the peace of mind that Michelin run-flat technology offers without giving up the quiet cabin and comfortable ride that Lexus owners value.”

Exclusively for the North American International Auto Show, Michelin designed a concept version of the Pilot Super Sport featuring its Premium Touch® technology on the sidewall of the tire. The special tire incorporates elements from Lexus’ brand design language to enhance the beauty of the LC 500 when on display.Premium Touch® uses a proprietary mold-engraving technology to produce superior aesthetic contrast and premium velvet texture.

The tire sizes for the Lexus LC 500 are 245/40R21 for the front and 275/35R21 for the rear.