At the Detroit auto show today, Lexus unveiled an all-new luxury coupe in the form of the LC 500, a Grand Tourer to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and BMW 6 Series.
The LC 500 introduces an all-new front-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture (GA-L) that will underpin a variety of large luxury products like the upcoming redesigned LS flagship sedan. A particular focus of the chassis development was centring the mass, with as much weight centralized and lowered in order to offer the best possible centre of gravity. The driver sits lower, wheels are at the corners with shortened overhangs, the engine block is placed behind the front axle line, and the battery has been relocated to the trunk, ultimately achieving a 52/48 front/rear weight distribution. Intensive use of lightweight, high-strength steel achieves unprecedented torsional rigidity never before seen in a Lexus, "more resistant to twisting forces than the exotic, carbon-fibre-intensive LFA supercar." In the end, the stiffness of the platform and meticulous calibration of the multilink suspension should deliver another leap in handling dynamics accompanied by an engaging driving experience, without sacrificing the necessary luxury customers no doubt demand in this segment.
That powertrain is an all-aluminum, naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 producing 467 HP and 389 lb-ft of torque (originally developed for the RC F and GS F) paired with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission, which should help it achieve a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 4.5 seconds.
As the latest Lexus flagship, it will feature an updated and cutting multimedia user interface and "audiophile-worthy" stereo systems, and all the latest preventive safety driving systems under the Lexus Safety System Plus umbrella. Notable highlights of this system include: "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 nighttime driving, and All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (All-speed DRCC)."
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