Lexus LC 500h: Specifications, Equipment

The upcoming hybrid version of the LC coupe will be a full hybrid that promises efficiency and excitement.

The new Lexus LC500h announced this week is the first auto to use Lexus’ next-generation hybrid petrol-electric drivetrain, the technology inside which will flow on to future Lexus cars in the future. Which they kind of have, but not exactly to the extreme.

Known as Lexus’ Multi Stage Hybrid System, the powertrain hooks a 3.5-litre V6 engine up to an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery pack and a four-speed automatic transmission. The electric motor and engine are attached to a 4-speed automatic, located behind the hybrid transmission. That’s as compared to the regular LC 500’s 468-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 engine and ten-speed automatic transmission, which rocket the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds.

The LC 500h doesn’t have a confirmed launch date or starting price, but we’re led to believe customers can place their order towards the end of this year. Because the new system is more compact and lightweight, the 10-speed “box, electric motor and battery weigh no more than Lexus’ existing non-geared hybrid electric setup”. This will provide the four fixed ratios and the feeling of actual shifting gears – because there will be actual gears shifting. A large “spindle” grille, in Lexus lexicology, adorns the front. 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.

Although Toyota and Lexus brands popularized the concept of hybrid power, the new system in the LC500h is the first one the company has developed specifically for accentuating driving pleasure and sports performance.

The latest from Lexus is an exercise in absolute refinement, hybrid technology, and a driver-focused layout. To ensure nothing gets in the way of performance, Lexus has used carbon fiber for the roof, carbon and glass composites for the trunk lid, aluminum for the hood and door panels and carbon fiber for the door frames. Extensive use of high-tensile steel body structures improves weight distribution and increases body rigidity. The multilink suspension was lightened to reduce sprung weight as much as possible.

Onboard, the LC 500h is fitted with your typical Lexus safety features, like pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assists.