When Lexus introduced the LF-LC Blue last week at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, it wasn’t just the colors that were changed from the original concept — let’s take some quotes from the press release:

New to LF-LC and derived from project LFA, LF-LC leverages Lexus’ extensive in-house experience in marrying carbon fibre and aluminum alloy materials to achieve a light body mass.

There was also this passage about the new hybrid engine powering the LF-LC:

Dubbed Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive, the system features a powerful and efficient Atkinson cycle combustion engine which is mated to an advanced high-energy battery pack. The high-energy battery pack is designed to deliver greater power from a smaller battery than those currently used in Lexus’ range of hybrid vehicles. Combined, the LF-LC Blue concept’s petrol/electric hybrid powertrain develops 372kW (500hp) – the most of any Lexus hybrid.

There were rumors of both the LFA carbon fiber technology and the 500hp hybrid engine when this LF-LC II concept was announced in August, but seeing it in an official press release is a whole other story.

When the red LF-LC was first introduced in January, it was described as a “design exercise”, and Lexus officials stressed that there were no plans for manufacture. However, after the strong public reception and two autoshow awards, the model appears to have been green lit for production.

Quoting from a recent (translated) Autoweek.nl interview with Lexus Europe CEO, Paul van der Burgh:

“By all the positive reactions to the LF-LC, we want that car but eager to production. That is not as easy as it seems. The special design of the concept car we want to preserve, but that means the project is a major challenge for the engineers. And that means we need time.”

Van der Burgh continues: “We want the LF-LC production car full with advanced technology. Not only hybrid technology, but also constructed with special materials. So it will take a few years before the project is completed. The fact that we are so committed on this project, automatically means that projects that have less priority will be delayed.”

By emphasizing that the production LF-LC will incorporate the LFA’s advanced materials, Lexus has started to set expectations for the new model — considering the supercar pedigree, carbon fiber and the 500hp hybrid powertrain, the new coupe will not be cheap.

It’s difficult to find a direct competitor — the Mercedes CL, BMW 6-series and Aston Martin Vantage are 2+2 coupes, but are all over the map with size and pricing. It’s possible that Lexus may follow a similar strategy to BMW’s 6-series coupe, with a sub-$100k USD base model and a 500+hp performance model over $100k, but at this point it’s just speculation.

(Pure fantasy, but can you picture an LC F with the LFA V10?)

It's serious Lexus LF-LC Concept with. This is evident not only from the words of the European CEO Paul van der Burgh, also at the Sydney Motor Show, the car again. For the occasion, the Lexus concept another color.

At the Paris Motor Show, the Lexus LF-LC can not be seen, but for the Auto Salon Syndey has the brand of the car rolled out of the shed. In Detroit, the concept car has a red color, in the Australian metropolis-he has a beautiful blue color. The Lexus LF-LC Concept at NAIAS also won the prize for best car of the show.

In Paris, we spoke with Paul van der Burgh, CEO of Lexus Europe. The call came on the LF-LC Concept: "By all the positive reactions to the LF-LC, we want that car but eager to production. That is not as easy as it seems. The special design of the concept car we want to preserve, but that makes the project is a major challenge for the engineers. And that means we need time. "

Van der Burgh continues: "We want the LF-LC production car full stop with advanced technology. Not only hybrid technology, but also constructions with special materials. So it takes anyway a few years before the project is completed. The fact that we are so committed on this project, automatically means that projects that have less priority in the longer be delayed. you can engineers because once committed. "

Our full interview with Paul van der Burgh can be read in Autoweek 43, from Wednesday, October 24 in stores.

Compared to its German rivals the Lexus product portfolio doesn’t have much depth and lacks any vehicles with true sex appeal, though that’s about to change says marketing boss Brian Bolain.

When asked about the timing of the close rollout of two coupe concepts, the LF-CC and LF-LC, Bolain responded that the focus on two-doors is, “very intentional,” admitting that right now the company sees its absence in those segments as, “our biggest deficiency.”

While Bolain extolls the virtues of the Lexus brand, ranging from everything to quality and reliability, to customer service and luxuriously appointed interiors, he admits that two areas Lexus is currently lacking in are design and performance. “How do you quickly add an emotional element to a brand,” he asks? “With coupes.”

Commenting that since the SC was retired in 2010, apart from the lofty and limited LFA, Lexus has no coupe in its lineup. “We definitely have a void there today,” he says, commenting that without such a car (or cars) it’s “hard to be taken seriously from a performance perspective.”

Pointing towards the future, Bolain highlights the LF-CC and the LF-LC Concepts, the former a strong indication of the next-generation IS, as well as new coupe model that could wear the RC badge. As for the latter, if approved for production (which it’s all but certain to), it would sit at the upper scale of the Lexus brand, as a serious luxury and performance machine. In fact, Lexus recently announced it would be powered by a “next-generation” hybrid drivetrain capable of producing 500 hp.

How Lexus plans to achieve that output remains a mystery though the next-gen hybrid system could be one that finally makes the switch to more advanced lithium-ion technology, which produces more power from a smaller and lighter package. Bolain confirmed that the LF-LC isn’t yet confirmed for production, though the, “outcry has been tremendous.” Bolain also says that while Lexus has, “no timeline for the introduction of lithium ion,” the brand hopes to have it confirmed for when (and if) the LF-LC coupe makes it into production.

Two-door planning at Lexus does, however, stop with these two cars says Bolain. When asked if the Toyota luxury brand might consider an additional model, perhaps to compete with cars like the Mercedes SLK or BMW Z4, he commented that Lexus has no plans to, “flood the market with coupes.” If the LF-CC and LF-LC both make it to production, he says, “we’ve got good coverage.”

Lexus says the Japanese brand’s lack of a rich design heritage is a huge advantage over its German rivals that are generally bound by traditional values.

Speaking to CarAdvice in Melbourne yesterday, Lexus’ Californian-based senior creative designer, Edward Lee, a former Audi designer who joined Lexus in 2007, said design flexibility is one of Lexus’ strong points, which the company has only recently began to exploit with new models such as the GS and concept cars like the LF-LC and LF-CC.

“Coming from a brand (Audi) that had that strong history of design and background, my first reaction (at Lexus) was, I wish there was more structure, but as time went by and as we started to develop the Lexus design together and moved it towards more emotional and expressive design, I realised this (freedom) was a true advantage”



While manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz adhere to and accommodate over 125 years of design tradition, with BMW and Audi not so far beyond, Lexus is taking full advantage of its relatively young 22 years in the business by redefining itself.

“We can be more explorative, more daring, find the right answers that define our history. We can be more flexible.”

When asked why Lexus had in the past stuck to a more conservative and somewhat Japanese-inspired design language while the likes of BMW were daring enough to create cars such as the bold X6 coupe-like SUV, Mr Lee said that times are changing and that Lexus is now focused on customers that are really interested in what Lexus has to say about its cars.



“We said in the past that maybe we weren’t taking as many chances but right now Lexus is in the era of taking this movement towards more definite design tastes. We are hungry for innovation and we are hungry for making a statement of passionate design.”

Lee was the lead exterior designer of the Lexus LF-LC, which was one of the highlights of last month’s Sydney Motorshow and generated massive crowds at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Lee is adamant that Lexus must stay with of the ever-changing customer tastes in car design. Stressing that customers’ preference in car designs has changed over the last few years.



“I can say maybe a couple of years ago, customers desired what their neighbours would buy, but now customers are becoming more confident in the choices they are making and the taste that they have, they are really going to look out for products that cater to their taste. That’s the same direction that Lexus is moving in.”

Despite the emphasis on new and innovative design processes taking place at Lexus, Mr Lee admitted that he has a love for further perfecting an existing design.

“For me, because of my background starting from a company like Audi with that history, I love making that sort of same designs over and over again and perfecting what has already been perfected.”



Comparing the design language and mission of a brand like Audi to Lexus, Mr Lee said the difference is considerable.

“Audi design is looking for something that is new two percent of the time and 98 percent of the time it’s about brand identity and refinement where as Lexus is the complete opposite of that. We are looking for something new, fresh new ideas and we don’t try to hammer it so much to the point where we are losing the emotional aspect of our design.”

Mr Lee was in Melbourne to talk to students at RMIT’s automotive design school and help launch Lexus Australia’s design scholarship.