LC500 Rear Wing – Function or Just Form?
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Lead Lap
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LC500 Rear Wing – Function or Just Form?
There’s always been debate about whether the rear wing on the Lexus LC500 really serves a purpose or if it’s mostly for looks. Considering the car weighs around 4,500 pounds and isn’t exactly a lightweight track car, it’s fair to question how much difference a deployable wing actually makes. The newly released video uses aerodynamic software to show how air moves around the LC and what the active rear wing is actually doing at speed. It gives some visual context to something that’s often dismissed as just a styling element.
I’m also including a Lexus article from 2022 and video that cover the carbon fiber rear wing used on the Inspiration Series. That piece is more of a continuation of the LC story, highlighting the different fixed carbon fiber wing and the engineering behind it. Together, they add some perspective to the discussion around function versus form on this car.
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Source:
https://newsroom.lexus.eu/unique-aer...lagship-coupe/
I’m also including a Lexus article from 2022 and video that cover the carbon fiber rear wing used on the Inspiration Series. That piece is more of a continuation of the LC story, highlighting the different fixed carbon fiber wing and the engineering behind it. Together, they add some perspective to the discussion around function versus form on this car.
UNIQUE AERONAUTICAL PARTNERSHIP INSPIRED NEW REAR WING FOR LEXUS LC FLAGSHIP COUPE
With the principal aim of winning air races, Lexus and Muroya worked together to develop championship-winning aircraft using the technology, craftsmanship and experience from Lexus. The Lexus design and engineering team has helped develop flight technologies in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and ergonomics.
The collaboration has produced notable innovations, including a control column grip for Muroya’s cockpit that incorporates Lexus’ sensitivity technologies and a new turning manoeuvre for the aircraft based on aerodynamic data from Lexus.
Race pilot Muroya commented: “It was with strong support from Lexus that I became the first Japanese Red Bull Air Race champion back in 2017 and our collaboration continues to deliver real mutual benefit.”
NEW CARBON-FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC REAR WING FOR LEXUS LC
For 2022, the Lexus LC flagship coupe will sport a new carbon-fibre reinforced plastic rear wing developed together with Muroya. This lightweight, highly rigid and sleek wing maximises aerodynamic performance and makes for more agile driving. The design draws its inspiration from the wing-tip vortices that influence the design of winglets on jet aircraft.
Lexus Takumi master driver, Yoshiaki Ito: “The winglets sharpened the LC’s handling, but without using drag-creating downforce, resulting in better performance without sacrifices.”
AERODYNAMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
During demanding test flights with Yoshihide Muroya, Lexus engineers analysed his plane’s drag-reducing winglets and the associated vortices, that are normally problematic. In the Lexus wind tunnel, engineers found that vehicle dynamics on the ground could be improved by turning the wing upside down and adding winglets.
CRAFTED IN CARBON FIBRE
Once computer and wind tunnel tests were completed, Lexus’ elite team of designers, engineers and Takumi artisans set to work milling an aluminium prototype, which, like Yoshi’s race plane wings, was later produced in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRC). Laminated in carbon-fibre and epoxy resin with a hollow core, after baking in an autoclave, the woven texture is visible through the lacquered finish. Long and lean, the LC’s new wing is nearly 2 metres wide, yet very durable and warp resistant.
- Long-term Lexus collaboration with world champion air race pilot Yoshihide “Yoshi” Muroya enables exchange of automotive and aeronautical innovations
- The unique partnership has already produced advances in aerodynamics and inspired a new rear carbon fibre wing for the LC Flagship Coupe
- Available as part of the new Lexus Bespoke Build programme
With the principal aim of winning air races, Lexus and Muroya worked together to develop championship-winning aircraft using the technology, craftsmanship and experience from Lexus. The Lexus design and engineering team has helped develop flight technologies in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and ergonomics.
The collaboration has produced notable innovations, including a control column grip for Muroya’s cockpit that incorporates Lexus’ sensitivity technologies and a new turning manoeuvre for the aircraft based on aerodynamic data from Lexus.
Race pilot Muroya commented: “It was with strong support from Lexus that I became the first Japanese Red Bull Air Race champion back in 2017 and our collaboration continues to deliver real mutual benefit.”
NEW CARBON-FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC REAR WING FOR LEXUS LC
For 2022, the Lexus LC flagship coupe will sport a new carbon-fibre reinforced plastic rear wing developed together with Muroya. This lightweight, highly rigid and sleek wing maximises aerodynamic performance and makes for more agile driving. The design draws its inspiration from the wing-tip vortices that influence the design of winglets on jet aircraft.
Lexus Takumi master driver, Yoshiaki Ito: “The winglets sharpened the LC’s handling, but without using drag-creating downforce, resulting in better performance without sacrifices.”
AERODYNAMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
During demanding test flights with Yoshihide Muroya, Lexus engineers analysed his plane’s drag-reducing winglets and the associated vortices, that are normally problematic. In the Lexus wind tunnel, engineers found that vehicle dynamics on the ground could be improved by turning the wing upside down and adding winglets.
CRAFTED IN CARBON FIBRE
Once computer and wind tunnel tests were completed, Lexus’ elite team of designers, engineers and Takumi artisans set to work milling an aluminium prototype, which, like Yoshi’s race plane wings, was later produced in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRC). Laminated in carbon-fibre and epoxy resin with a hollow core, after baking in an autoclave, the woven texture is visible through the lacquered finish. Long and lean, the LC’s new wing is nearly 2 metres wide, yet very durable and warp resistant.
https://newsroom.lexus.eu/unique-aer...lagship-coupe/
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Joined: Apr 2025
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From: TN
There’s always been debate about whether the rear wing on the Lexus LC500 really serves a purpose or if it’s mostly for looks. Considering the car weighs around 4,500 pounds and isn’t exactly a lightweight track car, it’s fair to question how much difference a deployable wing actually makes. The newly released video uses aerodynamic software to show how air moves around the LC and what the active rear wing is actually doing at speed. It gives some visual context to something that’s often dismissed as just a styling element.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 766
Likes: 591
From: ATL
Of course the active rear wing would offer some benefit, I knew this before I even watched the video. The manufacturers of 2 of the greatest cars, ever sold to the public, would not make a purely cosmetic wing. Having pushed my LC up around 150 mph on many occasions during road trips, I can tell you the rear end of the LC is extremely confident!
Great video, too...
Great video, too...
Last edited by Timado404; Feb 23, 2026 at 06:12 PM.
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