Lexus LC

Numbers first, because with the Lexus LC they are the story: Petrol engine, 351 kW. Lexus built from 2017 to 2026, as electrification stopped being an experiment and the crossover took every market. Its designer of record is Edward Lee (LF-LC concept) / Tadao Mori (chief designer) / Pansoo Kwon (production exterior: 2013).

Where it came from

The Lexus LC (レクサス・LC, Rekusasu Eru Shī) is a grand tourer manufactured by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. Based on the 2012 LF-LC Concept, it was revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It replaced the SC, which was produced from 1991 to 2010. The LC is the first Lexus model to utilize the GA-L platform, which, along with other components, is shared with the full-size XF50 series LS sedan. According to Lexus, the name "LC" stands for "Luxury Coupe".

Under the skin

Under the skin sits Petrol engine; it is rated at 351 kW; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 1931 –. Power-to-weight lands near 182 horsepower per tonne, which is quick by any era's standard, the kind of figure a hot hatch or a sports saloon posts. The gearbox is a 10-speed Direct Shift List of Aisin transmissions#Longitudinal / Aisin AWR10L65 Automatic transmission / automatic (LC 500) / 10-speed Multi Stage Hybrid System automatic (LC 500h). The layout matters: the engine sits behind the driver and ahead of the rear axle, which puts the mass in the middle of the car and is why mid-engined cars change direction the way they do. The wheelbase is 2870 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.

In context

Where it sits in Lexus's history is not in doubt: the Lexus SC/Toyota Soarer came before it; it was built at Toyota City (Motomachi plant), Japan. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Ferrari 488, the Porsche Taycan, the Lamborghini Urus. Nearby in the Lexus catalogue sit the Lexus ES (V20) and the Lexus GS 450h.

The money

On the used market today a Lexus LC typically changes hands for $24,400–$65,000, and running it — fuel and maintenance at its age — costs about $2,955–$4,550 a year. Insurance sits around $1,860–$3,420 a year. The figures are class-level estimates from the federal record, with the formula on the methodology page; the model-year pages carry complaints, recalls and repair costs year by year.