The Lexus LC500 & LC500h, Plus LC-F Talk

[A70TTR]

It was originally supposed to be 2022MY (2021 reveal), but they pushed it back. Ultimately it gives us more time to refine some of the newer systems on the car and ensure it's the best it can be though.

Lexus LC convertible possibly spied in production form

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/10/14/lexus-lc-convertible-spied-production-photo-shoot/

The reason the coupe weighs 4400lbs too

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[Bryster]

It was originally supposed to be 2022MY (2021 reveal), but they pushed it back. Ultimately it gives us more time to refine some of the newer systems on the car and ensure it's the best it can be though.

Will this count as a refresh?

 

[A70TTR]

completely separate model, so no

 

[Jabba]

IS-F? Maybe?

 

[A70TTR]

There has actually been high level talk about getting rid of the IS after the GS is gone interestingly enough. It would be ES (FWD/FWD Hybrid/AWD/Hybrid e-AWD) and LS (RWD/RWD Hybrid/ AWD/AWD e-AWD) and that's it. This SUV/CUV/truck craze is the worst thing ever for a car enthusiast, and we're already staring down the barrel of an EV/autonomous future

 

[Jabba]

Woowww.... Speaking from a relative standpoint, I thought the IS line actually sold well (at least here in Dallas, TX).

Interesting enough, I attended a Lexus driving event they had last summer in Forth Worth and they were pushing the LS, ES and UX really hard. I was surprised there weren't any IS cars, the one I could actually see myself buying one day.

 

[A70TTR]

Yepppp.

But yeah it doesn't sell poorly, at least relative to GS. But forecasts show it declining and we know that on average that segment is getting hit really hard, so minimizing model overlap is a focus.

 

[SupraFiend]

The future is bleak for driving enthusiasts alright. I hope someone figures out how to make a lightweight, tossable electric sports car. You can get an electric Palatov D2 now, but that thing is 100k+ and hardly mainstream. Really hoping Toyota is actually developing an electric mr2 as the rumors have suggested. I was thinking about how you could do that the other day. If one were to create an sw20 MR2 sized car with the motor and 1 battery pack in the back, it would be awesome if you could have a removable battery pack in the front for road range, but some kind of mechanism so you could drop it out at the track/autox. Street range requires a lot more battery, but tracking we can get away with less. Even better if the 2 battery packs were the same size and could be hot swapped like in an electric impact or drill. I'm ok if Toyota steals my idea, just build it!

 

[Matador]

Interesting tidbit

In 2020, the team [TGR at the Nurburgring 24hrs] will use what it has learnt through these hard experiences and aim to complete the race without any trouble by adopting a variety of new technologies, including a newly-developed V8 twin-turbo engine destined for use on future road cars such as sports cars. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will conduct activities to "refine people and refine cars" in pursuit of “making ever-better cars.”

 

[A70TTR]

4L v8 twin turbo paired to Aisin AT
~700hp+ shakedown
~650hp production
~$165k
~7:08

 

[Matador]

4L v8 twin turbo paired to Aisin AT
~700hp+ shakedown
~650hp production
~$165k
~7:08

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

4L v8 twin turbo paired to Aisin AT
~700hp+ shakedown
~650hp production
~$165k
~7:08

This will be fire. >:^) LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[Jabba]

4L v8 twin turbo paired to Aisin AT
~700hp+ shakedown
~650hp production
~$165k
~7:08

~165k damn that's more than I was predicting (140k-150k).

I'm sure it's not the lightest thing, but ~7:08 time is impressive. The engineering behind weight distribution is really impressive now-a-days.

 

[KahnBB6]

Very excited for the upcoming LC-F 4.0L TT V8! That is going to be one great machine when it launches! A very high price tag was to be expected but $165k is pretty steep.

One other thing to bring up from a bit ago:

Next gen IS will likely be the last awesome generation before everything goes hybrid/full EV, but yes it's looking good IMO. The powerplant options are nice.

As for the GS, it's is in a precarious position atm...

Is the next IS generation still slated to be tied up with Mazda and their new I-6 engine family? I hope so rather than the worrying...

There has actually been high level talk about getting rid of the IS after the GS is gone interestingly enough. It would be ES (FWD/FWD Hybrid/AWD/Hybrid e-AWD) and LS (RWD/RWD Hybrid/ AWD/AWD e-AWD) and that's it. This SUV/CUV/truck craze is the worst thing ever for a car enthusiast, and we're already staring down the barrel of an EV/autonomous future

The SUV/CUV obsession is just the second worst thing ever (the first being the threat of mass autonomous).

While it will be VERY different I *know* it's possible to make not-boring EVs though. Different of course but they can be very different experiences than numbing non driver oriented interiors with too many distracting screens in barf-inducing CUV/crossover chassis. Simplicity and driver focused could be emphasized for future EV models meant to appeal to those who don't want a crossover full of screens. Battery technology still has a way to go but it will eventually be far less limiting to high performance, recharge times (and less weighty) than what we have available today.

Don't get me wrong-- I prefer to enjoy the best gas powered enthusiast vehicles we're getting right now and over the next few years but eventually after that I find it incomprehensible that Toyota can't see a way to make driver-car EV's in the Toyota and Lexus stables that are meant to be *driven* especially as solid state battery tech improves by 2025 or so.

But I know suggestions like those are not the ones dominating high level discussions at most automakers (Porsche and Ferrari probably being among the few exceptions to current roadmap trends apart from electric drive by itself).

Anyway for now I hope the rumors of a Mazda I-6 powered RWD IS lineup come true (unless Toyota has their own badass engine planned for it!). Especially if it becomes more focused again like the 2001-2005 IS (one can dream...). And the LC-F for all it's exclusive cost will hopefully go right up against Mercedes-Benz AMGs.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

4L v8 twin turbo paired to Aisin AT
~700hp+ shakedown
~650hp production
~$165k
~7:08

I remembered something and wanted to ask you a question to follow up. You said Aisin AT. Is this an upgraded version of the 10-Speed automatic that's in the LC and the LS or is this a completely different automatic that's also built by Aisin? We can also get this out of the way that it ain't going to be a dual-clutch or a single-clutch transmission.

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