2018 Lexus LC500h: Engineered for a New Era

Engineering, expertise and expressive design unite in this flagship luxury coupe. LC 500h sets new standards for performance, styling, and craftsmanship.

CarAndDriver reported that the new 2018 Lexus LC500h is much more than just another hybrid from the automaker that sells a million gas-electric cars each year. Lexus LC 500 hybrid marks the debut of a new longitudinal hybrid transmission. This system includes a CVT that incorporates two electric motors and adds a conventional four-speed automatic transmission as well.

According to chief engineer Koji Sato, the main goal was to eliminate the rubber-band feel of a traditional CVT and to make throttle inputs feel more directly related to what the car is actually doing. While Lexus LC500 comes with 467 horsepower V8 engine, Lexus LC500h will come with a smaller 354 horsepower one. The internal combustion portion of the powertrain is an Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 rated at 295 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. The remaining 59 horsepower come from the larger electric motor in the Multi-Stage transmission. It needs only 4.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60mph.

Gentlemen’s Quarterly Magazine reported that the Lexus LC500h uses lightweight aluminum for the bonnet, wings, and doors. And there’s lighter weight carbon-reinforced plastic around the door. There is optional four-wheel steering, clever double-ball-join suspension and all the batteries have been spread across the floor. 52 per cent of the weight’s up front and 48 per cent’s in the rear, which makes the car pretty well balanced.

The interior is put together with weapons-grade precision. Lexus LC500h is filled with tech. It comes with dynamic radar cruise, pre-collision facilities, lane-keep assist and Mark Levinson sound system.

Despite having to wait more than a year so the buyers can buy it, it is most certain that LC500h will have all the safety, luxury, and convenience features expected in statement vehicles with price tags expected to approach $100,000.