Lexus LC500

[Payman]

The windshield looks way too small compared to the rest of the glass on the car, especially in the first picture.

Agree. The windshield looks 5-6" higher than the side glass.

[Cookie Monster]

^ I absolutely hate how the side windows are so much lower than the windshield. The entire A pillar area is a clusterfuck.

[cawimmer430]

I don't know, I kinda dig the interior.

I'm not sure if its the colors or the design. It's always best to see these things in person to make a final call, but from the photo the interior design looks rather "bland" or "tries to hard" in my book. I also don't think that a beige-brown interior is fitting for the emotionally red exterior. The cabin needs to be like black or dark grey for more effect IMO.

[Cookie Monster]

I'm not sure if its the colors or the design. It's always best to see these things in person to make a final call, but from the photo the interior design looks rather "bland" or "tries to hard" in my book. I also don't think that a beige-brown interior is fitting for the emotionally red exterior. The cabin needs to be like black or dark grey for more effect IMO.

So is it bland or trying too hard? Kinda contradicting yourself...

[Payman]

So is it bland or trying too hard? Kinda contradicting yourself...

I get what he's saying. It's bland in the lack of contrasting materials. Beige leather everywhere. Trying too hard in the different shapes and designs.

[cawimmer430]

So is it bland or trying too hard? Kinda contradicting yourself...

That interior from a design perspective doesn't excite or sway me. It comes across as underwhelming, or bland, if you will.

Keep in mind that these are my observations based on a photo from a particular angle. In real life maybe I'll be blown away and actually like it.

[12,000 RPM]

So now the argument is which one is faster not at WOT?  That's just throttle programming..

You can't simulate 50% more torque at low RPMs through "throttle programming" man. An engine can't give what it doesn't have.

[giant_mtb]

Cleaning that grille is probably about as annoying as cleaning these horrible, horrible vents GM insisted on creating.

[MrH]

You can't simulate 50% more torque at low RPMs through "throttle programming" man. An engine can't give what it doesn't have.

So then the lexus is at full throttle...?

[68_427]

From Autoblog:

I drove a few laps in the Lexus and then followed those up with the benchmarked cars: BMW 650i, Lexus GS F, and Maserati GranTurismo. Dynamically, the Lexus didn't seem too bad. It was a bit soft, with over-assisted steering, but the chassis gave good feedback and it seemed to handle the parking lot bumps well. The V8 sounded gorgeous, but that 10-speed auto was very new and quite rough, with harsh changes and oddly spaced ratios. At the debrief, we all agreed that Sato wanted the new LC to follow in the steps of the LFA sports coupe, not its less well-received RC F.

The last event was at Willow Springs International Raceway, where the much modified Lexus prototype was now packing the latest changes to the suspension including new geometry and ball joints for the front wishbones, longer uprights, and revised air suspension settings – plus a rear steering system, which I understand will be optional for production.

It all felt much improved. I thought the rear steering required more programming work at high side forces where it seemed to fight against the car's natural balance, and that the front felt too soft. Dynamically, the competitive Porsche 911 Lexus brought along felt more at home on the track, its rear engine helping turn-in, but the LC 500 wasn't horribly outclassed and it compared really well with BMW's 6 Series.

In the next few months as the LC 500 gets near its late-spring engineering sign off, Sato's prototypes will become more like the production cars, with carbon-fiber body parts including the roof, which will reduce the prototype's weight by 330 pounds to give a curb weight of 3,968 pounds and alter the center of gravity and the handling.

[12,000 RPM]

O boy.

[SJ_GTI]

Jeebus, hard to believe it is that heavy.

[MX793]

"We wanted it to feel more like the LFA instead of the RC-F, so we built a car even heavier than the RC-F with the same powertrain."

Seriously, is Lexus using all-iron motors?

[ifcar]

Hey, a BMW 6-Series is 4,000 pounds. These are big automobiles.

[Payman]

"...but the LC 500 wasn't horribly outclassed and it compared really well with BMW's 6 Series."

Way to shoot for the stars, Lexus.

[Payman]

Hey, a BMW 6-Series is 4,000 pounds. These are big automobiles.

Yup, big GT's.

[MX793]

Hey, a BMW 6-Series is 4,000 pounds. These are big automobiles.

True, though the 6 series is based on a platform derived from the 5 and 7 series sedans.  This Lexus is supposedly on a new, bespoke platform with "extensive use of aluminum and composite materials".

[12,000 RPM]

For whatever its worth the V8 F Type is also like 4000lbs and it is only a 2 seater.

I enjoy saying "I told you so" so... I told you so

most likely will be too heavy, no stickshift, annoying powerband for the street compared to its competition.

And as great as that V8 is it puts it at a distinct disadvantage to the competition. Lets see if Lexus screws first year buyers and comes back with the 4.0TT V8 this thing should have had in the first place

[MX793]

The F Type's weight is a complete enigma to me.  It's practically all aluminum and the size of a 911.  Sure, the new ones are AWD, but it's still a tank.

[12,000 RPM]

500+ lbft = a ton of metal for reinforcement. Ironic part is reviewers seem to all agree that the slower, lighter V6 versions are the better driving cars. The V8 ones are just for laughs and penis grafts. But the market is never wrong I suppose.

[MX793]

500+ lbft = a ton of metal for reinforcement. Ironic part is reviewers seem to all agree that the slower, lighter V6 versions are the better driving cars. The V8 ones are just for laughs and penis grafts. But the market is never wrong I suppose.

Even the V6 is over 3700 lbs.

[SVT666]

500+ lbft = a ton of metal for reinforcement. Ironic part is reviewers seem to all agree that the slower, lighter V6 versions are the better driving cars. The V8 ones are just for laughs and penis grafts. But the market is never wrong I suppose.

Just because someone likes giant V8 engines does not mean they are compensating for something. 

[12,000 RPM]

Just because someone likes giant V8 engines does not mean they are compensating for something. 

In the case of the F Type that's up for debate. It makes the car worse to drive.

[SVT666]

In the case of the F Type that's up for debate. It makes the car worse to drive.

Worse to drive at super illegal speeds. The V8 improves noise, acceleration, and changes the character to a more muscle car like personality. Some people prefer that to a sports car. I like both.

[GoCougs]

4,000 lbs sounds like a lot but the GS-F has about those power and weight stats and it's getting rave reviews for the driving experience, even though it is leagues behind in all-out acceleration stats (still runs in the upper 12s though). The performance of an M5 or RS7 or E63 sounds neato but you gotta suffer through turbo lag, AWD and an add'l 300-400 lbs.

[GoCougs]

The V8 in the F-Type is supercharged and has AWD standard, and that is a lot of added weight.

[CaminoRacer]

Is the standard AWD a recent thing? Because that's lame.

[12,000 RPM]

4,000 lbs sounds like a lot but the GS-F has about those power and weight stats and it's getting rave reviews for the driving experience, even though it is leagues behind in all-out acceleration stats (still runs in the upper 12s though). The performance of an M5 or RS7 or E63 sounds neato but you gotta suffer through turbo lag, AWD and an add'l 300-400 lbs.

Oh please. Werent you just dumping on the GT350 for not being fast enough compared to its competition? I guess heavy boosted cars are OK when GM does it. Now all of a sudden you are Mr Naturally Aspirated Back Road Driving Experience. Please

[12,000 RPM]

Did someone say this thing does the quarter in 12.9

All of its German competition is deep in the 11s

For the 3700lb muscle cars straight line performance is king but for 4000lb+ luxury behemots now its all about dynamics

[Payman]

Did someone say this thing does the quarter in 12.9

All of its German competition is deep in the 11s

For the 3700lb muscle cars straight line performance is king but for 4000lb+ luxury behemots now its all about dynamics

It's got 10 gears to get through.