LUXURY REDEFINED(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 85

Lexus has long realised that it needs to do something different if it's to effectively take on the premium German brands. Well, that's certainly what's it's done with this car, the LC Coupe, here lightly revised. It's come equipped to take on the luxury coupe segment's very top contenders, with drive dynamics that work on the track as well as on the highway. Plus there's styling that'll cause a stir in the High Street, a gorgeous cabin and hi-tech hybrid power if you want it.

Background word count: 135

A large, luxury coupe ought to make you feel very special indeed. This one, the Lexus LC Coupe, very definitely will. This is a large, super-luxury 2+2 that targets BMW's 8 Series as well as cars like Porsche's 911 and the Mercedes-AMG SL. It's a car that the brand hopes will change the way buyers perceive this marque. The claim is that handling will excite in the way that no Lexus (bar perhaps the LFA) ever has before. And the styling has a raw, direct feel that's a world away from previous coupes we've seen from the brand. There's a choice of V8 or V6 hybrid power and just about all the interior toys you could want. It's a desirable package, especially in this improved form that sees handling changes aimed at pleasing enthusiastic drivers.

Driving Experience word count: 397

There are two petrol engines on offer. The LC 500h variant gets a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid unit offering 354hp and uses a Multi Stage Hybrid System with an auto gearbox that now downshifts more dynamically. Alternatively, there's a LC 500 derivative under the bonnet of which beats a 5.0-litre V8, a modified version of the powerplant Lexus uses in its RC F model. In this form, it produces 464hp at 7,100rpm, so the LC doesn't want for pace. 62mph is reached in just 4.4s and if you've a stretch of unrestricted autobahn handy, the top speed is 168mph. This V8 uses a 10-speed Direct Shift auto gearbox which at mid-throttle speeds in this revised model allows engine revs to increase in the range to heighten the feeling of acceleration you get before the next gear is selected. As usual with a Lexus, there's a range of selectable driving settings - six in total - and of these, the one you're going to want to try most is 'Sport S'. This should be ideal for your favourite back road, delivered crisp, sharp responses from the adaptive suspension and that sophisticated auto paddleshift gearbox. For the latest model year, detailed adjustments have been made to suspension systems, steering, wheel hubs and engine mounts to improve responsiveness and give the driver a stronger sense of the car being planted on the road. The brake-by-wire system has been retuned for a more natural, seamless feel, and the 10-speed automatic transmission's shift control has been revised to better anticipate the driver's intentions when in D mode. Selecting the Sport S and Sport S+ drive modes produces a sportier feel with the transmission (in D mode) selecting the optimum gear for acceleration and deceleration, and performing downshifts under braking. The V8-powered version has a new Expert drive mode, suitable for track driving, which turns off the car's traction control system. In the LC 500h hybrid electric Coupe, the cells in the lithium-ion battery have increased capacity. This allows for quicker power delivery, which in turn improves responsiveness and acceleration feel. The overall result of all this should achieve a good balance of what segment buyers will be looking for. That means something sharper than you'd get in, say, a Mercedes' SL or a BMW 8 Series but a little more comfort-orientated than you'd find in, say, a Porsche 911 or a Jaguar's F-TYPE.