Lexus offers up an official image of the LF-Lc concept.
Well, Lexus has made it official. Pics of the maker’s new concept car inadvertently leaked out as Road & Track magazine got ready to release its new issue. So the maker decided the rest of us deserved a closer look and sent over the first official shots of the Lexus LF-Lc show car, rather than the close-up teaser that the Toyota luxury division had previously released.
While we’re now able to get a good look at the 2-door 4-seater Lexus still isn’t providing any pertinent details, hoping we’ll still show up at the maker’s Detroit Auto Show news conference next month.
Nonetheless, a few relevant bits can be gleaned, as TheDetroitBureau.com reported earlier:
“…insiders offer hints it could be the concept version of an eventual replacement for the slow-selling Lexus SC430.
“As seen here a few specifics can be deduced from the images: the concept apparently opts for a targa top, rather than the folding hardtop of the awkward SC430. Both vehicles appear to be roughly the same size and the new model maintains the 2-door design of the current hardtop cabrio. But it appears to add two rear seats. Functional? Well, that remains to be seen.
A look inside the LF-Lc concept.
“The angular and aggressive front end clearly lifts on the latest L-Finesse design theme Lexus has adopted, as first seen on the maker’s new GS line. According to a teaser release sent out in recent days by Lexus, the LF-Lc embraces “the new design direction embraced by Lexus.”
“Like the old SC430, it was penned at the Lexus advanced design studios in Southern California.
“At least one report has questioned whether the LF-Lc is borrowing the basic mechanicals and chassis of the new Toyota GT86 – which will be sold in the U.S. as the Scion FR-S. It’s the product of a closely watched joint venture with Subaru, which will offer its version up as the new BRZ.
“There appears to be a hybrid badge on the Lexus LF-Lc, though we’ll have to wait for more details there, as well. But the maker has promised to offer a gas-electric version of virtually everything in its line-up, so that would be no surprise.”
Should we come up with more information, leaked or otherwise, we’ll keep you posted.