Before deliveries of the Lexus LC500 kick off early next year, the Japanese marque has been spotted testing the coupe at the Nurburgring.
Although the engineer behind the wheel wasn’t taking the sports car to its limits, Lexus claims the LC500 is the most dynamic car it has produced since the famed LFA supercar. It should therefore by capable of some rather impressive lap times and performance numbers once it lands in the hands of customers.
Power for the model comes courtesy of a 5.0-liter V8 engine pumping out 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque. While not as exciting as the LFA’s V10, this V8 remains a unique proposition in the luxury sports car segment where most other manufacturers have switched to turbocharged or hybrid powertrains.
Mated to the engine is a 10-speed Aisin single-clutch automatic transmission that is said to change gears as quickly as a dual-clutch unit. Interestingly, the gearbox is also smaller and lighter than a number of existing eight-speed transmissions in the market.
With power sent exclusively to the rear wheels, Lexus says the LC500 can accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds. Braking is provided by 6-piston calipers at the front and four-piston units at the rear.