Detroit 2012: Lexus LF-LC Concept

Once upon a time, Lexus made a car called the SC.  It was based on the guts of the legendary 4th-generation Supra, and was an Americanized version of the Japanese Toyota Soarer.  It was a fantastic car: refined to an eery level, quiet, good looking and fast.  Whether it had the 3.0L six from the Supra, or the 4.0L V8 from the LS, it was a road burner, a mile muncher, a fantastic car.

They made the SC300/400 from 1991-2000, a sign of how basically good it was.  Then there was the flip-top SC430, which never quite resonated with buyers, and then Lexus got out of the coupe business.  With the LF-LC concept, I see a new SC.  Lexus says it could potentially fit in the lineup as a "poor man's LFA" (They're saying maybe $150,000, compared to the absurd $375,000 of the bespoke supercar), but it looks more like competition for the 6-series BMW and E-Class Coupe.  Unlike the Acura NSX concept, which Honda says is bound for production in 3 years, Toyota claims the LF-LC is just a concept.

Oh, the looks.  Lexus has finally decided they're tired of making derivative, uninteresting cars.  They're jumping in with both feet, and the first production example is the new GS sedan, which has that dramatic hour-glass front end.  The LF-LC reflects the GS's styling traits, but is far wilder looking in the details and proportions.  It's quite low-slung, sharing the wheels-to-the-corners stance of the LF-A and the GT-86, but that roof is fascinating.  The windshield, roof, and hatch are all glass, flowing in an uninterrupted line with a swath of glass wrapping around the base of the C pillar.

The styling was done by Toyota's Calty design studio in Newport Beach, CA - and they've created something quite good, I'd say.  The rear end, with those metallic spars tracing the outline of the fenders melting into the taillights also create a negative space for brake ducting.  All great designs end up referencing great designs of the past, and there's more than a touch of MKIV Supra to the vents in front of the rear wheels.  But the front is the crazy bit.

The headlights sunk far back into the top of the hood look like a mounted gun, and the swoops and metal intersections continue here as well.  It's nice to see Toyota putting out an absolutely bizarre-looking concept car.

Inside, the LF-LC is a tight 2+2 with an interesting mix of organic materials and Japanese high tech.  It's a bit over the top - so many different materials, it just shouldn't work - but it looks great anyway.  The center console is interesting: a 12.3" touch display mounted up high, and another one that flips up out of the console below, set in stained wood trim and outlined in leather.  The controls on the door - window switches, mirrors, seat adjustment, stereo controls - are touch screen as well.

Of course the gauge cluster is entirely digital (not a new thing for Toyota), and the flat-bottom steering wheel is leather, carbon fiber and aluminum - with a start/stop button on the right spoke.  The multi-level display is interesting, giving the gauges the appearance of floating - typical show car stuff.

The important question is, what's under the hood?  Well, we still don't know.  Lexus only says that the LF-LC is front engine, rear drive and has "Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive" to deliver both performance and efficiency.  Is it a next generation hybrid setup?  Is this just a GS450h in a pretty suit?  Don't know.  Will they make it?  Also don't know.  But it sure is gorgeous, isn't it?  Gallery below.