Lexus Chief Engineer Koji Sato: “The LC project is not finished yet”

Posted by Kevin on October 3rd, 2018

Lexus LC chief engineer Koji Sato sat down for an interview with Top Gear to discuss the future of the flagship coupe:

Top Gear: What do you think is so special about the LC?

Koji Sato: It shows that Lexus, working with Akio [Toyoda, son of the Toyota founder and Toyota CEO] has mastered the handling performance. Particularly the steering – you can feel the front tyres and get that feedback, have a conversation. This kind of feeling is our focusing point for Lexus, to create our clear driving taste.

TG: Is there anything about the LC that you would like to go back and change?

KS: There is no need to go back. The LC project is not finished yet. Every year we implement some important improvement points for LC. So we are always moving forward. It’s never ending.

Of course, the conversation turned to a high-performance variant of the LC:

TG: What’s next for the LC? We’ve seen spy photos of an LC-F being tested.

KS: I cannot share the details of that project but LC has a big meaning for the Lexus brand. So that means the LC needs to have some more – you see my face [breaks into a big smile].

Lexus LC: First Generation
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krew
Updated: New Rumors on the Lexus LC F Coupe

[​IMG]

Final testing in Fall 2018, released in 2019.
View the original article post
krew
Updated: New Rumors on the Lexus LC F Coupe

[​IMG]

Final testing in Fall 2018, released in 2019.
View the original article post
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
D
So do you think we will see an LC F introduced without seeing LC 500 and 500h F-Sport vehicles? Seems kinda odd, but maybe they don't plan on bothering with the F- Sport version of their flagship coupe. If they did, it would certainly account for 2 more models in terms of their 14 new models introduced in 2018.
D
So do you think we will see an LC F introduced without seeing LC 500 and 500h F-Sport vehicles? Seems kinda odd, but maybe they don't plan on bothering with the F- Sport version of their flagship coupe. If they did, it would certainly account for 2 more models in terms of their 14 new models introduced in 2018.
D
So do you think we will see an LC F introduced without seeing LC 500 and 500h F-Sport vehicles? Seems kinda odd, but maybe they don't plan on bothering with the F- Sport version of their flagship coupe. If they did, it would certainly account for 2 more models in terms of their 14 new models introduced in 2018.
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
The LC500 is very heavy, even the trim with the most carbon fiber. Reducing it to ~ 4000lbs is not much. I would like to hear what is being done with the suspension, rear steer. ; I assume that they will dramatically improve on engine cooling at prolonged high revs.

Agreed that the 4L engine will shift a little more weight balance to the rear, which will be good!

I'm curious about other performance specs, including times at Nurburgring.

My bet is that the USA price will be closer to $160k. It will still be a Grand Touring Lux Coupe, but faster and a perhaps a little more nimbler than the LC500, which is a superb GT Lux coupe.
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
The LC500 is very heavy, even the trim with the most carbon fiber. Reducing it to ~ 4000lbs is not much. I would like to hear what is being done with the suspension, rear steer. ; I assume that they will dramatically improve on engine cooling at prolonged high revs.

Agreed that the 4L engine will shift a little more weight balance to the rear, which will be good!

I'm curious about other performance specs, including times at Nurburgring.

My bet is that the USA price will be closer to $160k. It will still be a Grand Touring Lux Coupe, but faster and a perhaps a little more nimbler than the LC500, which is a superb GT Lux coupe.
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
The LC500 is very heavy, even the trim with the most carbon fiber. Reducing it to ~ 4000lbs is not much. I would like to hear what is being done with the suspension, rear steer. ; I assume that they will dramatically improve on engine cooling at prolonged high revs.

Agreed that the 4L engine will shift a little more weight balance to the rear, which will be good!

I'm curious about other performance specs, including times at Nurburgring.

My bet is that the USA price will be closer to $160k. It will still be a Grand Touring Lux Coupe, but faster and a perhaps a little more nimbler than the LC500, which is a superb GT Lux coupe.
S
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
S
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
S
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
PeterF
4000 lbs is fine for a Lux grand touring coupe.
PeterF
4000 lbs is fine for a Lux grand touring coupe.
PeterF
4000 lbs is fine for a Lux grand touring coupe.
PeterF
ssun30
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
I respectfully yield, the GTR NISMO weighs 3911, so 4k is not much more. Does seem heavy, but ultimate performance will rely a lot on suspension for a car that heavy, braking too, but the LC500 has fantastic braking
PeterF
ssun30
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
I respectfully yield, the GTR NISMO weighs 3911, so 4k is not much more. Does seem heavy, but ultimate performance will rely a lot on suspension for a car that heavy, braking too, but the LC500 has fantastic braking
PeterF
ssun30
4,000 lbs is about the same weight as an early R35 GT-R. That's actually quite reasonable if it had AWD.
I respectfully yield, the GTR NISMO weighs 3911, so 4k is not much more. Does seem heavy, but ultimate performance will rely a lot on suspension for a car that heavy, braking too, but the LC500 has fantastic braking
Tragic Bronson
Not fake news! :fist:
https://jalopnik.com/lexus-is-ditching-natural-aspiration-in-the-lc-f-repor-1821252551
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/lexus-insider-says-lc-f-will-use-621-hp.html
https://www.thetorquereport.com/lexus/lexus-lc-f-could-get-621-hp-twin-turbo-v8/
http://driving.ca/lexus/lf-lc/auto-news/news/lexus-rumoured-to-be-working-on-a-twin-turbo-lc-f
Tragic Bronson
Not fake news! :fist:
https://jalopnik.com/lexus-is-ditching-natural-aspiration-in-the-lc-f-repor-1821252551
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/lexus-insider-says-lc-f-will-use-621-hp.html
https://www.thetorquereport.com/lexus/lexus-lc-f-could-get-621-hp-twin-turbo-v8/
http://driving.ca/lexus/lf-lc/auto-news/news/lexus-rumoured-to-be-working-on-a-twin-turbo-lc-f
Tragic Bronson
Not fake news! :fist:
https://jalopnik.com/lexus-is-ditching-natural-aspiration-in-the-lc-f-repor-1821252551
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/lexus-insider-says-lc-f-will-use-621-hp.html
https://www.thetorquereport.com/lexus/lexus-lc-f-could-get-621-hp-twin-turbo-v8/
http://driving.ca/lexus/lf-lc/auto-news/news/lexus-rumoured-to-be-working-on-a-twin-turbo-lc-f
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
PeterF
NVlaar
So, its curb weight will be around 4000lb (4280*0.07). Still, on the hefty side compare with the likes of AMG GTR and 911. But on the flip side, replacing 5.0L with 4.0L will save some weight at the front which means better weight distribution.
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
NVlaar
PeterF
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
No doubt about being pretty fast. But it needs state of the art AWD system to win a drag race against something like a GT-R NISMO.
NVlaar
PeterF
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
No doubt about being pretty fast. But it needs state of the art AWD system to win a drag race against something like a GT-R NISMO.
NVlaar
PeterF
with this much HP. the car will be very fast.
No doubt about being pretty fast. But it needs state of the art AWD system to win a drag race against something like a GT-R NISMO.
PeterF
NVlaar
No doubt about being pretty fast. But it needs state of the art AWD system to win a drag race against something like a GT-R NISMO.
agreed, but I think drag races are boring;

what's really interesting and telling is how it does on corners,; challenging corners and curves. It will need better suspension than the current LC at a high HP to really meet high track performers in its price range like the AMG GTR and 911 GT3

P