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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Comments
meth.ix
Butterzai
(look at the price of the R8 v10)
Yes but an LC F can perform better with a new Twin-Turbo V8 while also costing less.
meth.ix
Butterzai
(look at the price of the R8 v10)
Yes but an LC F can perform better with a new Twin-Turbo V8 while also costing less.
meth.ix
The exhaust tips from the GS F don't work on this car. Only works on sedans. For coupes use the RC F tips.
meth.ix
The exhaust tips from the GS F don't work on this car. Only works on sedans. For coupes use the RC F tips.
meth.ix
The exhaust tips from the GS F don't work on this car. Only works on sedans. For coupes use the RC F tips.
Lexus Cohen
Whatever they decide to do with the LC F has to be something out of this world! They are aware of what the competition has to offer so I'm expecting a killer coupe wearing the F badge!

Engineering Amazing!
Lexus Cohen
Whatever they decide to do with the LC F has to be something out of this world! They are aware of what the competition has to offer so I'm expecting a killer coupe wearing the F badge!

Engineering Amazing!
Lexus Cohen
Whatever they decide to do with the LC F has to be something out of this world! They are aware of what the competition has to offer so I'm expecting a killer coupe wearing the F badge!

Engineering Amazing!
Faisal Sheikh
Adrian de Leon
Is nobody thinking that maybe the engine in the LFA project X could be used in the LC F?
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Faisal Sheikh
Adrian de Leon
Is nobody thinking that maybe the engine in the LFA project X could be used in the LC F?
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Faisal Sheikh
Adrian de Leon
Is nobody thinking that maybe the engine in the LFA project X could be used in the LC F?
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Lexus Cohen
Faisal Sheikh
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Lexus Cohen
Faisal Sheikh
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Lexus Cohen
Faisal Sheikh
The 5.3 Liter V10 race motor was derived from the LFA 4.8 Liter V10 (stroked version). It would be an awesome dream to have this engine in a production Lexus, but realistically the engine is too exotic and costs too much. A standard LFA engine has an MSRP tag of $156,000 because of the exotic and bespoke construction (and that it is also tested in F1 facility). I believe the LCF would be no more expensive than $175,000 - $190,000. That V10 masterpiece would probably never be seen in a production Lexus.
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Faisal Sheikh
Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
Faisal Sheikh
Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
Faisal Sheikh
Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Finally, they predict a 2019 (calendar year, presumably) arrival for the LC F.
I passed over this because it was covered back in July from an Automobile Magazine story -- nice to see a second outlet confirming the timing, though they may be pulling it from the same location.

Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Faisal Sheikh
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Finally, they predict a 2019 (calendar year, presumably) arrival for the LC F.
I passed over this because it was covered back in July from an Automobile Magazine story -- nice to see a second outlet confirming the timing, though they may be pulling it from the same location.

Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Faisal Sheikh
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Finally, they predict a 2019 (calendar year, presumably) arrival for the LC F.
I passed over this because it was covered back in July from an Automobile Magazine story -- nice to see a second outlet confirming the timing, though they may be pulling it from the same location.

Lexus Cohen
Correct me if I am wrong, I remember reading years ago that the LFA engine has a price tag of $75,000.
Faisal Sheikh
Nope. As stated, $156,000 MSRP for the 4.8 Liter V10. Confirmed. Forgot to add, the 5.3 Liter V10 can easily produce 630 - 640 HP completely N/A even if it retains the 117 HP/Liter the LFA V10 produces.
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.
krew
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
Not sure what you mean by normal people, but we are talking about high performance coupe with likely more than 600 horsepower -- seems like a small target market, TBH.
krew
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
Not sure what you mean by normal people, but we are talking about high performance coupe with likely more than 600 horsepower -- seems like a small target market, TBH.
krew
Daniel Guyton
BEGINNING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH OF NORMAL PEOPLE....
Not sure what you mean by normal people, but we are talking about high performance coupe with likely more than 600 horsepower -- seems like a small target market, TBH.
Faisal Sheikh
krew
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.

It was posted by an LFA owner on clublexus (I believe, gengar) who found out the retail on the engine from Lexus parts.
Faisal Sheikh
krew
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.

It was posted by an LFA owner on clublexus (I believe, gengar) who found out the retail on the engine from Lexus parts.
Faisal Sheikh
krew
I was the one who said the LFA engine was $75,000, but that was ballparked by a Lexus executive way back in 2012. I never confirmed or researched past that -- sounds like @Faisal Sheikh knows what he's talking about, I would be interested to see the source.

It was posted by an LFA owner on clublexus (I believe, gengar) who found out the retail on the engine from Lexus parts.
krew
Faisal Sheikh
It was posted by an LFA owner on clublexus (I believe, gengar) who found out the retail on the engine from Lexus parts.
Well, if $75k seemed unlikely, then $156k is essentially impossible. I'm betting we never see that engine in another Lexus.

K