I was looking over the photos and the "Hybrid" badge has another "Multi Stage" badge above it. As for the 4-speed automatic, Hybrids generally have the E-CVT transmission, the LC 500h being Lexus' first to stray from the E-CVT. My guess is that the electric motor and the 4-speed work together to emulate additional gears, which is potentially why it is called "Multi Stage." Just my thoughts.
I seriously love the LC more and more. I never get bored of it!
Edit: I can't imagine anyone driving this car and only shifting to a maximum of 4 gears... Lol.
i would not be surprised if they show gears as 1-6, with us being able to change between 2 and 5.
GS450h powertrain had 2 stages within CVT before, it was very expensive to produce vs RX450h with single speed. So now there are 4 stages.
Important part of course is this - it is more than 1s faster 0-62mph than GS450h while being around the same weight!
In Europe, GS450h is listed 0-62 mph in 5.9s. Lexus Europe now says "significantly under" 5s, so lets say 4.8s or 4.7s 0-62 mph.
GS450h's 0-62mph in 5.9s in Europe translated to 0-60 in 5.6s in the USA.
So all things being equal, LC500h should be able to do 4.5s or less 0-60 mph.
Thats pretty crazy for 19hp increase in battery output. Engine stays very similar, but revs higher now (not Atkinson cycle full time anymore? But then it would have 306hp).
If they manage to make it more efficient as they say, that means over 30 MPG for 4.5s LC500h, without deception and cost that 20 mile plugin hybrids bring.