The Lexus LC F Megathread

[Faisal Sheikh]

Lexus just needs to quit gimping the low end torque of the 5L V8, that's why it feels like a pig, not enough torque down low. My LS430 and LS600hL have more balls down low than any of the F cars.

I own an RCF and granted it is lighter than GSF and significantly lighter than the LC500 by close to 400 lbs, the 5.0 Liter V8 is a masterpiece and I could not have asked for more. Absolutely a joy to listen to and rev all the way out as well as the razor sharp throttle response. One of the best engines Lexus ever put in a car this side of the LFA V10. Comparing this engine to your LS430 engine, is apples to oranges as 90% of the 390 ft-lbs on this engine stay from 4000 rpm all the way to 7450 rpm.

A high performance naturally aspirated engine that produces 95 HP/Liter, needs to be bored/stroked to not run out of steam at high rpms. In order to ensure it breathes well at high rpm, it is bored/stroked accordingly. That sacrifices low end torque mostly below 3000 rpm. Once over 3000 rpm, the engine pulls like a freight train starting at 4000 rpm and like I stated above, at any given rpm above it produces at least 90% of that even before the rev cut-off.

 

[Ian Schmidt]

I've noticed an interesting phenomenon lately where the RC F is finally getting its due from enthusiasts who'd initially written it off, typically without having driven it first. There are Youtube videos now with titles to the effect of "We misjudged the Lexus RC-F". I think it helps that the LC exists now to put it more in context.

 

[PeterF]

I own an RCF and granted it is lighter than GSF and significantly lighter than the LC500 by close to 400 lbs, the 5.0 Liter V8 is a masterpiece and I could not have asked for more. Absolutely a joy to listen to and rev all the way out as well as the razor sharp throttle response. One of the best engines Lexus ever put in a car this side of the LFA V10. Comparing this engine to your LS430 engine, is apples to oranges as 90% of the 390 ft-lbs on this engine stay from 4000 rpm all the way to 7450 rpm.
.

I love the Lexus NA V8 5 l engine!

 

[Levi]

If the LC F gets a twin-turbo V8 with RWD only, isn't that a bit late, like one BMW M6 generation late? Other than good design, what would an LC F have more than an M6 Coupe or AMG S Coupe? And that when even the German coupes are not well selling compared to their 4 door versions or CUV versions?

We now see at VAG at least, that the top versions of their models are performance P/HEVs. They might be heavier than the performance ICEV versions, but those are not light or track focused to begin with, which is somehow a non-argument.

Wouldn't a hybrid LC F make sense? Lexus's whole range is based around efficiency focused HEVs, and are the most sold versions in Europe. Would not a performance focused HEV, branded F make sense? Lexus will never be able to rival Germans and will remain a niche in terms of specialty cars, so why not have something different for a low volume car?

TMC hybrid system for FWD-based AWD cars has two electric motors, one at the front axle and one at the rear axle. The front axle is driven by both the internal combustion engine and the front electric motor, whereas the rear axle is only driven by the rear EM and is not mechanically connected to the ICE. Such a setup could also be fitted for RWD car. The LC 500h is mechanically RWD and the LS 500h AWD is mechanically AWD, with a transfer case. The electric motor is located between the engine and the transmission, so is the transmission and transfer case is RWD or AWD plays no role. What could be possible however is for an AWD system where the front axle is not mechanically linked through the transfer case, but there is only an electric motor. That would be the same setup as the 918 Spyder and the NSX, except the the engine would be mid-front rather than mid-rear.

Seeing how the Ferrari FF/GTC4 technically a RWD car with additional FWD traction rather than conventional rear-biased AWD, I expect Ferrari's CUV to have the same setup, but in front, instead of having a second transmission, it would have an electric engine.

It is quite sad to see that Lexus HEVs are perceived inferior now.

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

I love the Lexus NA V8 5 l engine!

Yeah, you guys get a much better exhaust note than we do stock in the LC. RCF is like 90% engine noise and only 10% exhaust.

 

[GTG]

Ha !! I said it I knew it !!! But 200 thousand , nooooooooo please noooo ! I hope that it is 130 base 150 max , then it will sell like hot cakes in the winter . Lexus listen to me ! , keep the car price low , you see what happened to the NSX DONT sell it over 200 thousands . If Lexus stays in the 150 Zone, it will be a super car that everyone and there Mother’s would want , with no maintenance issues at all .

 

[Rhambler]

I agree, that’s way too much. In fact the current MSRP of the LC sits near such esteemed competitors as the Mercedes AMG GT, BMW M5 and Audi RS7, which already puts out 600 or near 600 HP and performance that smashes the LC, with nice touches of luxury. Just look:

2018 BMW M5: $102k and 600 HP (legitimate 3.2 s or faster)
2018 Mercedes AMG GTS: $132k and 515 HP (legitimate 3.7 s or faster)
2018 Mercedes E63s: $104k and 603 HP (legitimate 3.3 s or faster)
2018 Audi RS7: $113k and 569 HP (legitimate 3.5 s or faster)

2018 Lexus LC: $92k and 471 HP (legitimate 4.7 s or faster)
LCF: $200k and 600 HP (insert overrated manufacturer number here)

BMW M8: probably $110k-$130k and 600 HP

That’s why LC sales will likely continue to plummet in my opinion. Unless you’re a die-hard Lexus fan (which probably already purchased one), people would probably cross shop a lot of these. I would.

Oh, and I would take the Mercedes E63S, RS7 or M5 over the current LC. Pay a little more to get A LOT, LOT, LOT more. If you can afford the LC, you can probably afford the others as well and it would be an easy choice.

$200k for an LCF is just laughable. In fact the current LC should be $75k (the current price is a joke) and the LCF should be half of whatever they’re smoking.

 

[meth.ix]

There is absolutely no way the the BMW M8 will be $110k-$130k lol... it will be more like $150k base, which will easily get close to $200k with options. The S63 Coupe starts at $150k, and the S65 Coupe (V12) that MotorTrend reviewed was $250k.

So I'd say $130k-$150k is a definitely a reasonable price for the LC F to start at. I think the C/D rumor about the price is 99% likely to be false.

 

[Rhambler]

I don’t think it will be anywhere near $150k. My bet is $120k-$130k MSRP.

I think it will be priced competively to the AMG GTR coupe and new four-door AMG GT coupe and we already know the MSRP of that car.

It doesn’t matter, though, the whole point being is that $200k for an LCF would be dumb, which wouldn’t surprise me considering the MSRP of the LC now...

Fact of the matter, I would bet the LCF and 600 HP engine will not not even make it to production. Toyota/Lexus doesn’t know how to build performance engines anymore and I stand by that. I haven’t been proven wrong yet.

 

[ssun30]

This thread has had so much nonsense that it has become very hard to join the discussion.

 

[Rhambler]

I agree, like the $200k price tag for an LCF...

 

[GTG]

The LCF will be a great car, just not at 200 thousand , this car is not for that type of market . The people that buy Lexus, 50% are from Toyota , 30% are original owner and 20% are from other brands . They all have 3 things in common, reliability, safety and value/resale . 200 thousand does not fit with these buyers . The LFA is worth 1 million and more, all because of limited units and unmatched performance . Just make a LFA 2 800 hp with the same price and half the units worth 500 thousand , drop the LC price to max 90 thousand and LCF 130 an call it a day . Oh make the LFA 2 a rear engine since where talking dream land stuff . lol

 

[PeterF]

I agree, that’s way too much. In fact the current MSRP of the LC sits near such esteemed competitors as the Mercedes AMG GT, BMW M5 and Audi RS7, which already puts out 600 or near 600 HP and performance that smashes the LC, with nice touches of luxury. Just look:

2018 BMW M5: $102k and 600 HP (legitimate 3.2 s or faster)
2018 Mercedes AMG GTS: $132k and 515 HP (legitimate 3.7 s or faster)
2018 Mercedes E63s: $104k and 603 HP (legitimate 3.3 s or faster)
2018 Audi RS7: $113k and 569 HP (legitimate 3.5 s or faster)

2018 Lexus LC: $92k and 471 HP (legitimate 4.7 s or faster)
LCF: $200k and 600 HP (insert overrated manufacturer number here)

BMW M8: probably $110k-$130k and 600 HP

That’s why LC sales will likely continue to plummet in my opinion. Unless you’re a die-hard Lexus fan (which probably already purchased one), people would probably cross shop a lot of these. I would.

Oh, and I would take the Mercedes E63S, RS7 or M5 over the current LC. Pay a little more to get A LOT, LOT, LOT more. If you can afford the LC, you can probably afford the others as well and it would be an easy choice.

$200k for an LCF is just laughable. In fact the current LC should be $75k (the current price is a joke) and the LCF should be half of whatever they’re smoking.

I completely agree! My first thought when I saw that $200k estimated value is that I would buy a 911 GT3 over the LC F anytime. Now it's next to impossible to get a new GT3 build (they are about $170 k now) given Porsche's priority system, but a 2016 or 2017 GT3 will be close to beating the LC F on 0-60 and should beat the LC F on a road track and they have NA engines and outstanding track handling. By the time 2022 or 2021 rolls around the competition will be even better than what they are now. $200k is misguided. Recently I have been looking at the 911 GT3, the AMG GTS, the Rs7 and even a AMG E63; these cars are superb. My only gripe with AMG is the annual maintenance costs are huge

 

[GTG]

I completely agree! My first thought when I saw that $200k estimated value is that I would buy a 911 GT3 over the LC F anytime. Now it's next to impossible to get a new GT3 build (they are about $170 k now) given Porsche's priority system, but a 2016 or 2017 GT3 will be close to beating the LC F on 0-60 and should beat the LC F on a road track and they have NA engines and outstanding track handling. By the time 2022 or 2021 rolls around the competition will be even better than what they are now. $200k is misguided. Recently I have been looking at the 911 GT3, the AMG GTS, the Rs7 and even a AMG E63; these cars are superb. My only gripe with AMG is the annual maintenance costs are huge

Brother , Lexus IS doing great stuff nowadays, but this 200 thing is not great at all . Lexus as a brand needs to occupy a space that no body else does . Less is more , more units moved , more profits, just more in the grand scheme of things . I think you are right with your full assessment of the 911 and AMG products. LC F 120 , 130 no higher and drop the LC to 90 all in , then Lexus will own that spot . Moving 50 to 70 units of the LC F and twice that a month .

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

You haven't been proven wrong? LOL Quite a cocky statement considering you lack knowledge in this area.

The current 5.0 Liter V8 is used in the RCF GT3 racing car with very small modifications and yes, it wins races (just won over the weekend). It takes only a true high performance engine to withstand the torture and stress of endurance racing.

Toyota/Lexus doesn’t know how to build performance engines anymore and I stand by that. I haven’t been proven wrong yet.

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Unless the entire interior is gold plated or something there's no way the LC F would double the price of the base model. Lexus, for all their other faults, don't generally overprice vehicles.

 

[PeterF]

Unless the entire interior is gold plated or something there's no way the LC F would double the price of the base model. Lexus, for all their other faults, don't generally overprice vehicles.

True, this could be inaccurate reporting.

I do like GTG's suggestion of keeping it significantly below $150k, like $120 - $130 k; they would sell quite a few. Hell, I'd seriously consider buying one. I am waiting to hear about specs and performance on the track, including Nurburgring. I wonder how well they will get the suspension? obviously they will need a lot of carbon fiber b/c the LC is a heavy (albeit sexy) car

 

[maiaramdan]

I can say 200k is normal but what bothers me most was the schedule

 

[spwolf]

2018 BMW M5: $102k and 600 HP (legitimate 3.2 s or faster)

On the other hand, it is very sad that BMW cant build luxury vehicles and compete with something like LC or LFA.

Not sure what does M5 have to do with LC at all.

 

[ThePenguin]

This thread has had so much nonsense that it has become very hard to join the discussion.

+1