AIMS: Lexus LF-LC update fuels production rumours

Lexus is using the Sydney motor show to unveil the second version of its LF-LC hybrid sports concept. First revealed at the Detroit show early this year, a second LF-LC concept has been built to cement the case for a production car, its first stop on the global motor show circuit the Australian International Motor Show

The Detroit car was red, this one’s blue, and it's a new car - not just a new paintjob. Lexus wants it known this version advances the cause well beyond the paint job however.

"The concept hints at what’s to come, while the reality has us actively studying how we can engineer and build a vehicle like this in the future." Lexus Australia chief Tony Cramb said.

"Different colour, and it has different engine technology, it's the latest version of the Lexus hybrid drive technology and in terms of the hybrid differences the battery is higher output.

"At this point in time it's still a concept, there's no timing that's been decided [for production]. It's not necessarily an SC430 replacement however we definitely want the car. The feedback from Detroit was overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming. So we're obviously going to test and see what the customers have to say here, that's half the reason for bringing it to Australia, to see the interest here."

Mr Cramb's statement essentially translates as we are likely see something like the LF-LC as a production vehicle in 2014 or 2105.

"If it were to go to production it would be mass produced," he said.

Note however it will likely be without the design flourishes such as the 3D afterburner-effect tail-lights, the fading dot-matrix foglamps or the multi-layered OLED instrument pod.

Other elements are more likely to turn up, for example the touch-button electronic door mechanism. And touchscreens – among the first things we noticed in extensive use here (most notably, the little strip scratch-pads on the armrest that you run your finger back and forth along to open and shut the window).

motoring.com.au's exclusive pre-show preview to the LF-LC came a day after parent company Toyota announced a 7m car worldwide recall (including 300,000 vehicles Down Under) over the matter of a problematic window switch. That made the window switches in the LF-LC more interesting than normal. No moving parts, see? No moving parts equals less chance of failure.

And in the event of a problem, it’s likely to be dealt with via a software tweak rather than removal and replacement of a mechanical part. Ones and zeros are much easier to rearrange than tooling and moulds, quicker to update, and therefore cheaper.

Do you really think geeks are the only beneficiaries of Apple’s move from the old click-wheel to the iPod Touch, and from mechanical to solid state hard drives?

The primary difference between this LF-LC and its predecessor is under the bonnet. This one heralds the debut of Lexus' (and therefore Toyota’s) next generation of hybrid technology, aka “Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive”. Theoretically, anyway – the show LF-LC powered only by a small electric motor to move it on and off trucks, round display stands etc.

But it’s London to a brick this car will end up in showrooms. It’s hard to see why else they’d announce they’ve rated the drivetrain at an aggregate 372kW.

The hybrid package uses an Atkinson cycle engine mooted at 2.5 litres. Whether that’s to be a four or six hasn’t been confirmed. Nor has Lexus confirmed the chemistry driving the “high output” battery pack. What we do know is that with this package, Lexus will finally move – along with the rest of the industry -- to lithium-ion and lithium-polymer.

Over the last couple of years, Toyota has poured considerable resources into researching all-solid-state and lithium-air formulas, both of which represent major advances on current systems. But if the record is anything to go by here, don’t count on them to usher in some jaw-dropping glimpse into the 22nd century. This is a matter on which Toyota is known for being super-cautious. It won’t go anywhere with batteries until it's certain of them.

What the boffins are claiming is that this battery pack’s good for around five times the output of its predecessors.

Perhaps surprisingly, we’re not looking here at a plug-in hybrid package. Asked about this, our Lexus insider described it a “a full hybrid… much like our current crop of vehicles.”

What they do want us to know is that it will have the muscle to match its looks. That 372kW is a long way up on even on the much bigger 327kW LS600hL, even with a burner half the size of the LS’s 5.0-litre V8. And that’s including the Atkinson cycle configuration, known to sacrifice wattage in the name of fuel efficiency. The LS runs on the conventional Otto cycle.

Contrary, too, to rumours that surfaced with the Detroit car, our insider says RWD is more likely than AWD. Any notion that it might maybe leverage Toyota’s 86 platform is scotched on first glimpse. This is a big car. Although it crouches a little lower, at 4630mm long by 1950mm wide, it has almost 200mm on the 86 in both directions, and 230mm in the wheelbase.

Lexus is stressing the LF-LC will benefit from light weighting lesson learned from the LFA, whose chassis and bodywork comprise 65 per cent carbon fibre, 35 per cent aluminium.

There’s plenty of raw carbon fibre finish in evidence throughout the LF-LC, including the steering wheel, the footrest and the parcel shelf area. The ultra-thin front seat frames suggest its presence as well, although they’re not thin enough to afford any real leg \room for those sitting aft. But hey, it’s far from unique there.

Lexus has not yet decided on a boot or a hatch, but our insider suggests the latter is more likely.

Asked if we’re looking here at the beginnings of a technology trickle-down into other Lexus and Toyota models, our insider was, as ever, circumspect.

"Look at it as the next chapter in Lexus design, styling, driving dynamics and powertrains. So yes, it will influence future models. Call it a template..."

Next stop for the second Lexus LF-LC concept, the Los Angeles motor show, where the pressure will certainly increase for Lexus to build a production version.

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