GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: 264kW for Lexus LC 500h

Japanese prestige car-maker Lexus has revealed new details of its large luxury flagship coupe, the LC 500h hybrid, which pairs a sumptuous new interior and svelte exterior with a brand-new hybrid powertrain.

Confirmed for Australia in the near future, the car's stunning design and Jaguar F-TYPE inspired door-handles will have onlookers gasping for breath, yet the car falls short of expectations in terms of power output.

Its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain develops just 264kW and 348Nm of torque -- barely more than the brand's ageing V6 petrol engine generates solo.

Expectations of range-topping LC 500h hybrid hero pumping out significantly more mumbo than the current RX SUV hybrid's 230kW and 335Nm have not been met, the new 'Multi Stage' rear-drive hybrid system grinding out just 34kW and 13Nm more than the SUV.

And hopes of a 10-speed Aisin automatic gearbox like in its 5.0-litre V8 sibling, the 348kW LC 500 have been dashed. Instead the Lexus LC 500h gets a rear-mounted four-speed auto.

Despite the mediocre power output and four-speed auto, the LC 500h will accelerate to 100km/h in less than five seconds, claims the Japanese car-maker, so the large luxury coupe won't be slow.

Traction shouldn't be a problem either, with large 21-inch forged alloy wheels available, shod with 245/40 front and 275/35 rear tyres.

The flip-side of the equation is that fuel economy and CO2 emission levels are expected to be more compelling, but Lexus is yet to release fuel efficiency figures for the LC 500h.

The company is also yet to reveal whether the car's 50kg lithium-ion battery and the electric motor will propel the car independently of the petrol engine.

For the time being Lexus is content to talk up the performance elements of the 'Multi Stage' hybrid system, as evidenced in a recent press statement: "The electric motor generates better acceleration feel than a conventional engine, and adding physical gears more closely aligns engine rpm with the driver's inputs.

"The result is a much more direct connection between the accelerator pedal and vehicle acceleration, and 0-100km/h times well into the sub-5 second range," says the company.

Newly-developed to transfer the combined power output of the combustion engine and electric motor power to the rear axle, the 'Multi Stage' hybrid system has been created to slot into the company's new GA-L platform (Global Architecture Luxury), which will underpin most upcoming Lexus cars with a front-engine, rear-drive layout.

It's not clear how much the new Lexus LC will cost, but considering it features extensive use of carbon-fibre (roof, door and boot structures), aluminium (bonnet, suspension, doors) and has one of the most sumptuous interiors seen in a Lexus, expect to shell out a lot for this one.

The four-seat coupe was shown for the first time at the 2016 Detroit motor show in January and the new LC 500h model will make its public debut at the 2016 Geneva motor show in early March.