SPY PICS: High-output Lexus LC F tracked down

A new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is said to be at the heart of the Lexus LC F, a high-performance variant of the well regarded coupe from the Japanese prestige brand.

According to reports, the Lexus LC F – seen here undergoing testing in Germany – will produce as much as 621 horsepower (463kW) for a 0-100km/h time that could be under four seconds.

That power increase is about 150hp more than the naturally-aspirated LC 500's 471hp (351kW).

Previously, Lexus engineer Toji Sato has told Australian journalists that a higher-performance LC model would likely feature the company's TVD (torque vectoring differential), without actually confirming there would be such a model.

The Lexus LC F – still not confirmed for production by the manufacturer – is expected to be lighter than the LC 500, thanks to wider use of weight-saving materials such as carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic.

There's no word on when we can expect to see it, but in view of the near-production readiness of the test vehicle, 2019 would seem like a strong prospect.