Lexus LF-LC Concept – a fresh look ahead of Detroit

New Lexus LF-LC Concept Photo

Lexus has released a couple of new pictures of their LF-LC Coupe Concept ahead of its reveal next week at the Detroit Auto Show.

We had a few teases for the Lexus LF-LC Concept last month as Lexus ramped up interest for the Detroit Auto Show, but the teases came to an end after an offical photo of the LF-LC leaked. That predictable escape in to the wild of one of Lexus’ own photos motivated Lexus to reveal an official photo showing the LF-LC in profile.

But now we get a couple more photos giving us a much better idea of the LF-LC, which seems to combine the idea of Japanese bling, cues from the GS Concept and the merest hint of the old Lexus SC. Which may be as good a way as any of working out exactly what Lexus are up to with the LF-LC.

All Lexus are prepared to say on the LF-LC so far is that it “… marks a further step in the development of Lexus’s design direction”, and that it will be at Detroit. But it seems clear that even if the LF-LC isn’t a production model in waiting, it’s pointing very firmly to one.

It’s certainly got lots of bling, from the Japanese-simple interior to the shiny exterior. It gets a nose very reminiscent of that on the concept version of the GS, pointing at Lexus design direction. And parts of the LF-LC do seem to carry some of the DNA of the old SC (which may not be a good thing).

Put all those things together, and it seems likely, on balance, that the LF-LC Concept is a firm pointer to a range-topping Coupe version of the next generation LS (which we expect in 2014). It could still be, as we suggested before, that Lexus will use the much improved underpinnings on the new GS, taking a leaf out of Mercedes book and making a coupe from the underpinnings of a model below to tweak prices upwards.

But we’ll find out for sure – or at least have far more to go on – when the Lexus LF-LC debuts at Detroit next week.

(4 photos – click any thumbnail for full size)

By Cars UK