The Lexus LC500h is a hybrid electric sportscar that comes to India via the CBU route and has been launched in the country today for a price of Rs. 1.96 crores.
After a lot of anticipation, Lexus has finally launched the LC500h in India today for a price of Rs. 1.96 crores (ex-showroom). This niche model joins Lexus’ India line-up, which currently includes the ES and LS sedans and the NX, RX and LX SUVs.
The Lexus LC500h – where LC stands for Luxury Coupe – is essentially a GT car or a Grand Tourer. Lexus themselves, and even their parent brand, Toyota, are synonymous with hybrid vehicles and its no surprise that the LC500 we will get in India will also be a hybrid GT car. Sadly, we won’t be getting the LC500 with a V8 engine like its available in some international markets.
In India, the Lexus LC500h will come with a 3.5L, V6 petrol engine that churns out 295 bhp and 348Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with two electric motors that produce a further 177 bhp and there’s a lithium ion battery for energy storage as well. The total system output stands at 354 bhp.
The transmission in the LC500h is pretty interesting – it comes with a 4-speed automatic combined with a CVT. This means that the gear ratios of the automatic gearbox with the pre-selected ratios of the CVT gives the driver 10 gears in total to play with in the manual mode. The LC500h is capable of doing the 0-100 kph sprint in just 4.7 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250kph.
As for the design, its radical and head turning like every other Lexus. It looks drop-dead gorgeous with that massive spindle grille upfront, the 3-element detailing on the headlamps with the DRLs and the long bonnet with sharp character lines. The rear haunches look particularly very attractive with the flowing curves over the wheel arches and pinched out C-pillar section. The details like the flush door handles and the design of the 20-inch alloy wheels are really stunning. All the lines and curves meet at the rear to make for a very well sculpted tail section.
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On the inside, the radical design theme continues. Its really much different from what we are used to seeing on Indian roads. Its really luxuriously appointed with great materials used but the biggest party trick of the LC500h would be physically moving dial on the digital instrument cluster with changing driving modes. The dashboard also boast of a 10.3-inch infotainment system controlled by a touchpad next to the gear lever. It comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a luxury sports coupe.
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Deliveries for the grand tourer are slated to begin in March. Lexus is bringing the LC500h down to India via the CBU route under the new 2,500-car import rule. In our country, the Lexus LC500h competes with the Jaguar F-Type V8 (Rs 2.21-2.80 crore), Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-AMG GT (Rs 2.27-2.32 crore).
