Report: Lexus LF-LC production-bound based on positive reaction?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Lexus, Design/Style, Luxury

Six months ago, at the Detroit Auto Show, the Lexus LF-LC Concept was just that and only, stricly that: a concept. Three months ago, after praise from the four corners and a design award - and did we mention praise from just about everywhere? - Autocar reported that the concept was given 50-50 odds of production by Karl Schlicht, who was Lexus' head of product planning at the time.

Now, four months after that, Schlicht is the head of product planning for Toyota and Lexus, and a report in Automotive News says the swoopy 2+2 hybrid Lexus coupe is "on track for development" and "almost certainly will come to market." Lexus even sent a block of crystal containing a 3D etching of the LF-LC to dealers, by way of suggesting that if dealers sold 27,500 Lexus GS sedans, they'd get the LF-LC to sell.

This is all still insider trading, so it's certainly possible that an LF-LC production car won't happen. However, Lexus has motive: after 11 years at the top of the U.S. luxury car race, it fell two big notches to number three. It is partly responsible for BMW and Mercedes-Benz raising their games, and Lexus knows it needs more engaging products if it's going to regain the top spot. The kudos that the LF-LC received is just the kind of kindling to help stoke the brand fire again.

Since it's so early in the game, we have no idea how much will make it from the auto show floor to the dealer floor if it happens at all. But it's said the retail version will be slotted against the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage, a corner of the playground where all kinds of exciting things are possible.

Lexus LF-LC production-bound based on positive reaction? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/lexus-lf-lc-production-bound-based-on-positive-reaction/

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