Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB)-Lexus has unveiled the all-new 2018 Lexus LC in Qatar. The arrival of the flagship performance coupe marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Lexus brand, according to a press statement.  
The LC, which is available in Lexus dealerships across the GCC region and Levant, combines “stunning design, scintillating performance, long-distance comfort and premium craftsmanship to join an elite group of international grand touring coupes”, the statement notes.
AAB is the exclusive distributor for Lexus in Qatar.
The Lexus LC is described as a “powerful, emotionally stirring realisation” of the vision of Lexus master driver Akio Toyoda for a flagship production coupe that echoes the spirit of the hand-built Lexus LFA supercar and delivers the visual impact of the Lexus LF-LC concept.
Koji Sato, chief engineer of the Lexus LC, said: “While maximising the fundamental taste of the LF-LC, we applied completely different specifications to create a design that goes beyond the concept – a design that will captivate you as soon as you see it.”
“The car symbolises the beginning of a new phase for Lexus, which is all about creating greater synergy between engineering and design,” said Takayuki Yoshitsugu, chief representative of the Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation.
Based on the design of the LF-LC concept car, the Lexus LC debuted as a production model at the 2016 edition of NAIAS.
Powered by a high-performance 5-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, the all-new Lexus LC 500 can sprint from zero to 100km in less than 4.7 seconds. A massive 471hp is developed at 7,100rpm and the torque peak of 55.0kg-m at 4,800rpm.
The Lexus LC debuts the first 10-speed automatic transmission for a luxury automobile. It executes shifts at speeds rivalling dual-clutch transmissions, yet with the seamless performance and smoothness of a torque converter automatic.
Lexus has developed a new Multi Stage Hybrid System specifically for the LC 500h. The Atkinson-cycle 3.5-litre V6 gasoline engine uses D-4S direct fuel injection, and lightweight valvetrain components allow a 6,600-rpm redline, with Dual VVT-i ensuring ample torque across the engine speed range.
The Multi Stage Hybrid System is a world’s first construction that combines the Lexus hybrid system with variable gears. By controlling the output of both the higher rpm 3.5-litre V6 engine and the electric motor, it achieves powerful performance from low speeds through to high range driving.
Built on the new Lexus Global Architecture – Luxury platform, the LC “harmonises driving performance, design and craftsmanship in unprecedented ways to achieve a new sense of ingenuity”. The LC “exhibits razor-sharp reflexes, exceptional handling balance and rock-solid stability”.
Meanwhile, the dynamic luxury theme of the exterior is carried through into the LC’s cabin, while new multimedia and safety technologies complement the car’s masterful craftsmanship.
The LC is also equipped, as standard, with the Lexus Safety System+, an array of active safety features that can help the driver avoid an accident or help lessen the consequences of a collision. The system uses a camera and millimetre-wave radar to monitor the road ahead for potential hazards and collision risks.