Rumors about a Lexus LC F have been floating around for months, but spy photographers have finally caught the model undergoing testing.



Snapped in Germany, the high-performance coupe has a modified front bumper with huge air intakes. The bumper doesn’t appear to be production ready, but the car also has extended front wheel arches which suggest the model may have a slightly wider track.

The rest of the styling largely carries over, but the LC F has lightweight wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system. We can also see a stacked four tailpipe exhaust system which echoes other F models such as the RC F and GS F.

Lexus has been tight-lipped about the highly-anticipated model, but it appears the company is already gearing up for the car’s marketing campaign. As you can see in several photos, the LC F was being lead by a camera crew in a Mercedes C-Class Convertible and we’ll presumably see the footage in a video documenting the car’s development.

Of course, the biggest question is what’s under the hood. There have been countless rumors on the subject and they have included everything from a naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 to a supercharged version of the engine. Other rumors have indicated a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 470 lb-ft (636 Nm) of torque. These should be taken with a grain of salt, as should rumors suggesting the car will use a hybrid powertrain.

While it’s too early to know what will power the LC F, the LC 500 has a 5.0-liter V8 with 471 hp (351 kW / 477 PS) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. This enables the car to run from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and hit an electronically limited top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).

To appease hybrid fans, Lexus also offers an LC 500h with a 3.5-liter V6 and two electric motors. The model has a combined maximum output of 354 hp (264 kW / 359 PS) and this allows for a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds. That’s not much slower than the LC 500, but the hybrid is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

Note: Article updated with new spy photos

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Picture credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien and CarPix for Carscoops