Despite Lexus’s strong repudiation earlier this year to The Drive regarding the potential for an F-tuned LC coupe, a recent article from the Japanese magazine Holiday Auto, which cites an anonymous insider, suggests that the LC F is indeed coming to fruition.
According to a rough translation of the article, the upcoming LC performance model will feature a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, marking the end of Lexus’s era of naturally aspirated V8 engines. The 5.0-liter V8, which debuted a decade ago in the IS F, has powered other models such as the GS F, RC F, and LC 500. This engine has played a significant role in defining Lexus’s high-performance lineup, aside from the LFA. With the Aston Martin V8 Vantage transitioning to a turbocharged setup, Lexus’s naturally aspirated V8 stands out as the only option available new that is not American or Maserati-powered.
Although the engine displacement will be smaller, the power is expected to significantly increase. The report claims the turbocharged LC F will produce an impressive 620 horsepower—equivalent to a Mazda3’s worth of additional power compared to the LC 500’s 471 horses. Notably, it also surpasses the 577-horsepower Mercedes-AMG GT R and the 610-hp Audi R8 V-10 Plus.
Holiday Auto further states that the cost of the LC F will be approximately $176,800, with production likely to commence in 2019 at the earliest.
A Lexus representative confirmed to The Drive that the LC F is indeed in development and affirmed the report’s details about the twin-turbo 4.0-liter engine.
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