Blog

GENEVA — The 2018 Lexus LC 500h, the hybrid version of the all-new Lexus LC luxury coupe, will feature a next-generation hybrid system that includes a four-speed automatic transmission and an “M” Mode for semi-manual shifting, Lexus said on Thursday. The hybrid debuts at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show.

The technology upgrades are designed to “create a hybrid with a more sporting and engaging driving experience by closely aligning engine speed with throttle inputs,” Lexus said.

The automaker calls it the “Multi Stage Hybrid System.”

The LC 500h is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack and delivers a total system output of 354 horsepower.

Lexus said the hybrid sprints from zero to 62 mph in the “sub-5 second range.”

The new electric motor and the lithium-ion battery are lighter, offsetting the weight of the added automatic transmission.

The EPA has not posted official fuel economy numbers on the Lexus LC 500h.

Like its LC coupe sibling, the LC 500h is a new flagship model for Lexus. The two are built on an all-new front-engine/rear-wheel-drive platform that will be shared with future Lexus products.