Lexus LC500
Evo|February 2017

Lexus used the 911 as a benchmark for its new 470bhp coupe. A sprinkling of LFA magic might help its chances, too

Lexus LC500

I’M A BIG FANOF THE 911. Its driving feel drives me crazy!’ this is Koji Sato, chief engineer on Lexus’s LC project and the man tasked with turning Lexus into a brand keen drivers no longer cross the road to avoid.

You’ve got to admire his ambition. Satosan tells me his team benchmarked the 911 for steering feel, along with Lexus’s own LFA – that most unlikely of supercars. of course, Lexus has failed to get anywhere close to the stratospheric heights of the LFA in the six or so years since evo first got behind its wheel (and refused to get out). A couple of Fmodels have arrived and disappointed, but, this time, well it just might be different. After all, Lexus has had long enough to get it right – the LF-LC concept car was first seen five years ago, while the mainstream LC coupe made its debut a year ago.What have they been doing all this time?

The answer arrives in a car that’s certainly striking, if not beautiful. It’s a real head-turner in some colours, but not all (brown? Really?). And while the front end looks sublime and could’ve been styled by one Dr Jekyll, the rear, with its mishmash of lines, looks like the work of mr hyde.

There are some delicious details, though. You’ll struggle to take your eyes off front wings that sit so low over the front tyres that you’d swear you’d hear the sound of rubber meeting metal every time you met a speed-hump (you won’t hear a thing, of course – this is a Lexus, after all). the ultra-compact triple LeD head lamps and 3D LED tail-lamps are fascinating to look at. the oversized-spindle grille leads up towards creases on the bonnet that carry on into the cabin, and there are tiny aerofins on the A-pillar to smooth airflow and reduce wind noise. Delightful.

Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Evo.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Evo.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA EVOSe alt
BMW M135 xDrive
Evo UK

BMW M135 xDrive

The M135 has lost an and gained chassis revisions and a restyle. Is it enough to make it a benchmark hot hatch?

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
Audi S5
Evo UK

Audi S5

S5 by name, S4 by nature, is Audi's new mid-size petrol-powered saloon a step in the right direction?

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
Lamborghini Urus SE
Evo UK

Lamborghini Urus SE

Lambo's super-SUV gets a major mid-life overhaul, going hybrid in the process. Has it become any easier to like?

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2025
HALL evo OF FAME
Evo UK

HALL evo OF FAME

The evo Hall of Fame was established to recognise the great and the good of our corner of the universe. Prepare to welcome this year's inductees

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2025
CIRCUIT DAY
Evo UK

CIRCUIT DAY

After three days of assessing their behaviour on the road, it's time to head to the Circuito de Navarra to find out how our nine contenders respond when their handling limits are explored

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2025
EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024
Evo UK

EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024

Nine brilliant cars, from flyweight roadsters to bombastic supercars to a be-stickered estate(!), do battle on some of Europe's finest and most spectacular roads. Which will emerge victorious? Place your bets now.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2025
Porsche Panamera GTS
Evo UK

Porsche Panamera GTS

It lacks the raw power of its hybrid rivals, but does the new GTS’s more traditional approach give it its USP?

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
Alpine A290 GTS
Evo UK

Alpine A290 GTS

The new electric Renault 5 has won plenty of plaudits. Is the hotter Alpine version a car to win petrolheads' hearts too?

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2025
BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
Evo UK

BEST BUYS BMW M CARS

THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024
TYRE 2024 TEST
Evo UK

TYRE 2024 TEST

Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024