The Lexus LC nameplate has returned to SA after the briefest of breaks, though is now offered exclusively in hybrid form (farewell, V8!). Here’s how much the LC500h costs…
They promised us it would return and here it is. After a (very) brief hiatus, the Lexus LC nameplate is back in South Africa, though it’s now available exclusively in hybrid form. Yes, that means the free-breathing V8 has officially exited the Lexus SA range.
While the previous LC line-up – which was quietly removed from the Lexus SA range, along with the RC F sports coupé (likewise offered with the 8-cylinder motor) and LS luxury sedan at the end of 2023 – comprised the LC500 coupé and LC500 convertible, the revised portfolio features only the LC500h coupé.
As such, the 351 kW/540 Nm naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine is no longer offered locally in any Lexus model, since the LC500h instead employs a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, a small electric motor and an 84-cell lithium-ion battery pack. Total system power stands at 264 kW, while Lexus quotes a torque (of 350 Nm) only for the petrol engine.
According to the Toyota-backed luxury firm, the obligatory 0-100 kph sprint takes 5.0 seconds, while top speed is listed as 250 kph. The LC500h’s claimed combined fuel economy, meanwhile, comes in at 6.7 L/100 km. As a reminder, this powertrain employs a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives the rear axle.
The price? Well, the Lexus LC500h starts at R2 542 800. For the record, before they were put out to pasture at the end of last year, the LC500 coupé had kicked off at R2 515 400 and the LC500 convertible at R2 666 600. The colour palette for the new hybrid model comprises as many as 10 hues.
Standard features include Alcantara seat trim, electrically adjustable (and heated) front seats, a heated 3-spoke steering wheel, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, a panoramic-view monitor, a 12.3-inch multi-information display and a head-up display. Lexus SA’s flagship sports coupé runs on mixed-sized tyres measuring 245/40 R21 up front and 275/35 R21 at the rear.
The LC500h furthermore ships standard with bi-LED headlamps (including an auto high-beam feature), a carbon-fibre roof, a retractable rear wing, adaptive variable suspension, a limited-slip differential and a raft of safety and driver-assistance features (from as many as 8 airbags and blind-spot monitoring to a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control and active cornering assist).
How much does the Lexus LC500h cost in South Africa?
Lexus LC500h – R2 542 800
The Lexus LC500h ships standard with a 7-year/105 000 km warranty (8 years or 195 000 km for the hybrid battery pack) and a maintenance plan of the same duration.
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