And, boom, just like that, there’s a new luxury hybrid coming our way. Lexus, the upper end brand for Japanese automaker Toyota, announced earlier this week plans for the RC coupe. Two powertrain options will be available, including one making use of low carbon emissions technology.
The Lexus RC hybrid, of which no pricing information is yet known, mates Toyota’s hybrid technology with a 2.5-liter engine. That’s all that’s known on what’s under the hood at the moment, as the vehicle won’t be fully revealed until the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. There’s a lot of other less green details to consider though which go a long way in making this a well thought out offering.
image via Lexus
Aiming to “raise the brand’s profile with a broader audience and new-to-Lexus customers,” this two door car is something Toyota hopes will inject “emotional appeal into the Lexus DNA that is synonymous with build quality, refinement and reliability.” Its designers, to this end, created for the RC “deeply contoured lines never before seen in the Lexus line-up.” Also of note are triangular headlamps borrowed from the LF-LC concept, which was showcased last year in Detroit.
image via Lexus
As for the interior, here’s what Lexus said about it:
Highly acclaimed sport concept vehicles have greatly influenced the interior of the RC coupe, with maximum use of contrasting colors, materials and lighting. A purpose-built Lexus-first lighting package provides a great sense of occasion, with illumination that reflects upwards, rather than downwards, to envelop the interior. High contrast interior trim, including a new tone called Clove, emphasize design lines and accentuate the elegant cabin. Genuine shimamoku wood highlights – the result of an intense, layered wood production technique refined by Lexus – are used to emphasize the surrounding trim.
The driver’s cockpit is divided into operational and display zones. The upper zone houses the instrument panel and a seven-inch navigation screen while a layered center console integrates a new Lexus first Remote Touch Interface.
Important for a coupe, the seats utilize an integrated foaming construction method – much like the molding of racing seats – to ensure optimum occupant comfort and support.
Put it all together, hopefully toss in some good fuel economy numbers and you could very well have a winner for Lexus in its various markets among luxury based hybrid drivers.
* Nino Marchetti, EarthTechling
