Lexus hints at LF-LC green light 26 | 03 | 2012

LEXUS LOOKS POISED to give the green light to its LF-LC concept which made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

When it was unveiled in the States, the dramatic hybrid 2+2 coupé was deemed strictly a concept by Toyota bosses.

But following the hugely positive reception it received — including winning the public’s ‘best in show’ award at Detroit — Toyota/Lexus management have now begun to start discussing 'how we can do it'.

“A decision has not been taken,” Lexus product planning chief Karl Schlicht, who rated the LF-LC’s chances of making production as 50/50, said.

“But we’re now up to a 50% chance from a 0% one. Every top Toyota Motor Company manager is aware of the great reception it has received and now we’re talking about how we can do it and fit it into the product plan.”

Lexus LF-LC makes Euro debut at Geneva

And Schlicht, who steps up to become Toyota and Lexus Europe’s product planning chief from April 1, admitted that if the concept hadn't been built, Toyota bosses wouldn't have gone ahead with the new model.

Lexus turned to the Calty Design Centre in California to create the concept model: the only brief the designers received was that it had to be a 2+2 coupé.

“The only parameter was size," Schlicht continued. "We wanted the designers to create excitement. “

We’d never get it built from a product planning point of view on paper, but people have seen the concept and fallen in love with it. Dealers have gone crazy for it as well.”

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Jim McGill