by Chris Davies of www.slashgear.com
Lexus
may not be the first car brand that comes to mind when you think of
outrageously extreme performance vehicles, but that may change if rumors
of a twin-turbo production version of the striking LF-LC concept toting
600HP+ pan out. Likely to launch as the Lexus SC F, the hottest of the
SC coupe range will supposedly have a meatier version of the 5.0 V8 set
to power the top-spec Lexus RC F.
Revealed back in 2012, the LF-LC was more of a design study
than a true intention of Lexus' production plans; however, the degree
of positive response to the concept convinced Lexus execs to take the
car more seriously.
According to Motor Trend's sources, "seriously" may turn out to be
shorthand for "crazy fast and unexpectedly extreme" if Lexus' current
prototypes are anything to go by. A twin-turbo test mule is said to be
doing the rounds in Japan, its production offspring set to sit at the
top of a three model range that will also include a hybrid.
Most affordable of the SC series will be a non-turbo V8, which is
predicted to muster around 450HP. The SC H will sit in the middle, with a
500HP hybrid powerplant that Motor Trend predicts will borrow in no
small part from the Toyota/BMW tech collaboration.
Unexpectedly, Lexus is said to be readying an even more potent
version of the RC F, slotting the twin-turbo V8 into a $120,000 monster.
That could launch as the RC FS in 2017.
If it all pans out, it's a sudden flurry of turbo tinkering from Lexus, which only waded into boosted engines with the NX crossover
that will launch later this year. Lexus opted to develop its own,
in-house turbo system rather than source it externally, though attached
to a 2.0-liter four cylinder it only musters 235HP, a far cry from the
supercar performance expected of the SC.
Source;
http://www.slashgear.com/lexus-said-building-a-600hp-monster-coupe-to-revamp-reputation-18337793/
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