Think the Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sport Coupe Concept is a stunner? Well, you’re not the only one then; those in the industry seem to think so as well – a group of leading automotive designers and design academics have named the car the top design concept at the NAIAS.

The Detroit debutant bagged this year’s EyesOn Design Award for best concept car. Created by Lexus’s Calty studio in Newport Beach, California, the design of the 2+2 coupe explores how a future redefinition of Lexus design might take be like, with a more emotive and avantgarde approach.

The EyesOn Design Awards are given in recognition of skills and creativity in different areas of design for both concept and production vehicles, including Aesthetics and Innovation, Concept Implementation, Functionailty and the Spirit of Industrial Design.

The Lexus LF-LC Concept has been officially revealed, and it’s one heck of a concept car. If I were at Detroit’s Cobo Hall, I can imagine spending good time just standing and staring at this sculpture. Awe inspiring, and check out that cabin!

Challenged by the Lexus Center in Japan to come up with a design for a future hybrid sport coupe concept, the company’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California, sought to “advance the redefinition of Lexus” with emotive, avant-garde beauty and advanced technology, yet remain within reach for premium buyers.

The movement is not new. “The concept we’re showing here in Detroit continues the Lexus design revolution started with the CT and GS. The concept hybrid 2+2 liberates the idea of a sport coupe and pushes the boundaries of performance, style and technology,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Group VP and GM.

The LF-LC displays the new Lexus design language in its bold interpretation of the signature Lexus spindle grille and rear architecture. Silky curves blend smoothly into dynamic angles, creating a nice blend of lines, shadows and corners.

Framed by a deep aluminum surround, the mesh pattern of the spindle grille takes 3D sculpture form, and the air intakes are functional. Daytime running lights are shaped like an “L” while the vertical fog lamps use a fading dot matrix pattern to suggest a sense of movement.

The concept car’s glass roof features a lightweight, cantilevered pillar with a glass-to-glass juncture inspired by modern architecture. A rising, kick-up window graphic and polished aluminum trim are unexpected elements. Overall, the greenhouse design enhances driver visibility while adding to the sleek lines of the car.

Lexus integrated the spindle grille theme to the rear as well. The tail lamps, inspired by the look of a jet afterburner at take-off, use inner lighting to create a sense of depth. The rear is also fitted with fog lamps, repeating the fading dot matrix pattern of the front. Visually, the integrated tail and fog lamps repeat the “L” shape and lead eyes down to the quad exhausts.

The cockpit is spectacular. The driver is enveloped by deeply scooped side panels and a high, curved console. The effect is to focus the driver zone on the controls and on the road. LF-LC incorporates a remote touch-screen device that allows operation without shifting altering line-of-sight. Twin 12.3-inch LCD screens provide information and navigation display. A pop-up touch-screen keyboard is used to control the ICE, climate and navigation.

Never mind all that, just look at the organic shapes and nice blend of metal trim and wood accents. The beautiful stitch details emphasise the attention to detail here.

This is a design concept, so all we know mechanically is that the LF-LC is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car featuring Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive.

More images of Lexus’ LF-LC Concept have emerged, showing off a sports coupe looking sexy in red. With a recent leak by a US mag, there’s nothing left to hide now, so Lexus has contributed a pic or two to the collection.

The LF-LC is a 2+2 sports coupe that takes the company’s design direction a step further. Conceived as a design exercise to explore the future of Lexus design, the LF-LC was created at the company’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California. for They worked on it for a year and a half. Apparently, Akio Toyoda himself wanted the LF-LC to “have the ‘wow’ factor”.

“Crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “The clean lines of the vehicle emphasise motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic sport coupe.”

The LF-LC will showcase Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive. Nice interior, too.

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It was supposed to only be fully revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, but the Lexus concept that is now known as the LF-LC is a surprise no more, courtesy of a leaked image of the car by a publication, which carried the car in its entirety in a digital preview of its latest magazine.

So, Lexus has now brought out an official image of the LF-LC, which is a 2+2 sports coupe that takes the company’s design direction a step further. Conceived as a design exercise to explore the future of Lexus design, the LF-LC was created at the company’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California.

“Crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “The clean lines of the vehicle emphasise motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic sport coupe.”

Expect more images to come about, now that the rug has been pulled out from under this surprise. So much for all that teasing …

Click to enlarge.

Last week, the new Detroit-bound Lexus concept was teased through a front partial. Now, a second image has come about, this time of the interior. Plenty of leather, wood and aluminium, by the looks of it.

The vehicle, which will make its debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January, is designed by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, California, and is said to showcase the new design direction embraced by the brand. Just how radical that is, we’ll find out on January 9.

Time really flies, doesn’t it. Here we are at the end of 2011, with the major motor show circuit ending with the bi-annual Tokyo Motor Show. And to kick off 2012, major manufacturers will be crossing the Pacific to Detroit, USA, where the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) happens in January.

Designed by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, California, the concept showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus. Just this one image has been released so far, and it looks very sporty.

It looks like Toyota’s premium brand is increasingly taking the sporty route. Look at the latest GS, for instance. While German class rivals such as the BMW 5-Series have gone less sporty, more elegant with the F10, Lexus’ new exec takes over where the E60 left off. And if they continue to blend exterior sportiness with cabin craftsmanship and quality, like in the new GS, the path looks good.

Lexus has revealed another engine option for its all new GS saloon at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition. It’s the GS 250, and we saw it coming.

Back in August, before the launch of the 5-Series fighter at Pebble Beach, it was reported that Lexus will for the first time offer an engine smaller than 3.0 litres in the GS, allowing it to better challenge German rivals, who all have sedans this size with smaller engines. It makes sense for our region, and UK is also a recipient of this variant.

The GS 250 is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine with D-4S direct port injection and Dual VVT-i intelligent valve timing. Maximum output is 206 hp at 6,400rpm and peak torque of 253 Nm is delivered at 4,800 rpm. 0-100 km/h is done in 8.6 seconds on to a top speed of 228 km/h. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 11.2 km/l.

The performance is on a similar level with the F10 BMW 523i, which 2.5-litre straight-six puts out 204 hp and 250 Nm. It does the century sprint a tenth faster than the Lexus.

The V6 is matched to a Super ECT-i close-ratio intelligent six-speed automatic transmission, with a sequential manual shift function. The system has been tuned to deliver faster shift speeds, earlier torque converter lock-up and downshift throttle blips, complimenting a range of different drive modes available through the GS 250’s Drive Mode Select System.

More info and pics of the new GS in our previous post here.