Lexus Just Trademarked The 'LC F' Name, And You Should Be Very Excited

With 467bhp available in the top spec 500 version, the Lexus LC is hardly a car that’s crying out for more power. But hey, we’re greedy, and we can’t help but imagine what one of the most striking coupes on sale might be like with a few more horses to play with. The good news is, it might well happen.

As originally reported by Autoguide, Toyota’s Luxury brand has filed a trademark application for the name ‘LC F’ in Europe. It’s no guarantee of an extra sportified LC, but it’s a damn good sign. So how might such a car shape up?

You’d think the 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 doing service in the LC 500, RC F and GS F is about at the limit of what it can reliably produce without applying forced induction, a route we’d be surprised to see Lexus take. A more likely answer could come in the form of hybrid tech.

While the thought of that glorious N/A 5.0-litre V8 supplemented with instant electric torque is a highly tantalising one, it’s unfortunately much more likely that the V6 - already used with hybrid power - would be the starting point for such a project. Speaking to Autocar last year, Lexus chief engineer Koji Sato had the following to say:

“Lexus is a pioneer of hybrid systems and perhaps we have a role to show that hybrid has more capability now….So maybe the LC 500h is the car that would satisfy the requirement for a faster car.”

Still, the BMW i8 proves that hybrid sports cars are brilliant in their own unconventional way regardless of cylinder count, so we say bring it on.