The Lexus LC500h Is Here To Be Your Rs 1.96 Crore Luxury Sports Tourer

• Features a stunning design and an Alcantara and leather interior.
• Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
• Total hybrid system power output is 359PS and 348Nm of torque.

Lexus has launched the LC500h hybrid sports car in India for Rs 1.96 crore (ex-showroom pan-India). It is a sporty luxury car -- a grand tourer with a V6 hybrid powertrain. Its rivals include the Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 Coupe and the BMW 8 Series. Read our first-drive review if you’re in the market for a sporty grand tourer.

Under the bonnet lies a 3.5-litre Atkinson cycle naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine. On its own, it makes 299PS of power. The gearbox itself is a one-of-a-kind 10-speed unit comprising a 3-step CVT and a 4-speed torque converter. It transmits power to the rear wheels, where two individual 110kW electric motors contribute to a total output of nearly 360PS and 350Nm.

The LC500h is an instantly recognisable Lexus given its razor-sharp angles and massive grille. A long bonnet leads to a wide rear end. At the rear, tail lamps have a softer look and the dual exhausts flank a functional diffuser.

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The outrageous exterior gives way to a brilliantly appointed interior. Function takes precedence over form here with features such as a digital driver’s display and an advanced infotainment display. It can read speed limit signs and even identify petrol pumps nearby if you’re running low on fuel.

To protect you from the hazards in the road, there’s the Lexus Safety+ system. It includes pre-collision braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive headlamps, lane-keeping assist, and departure warning. Its adaptive cruise control system can operate at all speeds including in stop-and-go traffic. The LC500h also gets blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, and ten airbags.

It sits on the same Global Architecture - Luxury (GA-L) platform as the LS500h sedan. The steel, aluminium and carbon fibre construction still makes this a 2-tonne car. That’s why it takes 4.7 seconds to get to 100kmph from a standstill. This is not a supercar or a V8 sports car, but do Lexus customers really want a supercar?

As a rear-wheel-drive V6 hybrid sports car with two doors and effectively two seats, the LC500h doesn't have any direct competitors in India. The Jaguar F-Type is quicker but less luxurious and the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupe is luxurious but more expensive. Nevertheless, the LC500h’s cushy interior, sporty suspension, ample power, safety features, and a claimed fuel economy of 15kmpl could make it a desirable highway companion. Now when can we have another go at it?