AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: LEXUS LF-LC CONCEPT

On The Cover Review: Lexus LF-LC Concept

Editor's Note: Each year, The Automobile Red Book visits the prestigious North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Thanks to worldwide coverage, the NAIAS draws the latest and greatest from car and truck manufacturers around the globe. Many of them use this venue to showcase their newest concept cars. Although not available to the public, these cars often predict the styles and trends that may hit the streets in the near future. This is the fifth in a series of The Automobile Red Book’s annual review of some of the best concepts from COBO Hall.

From the front, the radical Lexus LF-LC Concept looks similar to the alien in the movie Predator. You would not want to be alone in the forest if this thing was milling about. But even with a look that is all evil, the LF-FC travels on Toyota’s usual path of social responsibility. Yes, this car is a hybrid. What kind of hybrid, we’re not exactly sure, but the exterior package certainly packs quite a wallop compared to a Prius. Lexus considers this car a design study, and indeed, many of the cues on this car are expected to appear on production cars in the near future. In fact, it is rumored that a production version of this car may actually hit dealer showrooms. That shouldn’t be too surprising, though. The hybrid powertrain beneath the production CT 200H looks to be a good match to this size of sports car. And any company that would sell the breathtakingly expensive (and similar looking) LFA sports car is liable to do anything.