It seems that Lexus have been able to extract even more performance out of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 as it gets ready to go on sale from May 2017.

The vehicle was announced as a production coupe at the 2016 North American International Auto Show back in January. However, Lexus revealed that the vehicle would be making 467 bhp from the 5.0-liter V-8 motor. One of the few naturally aspirated motors developing such a high amount of power, the motor was also reportedly capable of 389 lb-ft of torque. Lexus, though, have revealed that the vehicle now makes 471 bhp and 398 lb-ft of torque.

Lexus has also put up a model for the environment conscious buyer and it has natural resulted to the hybrid technology, which it is so great at making. The LC 500h hybrid comes with a much smaller 3.5-liter V-6 motor, which will be assisted by a small electric motor, to make a combined 354 bhp. Even though the vehicle technically uses a CVT transmission, it is unlike any other seen in a performance car since it manages to combine a four-speed final drive with a multi-stage hybrid system to make it feel like a 10 speed gearbox. The result is the higher efficiency of CVT transmission coupled with the feel of a normal gearbox but with 10 gears.

Even though the Lexus LC 500 and the Lexus LC 500h hybrid are designed for global markets, much of the sales is expected to come from the US markets. Only the hybrid was designed with getting more sales in the Chinese market. As with any other Lexus vehicle, the 2018 Lexus LC 500 will start at a premium of $90,000 while the hybrid version is priced at $10,000 more. Lexus are expecting 20% of these performance vehicles sold in the United States to be hybrids.

There are four trim levels of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 – base, touring, sport, and sport plus. Lexus is reportedly contemplating the possibility of accepting preorders even though the official availability of the vehicle is still several months away. The new Lexus performance car will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe, BMW 650i, Maserati GranTurismo, and Porsche 911. Much of these cars are at the end of their life cycle and the 2018 Lexus LC 500 may present a viable and futuristic option when it becomes available from May 2017.