Because great looks also warrant great noise.
The Lexus LC500 luxury coupe, set for its Australian debut in May, is purported to arrive with no less that two powertrains to tempt buyers. The smaller of the two drivetrain options is a 3.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid combination, with the larger of the two being a very familiar 5.0-litre V8.
We say ‘familiar’ because we’ve seen it before, in the manic RC-F coupe and the even more manic GS-F saloon. According to the senior technical trainer at Lexus Europe, Stefan Ramarkers, engineers have worked very hard to be able to offer an even more incredible aural experience with the LC500, compared to what may have been sampled before, when this engine was used in other applications.
Ramaekers remarked, “Having a V8 is nice, but listening to a V8 is even nicer. Our engineers thought the same and for that reason we have introduced a sound generator device – nothing electronic going on, the sound generator is the link between the induction system of the engine and the passenger cabin. There’s tubing going straight from your air intake box, through the sound generator and then into the cabin. But the size and length of the tubing has been fine-tuned, so that the best vibrations from engine induction make it into the cockpit.”
To ensure that onlookers aren’t spared from the V8’s howl, Ramaekers noted, “The clamshell muffler has two entry ports, one of which can be shut down for a quiet drive. But as soon as you start accelerating in Sports model, those valves open, and you get the eight-cylinder symphony.” The LC500’s symphony will be backed up by a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring lots of ratios for that symphony to keep on playing.
We’re certainly looking forward to the LC500’s local introduction in the coming months. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
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