Lexus Might Bring the SC Back

Lexus LF-LC Concept (Credit: © Lexus)

Some people still have fond memories of the Lexus SC, a car that in its final generation was driven by people living in retirement communities as well as polygamist men. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, several automotive publications in Japan and the United States say they have inside information that confirms that the SC shall ride again.

The new version of the old hardtop convertible is rumored to be based on the Lexus LF-LC concept, which was unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Back then, the luxury division said that the car was only a preview of the design cues to come in future models. Now it seems that after a resoundingly positive level of feedback from the public as well as the industry, Lexus is looking to make the concept a production reality.

Most sources state that the new SC will be powered by Lexus’ 5.0-liter V8 engine, which is the same one that sits under the hood of the 2015 Lexus RC F. Power output is rumored to up somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 horsepower. A hybrid option with a V6 gasoline engine is also a strong possibility. The car is also supposed to come with a 10-speed automatic transmission, torque vectoring technology for superior handling in corners, and various lightweight materials in its construction (like carbon fiber).

Perhaps the most exciting part of the news is that the car supposedly will be based on the same platform as the future production version of the FT-1 (which will possibly be called the Supra). Considering the ties that bound the first generation of the SC and the Supra at the time, such a move would seem to make sense.

While nothing is official, sources state that the new SC would launch as a 2017 model. It would go head-to-head against models like the Maserati Gran Turismo and BMW 6 Series.