Lexus LF-LC Sports Coupe Photo Scans Leak on the Web : Detroit Show Video

While Lexus was planning a slow strip tease for its 2012 Detroit Motor Show-bound sports coupe concept, the folks over at Autoblog.com discovered a video teaser from the 2012 February issue of Road & Track magazine, giving us our first look at the car, which will carry the LF-LC moniker.

We don’t get any additional information on the rakish concept model, though in one of the photos, it looks like there's a "HYBRID" badge right in front of the rear wheel arch.

Lexus has previously told us that the design of the LF-LC would hint at a new design direction for the brand's future models.

We reckon that after the leak, the Japanese carmaker will probably come out with official pictures of the LF-LC soon, so stay tuned for more.

Story References: Road&Track via Autoblog.com

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Lexus LS TMG Edition 650HP Spied on Video: Are Those the Sounds of a V8 or a V10?

Our trusty spies have scored another touchdown with the high-performance, wide-body Lexus LS saloon that has piqued our interest over the past few days.

We already know it is called the Lexus LS TMG Edition and that it is being developed by the Japanese group's Toyota Motorsports GmbH division, formerly known as Toyota Team Europe, based in Cologne, Germany.

Toyota's subsidiary was responsible for firm's World Rally Championship cars starting from the 1970s right up to the 1990s, but now works on various special projects.

Thanks to the leaked spec sheet, we also learned that under the hood of the LS TMG Edition lies a 5.0-liter engine capable of spinning up to 9,000 rpm cranking out a husky 650-ponies and a peak torque of 710Nm (524 lb-ft).

While there are no other details on the engine, the spec sheet notes that the 2,070kg (4,564 pounds) LS TMG completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 320km/h (199mph).

The new scoop video not only gives us a better view of the Lexus LS TMG Edition as it laps the Nürburgring, but it also allows us to hear the 5.0-liter engine, which brings us to today's question: Having listened to the sounds of the LS TMG, do you think it's a V8 unit, possibly sourced from the IS-F, or a V10 derived from the LFA?

Have your say in the comments section below.

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IAA 2011: New Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan

Lexus GS 450h Hybrid Sedan

Having revealed the new gasoline-only GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Lexus chose the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt for the unveiling of the hybrid variant that we will come to know as the GS 450h.

The full hybrid model is based on the fourth generation body style and it uses a 290-horsepower, 3.5l-itre V6 Atkinson cycle petrol engine, in conjunction with a two-motor hybrid system.

The total system output is 343-horses [DIN] at 6,000 rpm and 345Nm (255 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,600 rpm. Power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential-shift E-CVT.

The Japanese company says it has made improvements to every aspect of its second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system, achieving both substantial reductions in fuel consumption, CO2, NOx and PM emissions, while also promising performance that is on par with comparable V8-powered rivals.

In European specification, the GS 450h completes the sprint from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 5.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 250km/h (155mph).

In the European driving cycle, average fuel consumption has been reduced by 18% to 6.3lt/100 km (equal to 37.3mpg US or 44.8mpg UK), while CO2 emissions have fallen to below 145g/km.

Notable new technologies making their debut on the GS 450h include an energy saving air conditioning system that is said to be 10 times more powerful than the previous system while significantly reducing power consumption and a second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) linked to a gigantic 12.3-inch multi-information display screen.

Compared to its predecessor, while keeping the same overall length, the new GS has a 10mm shorter front overhang, a 10mm longer rear overhang and is 30mm taller. Furthermore, the front track has been increased by 40mm and the rear track by 50mmm while the overall width has increased by 20mm.

The repackaging of the hybrid battery into a stacked format helps increase the GS 450h’s luggage capacity to 465 litres (55% increase over current GS 450h).

Exclusive styling features to the hybrid GS 450h include a different headlamp design that aligns the turn signal and the high and low beam LED lamps in a single horizontal row, hybrid-specific, front rear and side blue badging and hidden exhaust pipe apertures. Inside, the differences over the GS 350 include a real bamboo-finish for the steering wheel and a bespoke hybrid monitor display.

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