Lexus prides itself on creating a welcoming environment in its cars. With this in mind, the LC interior has been crafted to provide a high degree of driving pleasure. It achieves this through a combination of elegance, comfort, sophistication and intricate attention to detail.
Having previously focused on dynamic design elements of the new LC’s exterior, let us now examine some of the luxuriously crafted highlights of the coupe’s meticulously appointed cabin.
Lexus LC interior: design
The area around the front seats demonstrates a clear connection between interior and exterior zones, the bonnet line continuing through the windscreen to greet the rising line of the metallic door trim. From the generous door aperture and low sill height to the amount of legroom beneath the dashboard, there is a sense that the area around you spreads outwards to create a comfortable and welcoming space.
Enhancing that feeling is the low-profile, layered instrument panel and compact air vents. Meanwhile, the svelte front pillars and low bonnet line afford an excellent view of the road ahead, despite a seating position that contributes to the LC’s low centre of gravity.
Throughout the cabin the quality and finish of the upholstery, trim materials and detailing reflect Takumi craftsmanship and the fine attention to detail for which Lexus is renowned worldwide. This is witnessed in the hand-stitching of the leather gearshift lever, the draping treatment of the Alcantara door panels, and the discreet use of the Lexus L motif in areas such as the face of the analogue clock and even the tactile raised surfaces of the air vent controls.
Lexus LC interior: steering wheel and controls
Particular attention has been paid to the steering wheel design, with the cross-section around its 365mm circumference subtly changing to allow for variations in grip and twisting of the wrist. The heated area of the rim covers the entire circumference and the temperature is adjustable.
Dimpled leather is employed on both sides of the wheel and the centre pad combines soft leather and perfectly aligned stitching. Linking these areas are two banks of controls, which for the first time on a Lexus include button-type switches for the cruise control system.
Large magnesium alloy paddle shifters retain their position in relation to the steering wheel. They are specially profiled for fingertip interaction and respond with a satisfying click action.
Lexus LC interior: seat design
Providing all occupants with a seat that offers the best possible combination of support and comfort was a focus point in the development of the LC’s interior. The process for developing such a new front seat went through an exhaustive 50 test cycle, leading to a finished product that features ten-way electrical adjustment with a memory function for the driver’s seat, heating elements across the base, back and sides, and suction-type ventilation for cooling.
The front seats adopt a two-part construction technique in which the main cushioning element of the seatback is draped as an additional layer over the central area. Additional bolstering around the occupant’s shoulder blade area increases lateral support, while moulded resin inserts improve the holding performance of the side bolsters. Together these keep the occupant’s back in place during high-speed cornering.
Meanwhile, the squab uses a concave shape to ensure excellent support for the pelvis, aligning the body to evenly distribute pressure from front to back. The result is a supremely comfortable seat that offers the perfect fit.
What’s more, the front seats are positioned so the occupants’ hip point is as close as possible to the coupe’s centre of gravity. This is especially important for the driver as it helps to deliver accurate feedback, instilling confidence in the car.
The two rear seats feature similar stitching and three-dimensional shape to enhance holding performance. They are separated by a central mound extending from the console, which includes a front-facing subwoofer.
Lexus LC interior: colours
All Lexus LC models are sumptuously appointed in semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, with contrasting silver brightwork. Four interior colour options are available, each of which allows customers to create a distinctive and individual cabin that projects a sporty or luxurious look.
The bold monotone of the Black interior scheme accentuates the contrast between the leather and Alcantara. Though drawing from the same colour palette, this combination of materials with different textures and reflective qualities is designed to be seductive to the senses.
A similar approach but very different effect is seen in the luxurious Ochre interior. This scheme combines warmly harmonising yet low contrast shades of brown to project a calm environment that evokes natural scenery.
The Dark Rose option combines the leather and Alcantara materials with a stimulating duo of black and rose red colours. Its aim is to exude a sporty image that evokes the LC’s driving performance.
The fourth colourway option is Breezy Blue, which creates an extraordinarily distinctive and individual atmosphere. It combines a mid-blue finish across the door trims, steering wheel, instrument panel and centre armrest with contrasting white seat upholstery and vivid orange for the door panels and shift lever surround. This is the scheme chosen for the desirable LC Launch Edition model.
Learn more: Exterior design features of the Lexus LC
