HOLY HYBRID

New Lexus is just the sort of car to make you feel like a superhero

The Lexus LC500 comes straight out of the pages of a Marvel comic book — a wide, low-slung grand tourer that never fails to turn heads on the road.

The sweeping coupe with massive rear haunches draws attention to itself whether it is tearing down the road, or sitting idle in central city car park.

But not all top-of-the-range Lexus LC500 grand tourers are the same — some are powered by a 5-litre V8 engine, propelling the car from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

Others, like our test car, are powered by a V6 engine coupled with a 264Kw electric motor and the Lexus hybrid system. But good luck spotting the difference.

The LC500h has blue-highlighted badging and the little “h” on it, but is otherwise identical in appearance to the V8 model. And it takes just seconds longer to speed from zero to 100km/h.

Both sell for $215,000, including the optional carbon fibre roof package, which includes other desirable tweaks on the car such a form of rear-wheel-steering and carbon fibre door sills and inserts.

The problem with the LC500h is its reason for being — while it is more economical (a claimed 6.7 litres/100km vs 10.9 litres/100km) than its slightly brisker sibling, the dramatic appearance of the car cries out to be accompanied by a V8 soundtrack.

Putting that reservation aside, the LC500h is a terrific car to drive, whether weaving through twisty coastal secondary roads or cruising along the motorway.

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