Latest news with #LC500
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What if Lincoln Made a Performance Sedan to Take On the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing?
Lincoln has long been a symbol of success and elegance in America, but despite building its favourable reputation on large, pompous, and graceful luxury sedans and personal luxury coupes, the marque's contemporary lineup consists exclusively of crossovers and SUVs. Lincoln's last-ever traditional car, the Continental, was discontinued in 2020, and there has been no official announcement of another sedan from Lincoln since. Although it's certainly logical for Lincoln to pursue crossover and SUV buyers, which are undoubtedly the automotive industry's most lucrative segments at the moment, it's still incredibly important for brands to retain products within their portfolio that trace back to the company's roots, honouring brand legacy, and thus maintaining the original ethos of the brand that gets people excited to head down to their local showrooms. Mitsubishi, for example, is a brand that made this fatal mistake, and its sales figures and cultural relevance have suffered as a result. Contrast that with Lexus, which still cashes in on lucrative crossovers and SUVs, but keeps their brand relevant with exciting products that appeal to the inner children in all of us, such as the LC500 and the IS 350 F-Sport sedan. An all-new, four-door sedan from the Ford Motor Company isn't out of the question, either. As our very own Amos Kwon recently reported, the marque's latest patent filings suggest that a four-door sedan variant of the iconic Ford Mustang could be on its way. As sales figures for the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible variants have slipped in recent years, many experts have cited the general public's shift towards more practical sports cars that combine sporting thrills with everyday practicality. A four-door sedan variant of the legendary Mustang pony car could fill that void in Ford's lineup perfectly, but going even further, its underpinnings could serve as a perfect base for a more luxurious, Lincoln-branded high-performance sedan. Using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence and Adobe Photoshop, we take an imagined look at what a revived, true-to-its-roots Lincoln LS V8 could look like, incorporating current Lincoln design elements and styling cues, and imagining what currently existing powertrains it could optimize. These images are for speculation purposes only and in no way depict any actual Ford or Lincoln products. In the early-2000s, Lincoln offered the LS in its showrooms–a mid-size, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan that shared its platform with the Jaguar S-Type and competed against the Cadillac Catera, the first-generation Cadillac CTS, the Lexus GS, and, albeit briefly, the Chrysler 300. Offered with the buyer's choice of a V6 or V8 engine, the Lincoln LS had almost a perfect 50/50 front-rear weight distribution, resulting in admirable driving dynamics and offered a capable blend of luxury and performance. Despite the popularity of Cadillac's CTS and Chrysler's 300, Lincoln never followed up the LS with a true replacement, and instead offered the Ford Fusion-based Lincoln MKZ, which gave up plenty of the sedan's performance appeal and targeted a lower-budget demographic–a questionable decision for a self-proclaimed "luxury" brand. As most of Lincoln's lineup followed suit, morphing its entire portfolio (other than the Navigator) into Ford-based, front-wheel drive sedans and crossovers, Lincoln's "luxury" appeal dwindled, and the marque has spent its more recent years attempting to turn things around. Fast forward to 2025, and Lincoln's current portfolio reflects a truly impressive effort to reclaim the brand's former glory as a genuine luxury automotive brand. Despite consisting entirely of crossovers and SUVs, Lincoln's current lineup has come an incredibly long way in the past five years thanks to its talented design department, refined mechanical engineering, and innovative, up-to-date technology such as Lincoln's BlueCruise drive assist system. What better way to celebrate the brand's recent success and proudly plant the Lincoln flag in the contemporary automotive landscape than with an exciting, heart-pumping performance sedan that shares its underpinnings with a four-door Ford Mustang and has its sights aimed directly at the beloved Cadillac CT5-V, thus exclaiming the brand's competitive intentions to the world? A rear-wheel drive, mid-size Lincoln sedan could provide an excellent blueprint for some serious performance, but it's also ripe for opportunities to integrate some of Ford and Lincoln's smooth and efficient EcoBoost powertrains as well. In its most basic form, the hypothetical, revived Lincoln LS could utilize Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, which serves up a notable helping of 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission and rear- or all-wheel drive, the basic variant of Lincoln's sedan would brilliantly blend comfort, efficiency, and performance, thus maintaining the original philosophy of the early-2000s Lincoln LS. If buyers are after even more power without sacrificing comfort and convenience, the 400-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the current Lincoln Aviator could serve as a fitting optional upgrade. Using the Aviator's available powertrains also opens up the possibility of using the Aviator Grand Touring's plug-in hybrid tech, paired with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, to make a combined total of 494 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque–combining seriously capable performance figures with smooth power output and admirable fuel efficiency. Going a step further, Lincoln could take on the widely-lauded Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing with a high-performance, V8-powered variant. Packing the supercharged, 5.2-liter V8 found under the hood of the previous-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the hypothetical Lincoln LS V8 revival could make up to 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. Mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, or perhaps an optional six-speed manual since we're being ambitious, and sending power to the rear wheels, this variant could give the Cadillac Blackwing a serious run for its money and add some wild performance pedigree to Lincoln's contemporary portfolio. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Although this is just some wild day-dreamy hypothesis of a potential offshoot of Ford's not-yet-officially-confirmed four-door Mustang variant, we can't help but hope that if Ford is truly giving the idea of a rear-wheel drive performance sedan some serious thought, that maybe Lincoln will get a chance to utilize the platform for a model within their very own lineup, allowing the luxury marque to benefit from what would be their first rear-wheel drive based sedan since the Town Car, which hasn't been around since 2011, and even then it was essentially a forty-year-old vehicle. We love Lincoln here at Autoblog and think they've come a long way in their recent years, and we truly believe that their updated design language has made for some of the best-looking Lincoln models we've seen in a very long time. Such fantastic styling would translate incredibly well onto a sedan body, or perhaps even a coupe or cabriolet in an alternate universe where buyers still appreciated fun things, but for the time being we'll gladly settle for Lincoln's elegant current offerings.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
These Are The Cars You'd Put Up With Horrible Gas Mileage To Daily Drive
Earlier this week I asked you to share what cars you would put up with horrible gas mileage to daily drive, something you love so much that fuel economy would be no concern no matter how bad. My example was the Mercedes-AMG G63, which despite going mild-hybrid for 2025 is still horrible inefficient. In a week with one I averaged just 9 mpg, and surely not all the blame goes to my potentially heavy right foot. Even though it has a 26-gallon fuel tank, and fill-ups would cost well over $100 every twice-weekly visit to the pump, I love that damn thing so much that I'd deal with it. (If I was actually in the G-wagen's price bracket, at least.) You all came up with tons of answers — well over one hundred, in fact — so I've whittled it down to my favorite baker's dozen. Some of you even own or owned the inefficient cars you love, which makes this even better. I'm not gonna bother even including the people who just answers "none," because booooo, have some fun. Keep reading to see all of the cars your fellow readers love enough to overlook horrible gas mileage, and let us know your favorites in the comments. Read more: Nobody Does Land Yachts Like Cadillac, And These Are Five Of The Best Ones I currently daily a 4Runner with semi-dumb that one? brother me too. Same, homie. And with the way these damn things run, I'll be driving it to my own funeral. My 5th Gen 4Runner TRD Off Road Daily drove 4runners since 2017. Weekend toy but no room for 3 vehicles in our household. Decided to switch it up to a Bronco Raptor. Similar horrible mileage but 10x more fun. Puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it. We do have an EV6 GT which is used by whomever has the longer drive most days... Suggested by: anon, FUNHAVER, sclass88, Tom, Az_CRaig I can't believe how many of you are out here dailying those old-ass gas-guzzling things. The new one seems like a big improvement, at least. A '66 Lincoln Continental 4 door convertible. The hardtop I had got 9mpg on a good day and drank super unleaded. But I would GLADLY daily that 'vert!! If I drove it 3 out of 5 days to work, since my current daily gets 40mpg (motorcycle, FTW!!), I'd average out to about 21mpg. Suggested by: Stillnotatony I love someone who genuinely dailies something vintage like this. In dreamland, Porsche 911 Turbo S, by the way in dreamland there is never traffic in my way, and my car emits O2 only. We don't live in dreamland, that's why I'm shopping for a Chevy Bolt, or a Leaf currently. In my dreams, either a 911 4S or LC500. Leaning more towards the LC500 based on TCO. My daily is a 911 Targa 4 GTS, gets around 17.5 around town Suggested by: towman, KP, Fluffy_Black_Dog The thing is, these latest 911s actually get pretty great fuel economy given the segment. I've easily seen over 30 mpg on the freeway and into the 20s in regular daily driving. It would have to sound fantastic. Even though my DD is actually an EV, there is a part of me that would like to have something V8 for a short because I've never owned one, and I never tire of the sound of a good V8. So maybe it should be a convertible too. I guess it has to be an LC500 then. The LC500 is a great choice. Supremely comfortable and sounds pretty good too. Gas mileage isn't completely awful either. Suggested by: dolsh, Featherlite One of my favorite cars on sale, and they actually get pretty great gas mileage on the highway. Around town, though, you'll be wanting to floor it everywhere. Once daily drove a 1992 600SEL. If you organize all the cars on the EPA website from 1984-2025 by city or highway or combined MPG, the 600SEL is on the last couple pages with old Lamborghinis and Ferraris lol EPA quoted 10/14/12 but in stop and go traffic the fuel economy gauge that read up to 50mpg (only while idling...) dropped to 0 as soon as you looked at the accelerator pedal, then slowly crept up to 8-12mpg. ''Twas a fascinating time, replaced it with a Geo XFi for a short time before going back to an S320 LWB Suggested by: Tw@t I'm not really a W140, but I'll always support a V12 Mercedes. Sports cars don't count as gas hogs and how many people truly want to DD something stiff, loud and compromised in traffic? For me, the nostalgia of my dad's V10 Excursion Limited is what I would love to DD. We did a little suspension work so it was much smoother and handled better on road, it towed our travel trailer everywhere, took the sports teams all over ,etc. Most tanks it got 10 mpg, I once saw 20 going downhill out of the gas station right after resetting the computer. They look great, the V10 has a great sound and effortless torque, they are supremely comfortable with the right shocks and they are supremely capable. Suggested by: cintocrunch1 One time, when I was living in Detroit, I called a normal Uber just for myself and the guy showed up in a V10 Excursion. I thought that was wild. For a time, my daily driver was an '05 Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab. That beast got single digit mileage in city and maybe cracked 12 on the highway thanks to the Viper V-10 and an old school 4 speed automatic. I loved it because it was just so damn ridiculous on all levels. Then again, I wasn't paying for the gas as it was my company car. I eventually switched out to a Regular cab SRT-10 with Tremec 6-speed that got like 13-14 mpg if I drove conservatively, which was damn near impossible. Would I daily one of those bad boys today? I think I would, especially the regular cab with the Tremec. Yeah, I daily drive my 2005 SRT-10 manual. 13-14mbg around town, but have hit 17 on the highway. Cannot give up the torque or that V10 sound! Suggested by: Factoryhack, n/a God, remember when Dodge used to really be cool? I love that we have multiple Jalops who have owned these. (And sorry, I just had to include that iconic clip.) Why, the car I drive every day! My Volvo 240 Turbo wagon! It gets 17 to 18 MPG whether you baby it or keep your foot in it, so why not enjoy the boost, I say. Out of 30 odd cars I've owned, it's easily one of my favorites, so it's worth it. For comparison, my old non-turbo 240 wagon would regularly turn in 24 to 25 MPG. Suggested by: I_Borgward I miss my 940 Turbo wagon so much. I never really got great gas mileage with it, but especially not after I straight-piped it. A Bowler Defender. In Left hand drive for the US. They have never made one, and never will. But if it existed, I would drive one. Suggested by: 12MileGeo Now we're talkin'. I see a fair bit of chatter on RX8 forums about dailying the RX8. Having one myself, it is a fantastic chassis. I would drive it every day if I didn't have other options. The suicide rear doors also makes it [somewhat] practical. I can take the whole family out in mine. But with only about 200miles of range on the tank at 14mpg and requiring premium fuel, gets to be quite expensive. If Mazda made another rotary-powered GT car that somehow managed to be magically reliable, I'd do it without hesitation, even in spite of horrible fuel economy. As someone who previously pressed 2 different RX-7s and an RX-8 into daily driver duties (though all at different times) I don't think I'd be willing to do it again given the downtime and maintenance headaches. However, if there were a new Cosmo or refreshed RX-8 that didn't give me constant rebuild anxiety, I'd certainly do it. Having owned both RX-7s and an RX-8 in the past, the 8 is definitely my choice for a daily. While more raw, the 7s were too cramped, noisy, and hot as ovens inside to be enjoyable for long periods of time. The RX-8 was probably my favorite car I've owned for long road trips. The seating position never aggravated my back or shoulders, and the car is engaging enough to prevent fatigue caused by sheer boredom. I could manage about 28-30 MPG cruising on the interstate around 70mph, but my mixed mileage was also right around 14 MPG and sometimes as low as 9 MPG in hellish stop and go. While my current cars have more comfort and tech, I do miss how well the RX-8 could chew up hundreds of miles of road and make me smile the whole time. Suggested by: kwhite, Luxurious King If all of the other Rotary-related problems didn't exist, I'd love to daily an RX-8 even if the gas mileage still sucked. What a great car. An E60 M5 manual. I did it for 5 years, getting about 12 mpg and less than 200 miles per tank. And it was sooo worth it. Suggested by: Jordan Sangerman Another awesome V10 vehicle. I love the E60, but the Bangle 6 Series is what really owns my heart. The F150 Raptor is the single best vehicle I've ever owned and I'll drive one as long as they keep making them and they stay as relatively reliable as they are. I've had a lot of great cars and will continue to have more - 911 Turbo S, Audi R8, C6 and C7 Z06, GTR, C63 AMG, S3, S4, etc, but my Raptor is the single best vehicle I've ever owned, even at 15-17mpg on average. Snow, rain, massive potholes, road debris, etc, doesn't matter. Raptor. Comfort for 5 on even a multi-state drive? Raptor. Luxury options, quiet, super easy to drive, Raptor. Towing the cars to the track? Raptor. Jumping this thing off-road and even tackling rocks, this thing will go anywhere it will fit. It's just one those rare vehicles that does everything better than most and lives up to the hype with the most minimal mods necessary to do even more (like adding bags for towing). And worth mentioning my R8 and C63 got much worse mileage than my Raptor on 37s. Suggested by: Dan Putnam Honestly, I get it. Tank, Tank is always the answer. Horrid gas mileage, check, terribly slow, check. Traffic, not with Tank, someone cut you off, not with tank, coworker p*ss you off, not with tank. Suggested by: James Dodson Maybe we should all be driving tanks. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Khaleej Times
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Auto Review: The LC500 was created to prove that Lexus' wild side can't be tamed
George Kuruvilla S pawned from the stunning 2012 LF-LC concept and built on the light, stiff 'GA-L' rear-drive platform, the Lexus LC500 was created to prove that Lexus' wild side, as seen in the LFA supercar, wasn't a one-time affair. We got behind the wheel of the Japanese luxury automaker's flagship sports car to shed light on how it performs in the real world. DESIGN & AESTHETICS Ever imagined an alien craft for the road or the personal transport of a sci-fi hero? That's the vibe the Lexus LC evokes. It has an imposing presence, measuring 4,770 mm—about the size of a mid-size sedan. The spearhead-motif bodywork, emerging from the signature spindle grille, appears pulled back by the wind even when standing still. The multi-contoured fuselage rises towards the rear, featuring triangulated 3D tail lamps with adjacent chrome trims. Flush door handles enhance the seamless surface, while oversized 21-inch forged aluminium wheels make it look like a concept car brought to life. It's so sleek that its 0.33 drag coefficient is surprising — this thing looks like it could slice through anything. And thanks to its rarity, it makes other sports cars look mainstream. The Lexus LC500 has that something special! The LC500 boasts a unique, intricately styled interior with echoes of the LFA supercar. Its futuristic theme feels less post-apocalyptic and more like something from the high point of an advanced future civilisation — sophisticated and clean. For the driver, there's a sporty, leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, aluminium pedals, and a short stick lever for the transmission. It also features a Head-Up Display. A standout detail is the physical bezel around the digital instrument dial, which moves when you switch drive modes, adding a tactile, almost magical charm — though the green warning light slightly spoil the aesthetics. The hazard button is easy to access, and the drive mode selector is conveniently placed on a short stalk on the instrument binnacle. Despite its age, it remains technologically abreast with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen — now an industry-standard size. The cabin maintains a premium feel, thanks to soft leather-upholstered seats, Alcantara, and high-quality plastics. The damped buttons also add an extra touch of luxury. Design cues, like the sculpted metal door handle that feels like a piece of art and the distinctive divider separating the driver's side from the passenger's, keep things unique. While rear seats are present, they're as tight as an ill-fitting corset — but at least they come with ISOFIX points for child seats. POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE As svelte and sophisticated as it looks, the LC500 packs a big, burly naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8. It delivers 478 metric horsepower and 540 Nm of torque to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the intention is 'grand touring', the LC's engine loves to rev high and is far more refined than sloppy American V8s. From a standstill, it hits 100kmph in just under five seconds with some drama, and every time the needle sweeps past 5,000 rpm, the engine delivers an extra kick. The V8's glorious noise alone is reason enough to own one—you want all your senses engaged, after all. Magnesium paddles are on hand when auto mode feels too tame, responding in just a split second — they're quick. Despite its 2,870mm wheelbase, the chassis is playful, adding character to its drive. If it falls away from the racing line, you can tuck it back in with subtle throttle adjustments — without fearing for your life. And if things get too blurry, the large, ventilated discs are ready to reel you back to safety. For city driving, the ride is comfortable and the cabin keeps you isolated from the noise of the traffic-stricken roads. It returned a fuel economy of 13.8L/100km — not bad for a car that's built for the autobahn. FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY The trunk is small, as expected in a car like this, and finding the button to open it isn't easy. Inside, there are two separated cup holders for convenience. The LC500 has a strong air-conditioning system with good cooling and airflow, complemented by effective seat ventilation. It also includes a remote engine starter for those sunny days ahead. The 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system is outstanding, as we've experienced in other Lexus models. While the infotainment graphics are decent, the system can be temperamental at times. Music playback, however, is seamless, and it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also, the centre cubby is small but has a sliding cover and includes both USB-C and USB-A ports. Voice control is surprisingly good and is said to get smarter with time. Furthermore, the 360-degree camera view activates automatically when navigating tight corners, helping prevent scrapes. VERDICT The Lexus LC500 isn't brand new or overrun with tech, but a fresh perspective reveals its charm. It stands apart, almost unaware that it's here to compete. What it is, is a rare and beautifully-styled grand tourer, blending cues from spaceships and sports cars. The interior is futuristic yet clean and sophisticated, with unique details that keep your curiosity piqued. And finally, the kicker is that old-school-yet-refined 5.0-litre V8 that delivers power on demand and a symphony of sounds, which is complemented by a playful chassis. Lexus also ensures long-lasting reliability. Sure, the infotainment isn't flawless, the rear seats are cramped, and it's not for everybody. But then again, would you rather be somebody or 'everybody'?
