According to a CarAdvice interview with the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, the LF-CC concept that debuted last week at the Paris Motor Show may be a preview of the next-generation IS and a brand new separate coupe model:

Lexus used the 2012 Paris motor show to unveil its LF-CC concept that previews the company’s next-generation IS.

Ise-san, however, suggested the production version of the 3-Series coupe rival may adopt a different badge to the IS sedan.

“We’re not saying this is an IS coupe,” he said, “but it is a D-segment [3 Series class] car.”

Ise-san said the new IS sedan and the spin-off two-door will challenge the BMW 3 Series for driver enjoyment.

This would definitely add weight to the theory that the LF-CC is an composite of two distinct models — in fact, mentioning BMW as a main competitor may foreshadow Lexus’s strategy.


For the first time ever, BMW will be separating their entry-level model into two separate designations — the sedan will remain a 3-series, while the coupe & convertible will become the all-new 4-series. These newly-divided models from BMW will have one other key difference beside the number of doors* — the 4-series will be longer, placing it between the 3-series and 5-series sedans in length.

While it’s just pure guesswork on my part, it’s possible that Lexus may do something similar by making this new coupe bigger than an IS but smaller than the GS — this would have the potential of appealing to both IS & GS buyers looking for a coupe, and it opens the door for a future coupe to sit between the GS & LS.

But beyond all the speculation on size, the name itself makes for a good guessing game — what do you think this new model be called?

(* I purposely ignored the BMW 4-series four-door gran coupe, which just confuses everything.)

At the recent 2012 Paris Motor Show, Lexus unveiled its LF-CC Concept which lead many to conclude that it was the Japanese automaker’s future IS Coupe model.

It appears, however, that the hybrid coupe won’t be making its production appearance for at last another one to two years, according to Kiyotaka Ise, president of Lexus International. But even more surprising is that Ise confirmed that what we’re looking at with the LF-CC Concept is not an IS coupe, despite it being a similar size to the IS.

There has been a good deal of confusion around the LF-CC Concept as Lexus confirmed it previewed an upcoming D-segment coupe. While the D-segment is the mid-size category for vehicles like the GS in North America, technically, the IS is classified as a D-segment car in Europe.

Now it appears as though Lexus intends to brand an IS-sized coupe as an entirely new model, using new nomenclature.

If there is one thing we can count on it’s that the next-generation Lexus IS will focus on hybrid power. Ise believes that the Japanese automaker is superior in technology, volume, and quality.

JAPAN is readying a potential rival to the BMW M3.

Lexus is doing the work and it's reflected in the great looking LF-CC concept car at the Paris motor show.

The new coupe is clearly a pointer to next year's replacement for the compact IS four-door sedan but, even more, the pumped-up look and a high-performance hybrid power pack point to a bigger target.

"This is the concept for the coupe that we want to launch as soon as possible. In the near future. One or two years," the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, confirms to Carsguide at the Paris motor show.
He laughs when the talk turns to a Lexus rival to the M3.
But there is no denial.

"Steadily I think the driving performance is going up. In terms of driving performance, people are looking for and wanting a more aggressive driving performance," he says.

And what about the size and design future of the IS, as reflected in the LF-CC?

"This is a similar size type to an IS," Ise admits. "We're not really in a position to say anything but we're not denying it. It's not an IS coupe, but I think it will meet your expectation."

Earlier this year, Carsguide was told of a plan for TMG, which produced Toyota's latest hybrid Le Mans racer, to expand its German base into a facility to rival Mercedes AMG and BMW M. The announcement was made by the head of TMG, Yoshiaki Kino****a.

But Ise denies any plan and is defiant on Kino****a's announcement.
"I don't care what he says. We don't have any plans to have TMG be like AMG."

Even so, he says the technology in the Lexus V10-powered supercar, the LF-A, is trickling down through the range and the company is looking to boost its following with luxury buyers.

"For our competitors - Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi - driving performance is very important. We want to have an emotional driving connection," he says.
"I think when the car reaches the certain level, it's not whether you win or lose. It's the preference. I think it's more a matter of taste for the driver. But I think we've reached the top."

In the case of the upcoming IS, the focus is switching to hybrid power. The LF-CC concept is fitted with a car that combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with electric power, aiming for CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km.

But it's still a performance pack and the engine combines an Atkinson combustion cycle with direct fuel injection. The concept is also rear-wheel drive.

"I think it's actually an advantage for us," says Ise, who also believes Toyota still leads on hybrids. "In technology, volume and quality we are superior.

A production coupe based on the Lexus LF-CC is still one to two years away, according to a news.com.au interview with the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise:

“[The LF-CC] is the concept for the coupe that we want to launch as soon as possible. In the near future. One or two years,” the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, confirms to Carsguide at the Paris motor show.

And what about the size and design future of the IS, as reflected in the LF-CC?
“This is a similar size type to an IS,” Ise admits. “We’re not really in a position to say anything but we’re not denying it. It’s not an IS coupe, but I think it will meet your expectation.”

While this may be a case of Lexus managing expectations, a two-year timeframe is not unusual — BMW introduced the new 3-series sedan last October and have yet to release the rumored 4-series coupe, while the gap between the Mercedes C-Class sedan and coupe was four years long.

Still, this does mean a long wait until the Lexus lineup has a coupe.
(Ise-san’s comments also confirm one other point — this coupe will not share the same name with the IS.)