The Lexus LC 500h makes an unlikely bet: a hybrid coupe can feel more engaging if its continuously variable transmission has another gearbox behind it. The choice suits a car whose sculpted body, low stance and spindle grille promise drama before the powertrain has uttered a sound.
The mechanical arrangement is more purposeful than it first appears. A planetary gearset divides power between the gasoline V6 and electric motor-generators, allowing engine speed and road speed to vary independently. That's the hybrid foundation. Lexus adds a four-speed automatic in series, giving the system a wider spread of effective ratios. A low ratio helps multiply torque when accelerating from a stop; a higher ratio allows more relaxed engine speeds at cruising pace. The arrangement also lets the V6 climb through its rev range more readily under acceleration, rather than holding a steady note while road speed catches up.
The payoff is character, though not without compromise. The transmission can provide stepped responses that resemble conventional gear changes, and manual mode offers ten simulated ratios rather than ten physical gears. It feels more deliberate. Yet the added hardware brings complexity, and the relationship between engine sound and acceleration can still differ from that of a conventional automatic. For a grand touring coupe, the calculation is an intriguing one: preserve the calm of hybrid travel, but give the driver enough movement and sound to make the long road feel less remote.
