Lexus revealed a new special edition of the LC in Europe called the “Hokkaido Edition”. The new limited edition features special design touches and is named after the island of Hokkaid?, a luxury tourist destination in Japan famous for its volcanoes, mountainous forests, onsen hot springs and beautiful trails. Hokkaid Island? it is also home to the Lexus Shibetsu proving ground, where sporty models such as the LFA and LC were developed.
The new Lexus LC Hokkaido is available in both coupé and convertible versions. Visually it can be distinguished by 21-inch alloy wheels, a black and chrome-finished grille, and a set of “afterburner-style” taillights. It is exclusively available in Flare Red, Sonic Platinum, F White and Graphite color options, while the LC Convertible is available with a black or red cloth soft top.
The renewed aesthetics of the car
From the front, an aggressive appearance is perceived, a long hood but with well-defined lines that descend towards the front area, pairing perfectly with both the optics and the grill itself. The car’s daytime running lights come in “L” type, and are displayed within a sleek, tapered shell, sharing with the night lights, both featuring advanced LED technology. The grille is black, with the manufacturer’s slogan right in the center; It should be noted that this grill also works as an air intake for the engine. There are two air intakes on the sides of the bumper.
On the sides of the car we have those dark-colored alloy wheels or rims, which know how to hide the brake system made up of calipers and discs on all wheels. The door locks come in the same color as the body, while the mirror caps are matched to a sleek black color. At the bottom and rear of the doors we have two air intakes that presumably improve driving qualities.
The rear of the car is still attractive, and we find brake or stop lights that come with advanced LED technology, the slogan of the car right in the center, two very attractive exhaust outlets, among other details of interest.
inside the cabin
Inside we find a two-tone treatment with dark pink (red) and black tones. In addition to the red-trimmed center tunnel and center console, the driver’s-side door and dash are red, while the rest of the interior is black for a pleasing asymmetry effect. Color choices were inspired by the volcanic nature of the Hokkaido region, while there is also a numbered plaque that communicates its limited character.
What hides under the hood
The customer will be able to get a Lexus LC Hokkaido with a hybrid V6 or V8 engine, just like the “regular” LC. The LC 500h is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 and two electric motors that produce a combined 354 horsepower (264 kW / 359 PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. The more powerful LC 500 is equipped with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 that produces 471 horsepower (351 kW / 477 PS) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque.
Production of the LC Hokkaido Edition is limited to 40 coupes and 40 convertibles by 2022, reserved for European customers; This makes it a very limited edition. Sales in Europe will start from April 2022. We don’t know if Lexus plans to bring the Hokkaido to other markets in the near future, but judging from its strategy with other special editions, it seems like a plausible scenario.
