Toyota has trademarked two model names for the Lexus brand. “LC 500″ and “LC 500h” have been registered and are presumed to be a flagship grand tourer.

The LC takes its name from the LF-LC Concept, which was previously thought to augur a revival of the SC, the stylish sports coupe introduced in 1992. However, it appears that the luxury 2+2 will now launch a new nameplate altogether.

The LC is also the likely answer to the much-speculated “successor” for the Lexus LFA. While not a “second-generation” of the supercar per se, it will occupy a halo position in the Lexus lineup. Instead of a V10, the LC is expected to utilize a version of the Lexus RC F‘s 5.0L 467hp V8. Likewise, its sticker price will probably be quite a bit lower than the LFA’s $375,000.

The “500h” appears to confirm a hybrid version as well. The exact powertrain for that model is unknown, though it could be a version of the 5.0L V8 hybrid found in the LS 600h.

Chassis-wise, the LC might ride on a modified version of the next-generation LS platform. The flagship sedan is due in late 2016, and the LC 500 and 500h are expected to arrive in late 2017.

A report coming out of England finds Volkswagen could be preparing to enter the highly-competitive world of Formula 1.
According to the BBC, the Wolfsburg-based automaker has reportedly asked Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari’s former team principal, to prepare a report that outlines the pros and cons of participating in F1. Anonymous sources close to Volkswagen have revealed that executives believe F1 would be a better promotional tool for the brand than its successful World Rally Championship program.

Volkswagen’s motivation for considering an entry into F1 appears to be largely financial. The BBC reports that Mercedes-Benz, which recently won this year’s F1 Constructor’s Championship, spent about $160 million on its F1 program. The automaker’s television appearances over the course of the season amounted to about $2.8 billion when converted into advertising value.

During the same time period, the Volkswagen Group spent about $393 million on its miscellaneous motorsports programs but the advertising value of its on-screen appearances amounted to merely $30 million.

Some sources claim that Volkswagen would go racing by inking a deal with the Austrian Red Bull team while others believe it would form its own team from the ground up. Regardless, 83-year old F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and 77-year old Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piëch have had a difficult relationship for decades so analysts expect Volkswagen will not commit to the sport until one of the two executives steps down.

Volkswagen has refused to provide insight into its motorsport future and flatly denied all F1-related rumors.

Chinese-owned MG is putting the final touches on its first-ever crossover, and a pair of leaked low-resolution images might have revealed it ahead of its scheduled debut at next year’s Shanghai Motor Show.
Tentatively called GTS, the compact soft-roader is being designed to substantially increase MG’s share of the Chinese new car market. As expected, the GTS bears more than a passing resemblance to the CS concept that debuted at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show but its front end is closer to that of the Golf-sized MG5 hatchback and its overhangs are longer. The concept has lost several inches of ground clearance, its LED headlights and its oversized rims in its transition to a regular-production vehicle.

MG’s top brass has previously revealed that the crossover will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline-burning four-cylinder engine that will send 200 horsepower and 213 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via either a manual or an automatic transmission. Performance figures are not available but the GTS is expected to be pretty brisk to drive in order to appeal to a young target audience.

Entry-level models will utilize a 135-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder mill currently found under the hood of the aforementioned MG5.

Under the GTS’ show car-inspired skin lies a modified version of the Ssangyong Korando’s platform. It is too early to tell precisely how many components the two crossovers have in common.

MG’s first crossover will land in showrooms across China next spring and it will likely be added to automaker’s lineup in England shortly after. England-bound models will be assembled from complete knock-down (CKD) kits in MG’s historic Longbridge factory.