The 2018 Lexus LC 500 will make its big screen debut in the highly anticipated film "Black Panther." Lexus has collaborated with Marvel Studios in the hopes of attaining a younger customer base.
Toyota's luxury division recently released a new "Black Panther" trailer that puts the 2018 LC 500 at the forefront. The clip shows T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) suiting up as the Black Panther. He then backflips onto the hood of the luxury sedan, which is being driven remotely by his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright).
According to Lexus, the 2018 LC 500 is the perfect match for the Black Panther as they are both able to seamlessly blend technology, performance and innovation. Moreover, the luxury sedan's aggressive design language and dynamic driving experience complement the Black Panther's quick reflexes and superhuman abilities.
In the movie, the luxury sedan is powered by the mythical vibranium, which is native to the Black Panther's homeland of Wakanda. The special project car features include a bulletproof chassis, a Black Panther mask inlay on the hood, a pulsating underbody glow and panther's claw-inspired side view mirrors.
The choice to collaborate with Marvel on "Black Panther" was no accident, according to Lexus' vice president of marketing Cooper Ericksen. It has cultural significance as the first superhero film to feature a predominantly African-American cast. Through the 2018 LC 500's cameo appearance, Lexus hopes to capture the attention of a new audience — one that will appreciate their shift towards a sportier, high-performance image.
"We are going after a younger customer, and just from a demographic standpoint, the younger you go, the more culturally diverse the population gets. The task to hit our sales plan really comes from bringing a lot of new customers into the brand," Ericksen explained.
While consumers may not get the accoutrements featured in the "Black Panther," they will still get a performance vehicle powered by a 471-horsepower V8 engine with the capability to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 4.8 seconds.
The 2018 Lexus LC 500 will be available to purchase this spring with a starting price of $92,000. Meanwhile, "Black Panther" will premiere in theaters on Feb. 16.
