This DOHC engine will send more than 300 horsepower to the SC 430's rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission, with that power and a lot of torque available across a broad power band because of the Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) that maximizes the power in more circumstances.
By creating a purpose-built high-performance chassis for this car, Lexus went a long way to providing the excellent body rigidity -- with or without the retractable hardtop -- that is critical to a quiet ride and responsive handling.
So the front and rear double wishbone independent suspension should minimize vibrations and contribute to smooth ride compliance and responsive handling at the same time.
While Kovos was strolling the Riviera working on the SC 430's exterior, Satoru Kuno was in Japan working "to match the purpose and elegance of the exterior lines with an equally emotional interior."
Kuno and his team chose to emphasize the natural beauty of leather and wood, rather than creating unnatural forms from plastic moldings.
"I started by looking at simple materials with intrinsic beauty -- materials like natural leather and wood," says Kuno. "These materials have unique, natural constraints on how they can be manipulated, so rather than using plastic that can be freely molded, I chose to work with materials that have limits."