Black Panther was recently opened in theaters in the Philippines and its undoubtedly a big hit! Early word and audience reaction have been extremely positive. The film has enjoyed quite a stellar opening weekend at the box office with $180 million in the United States and $23.2 million in overseas returns. Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. It is one of the most highly anticipated films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film’s plot shortly follows after the events of Captain America: Civil War, where the Black Panther (Boseman) returns home to the fictitious African nation of Wakanda, to succeed his late father. Luxury car brand Lexus has come in for an extremely cool collaboration. The film heavily features the new 2018 Lexus LC 500, as the Black Panther’s referred vehicle. “With cutting-edge technology, aggressive styling, and unrivalled performance, the LC is the perfect complement for the king of Wakanda, the ruler of the world’s most technologically advanced kingdom,” said Lexus in a press release.
“Marvel continuously captures audiences through charismatic characters and inspiring stories—the ideal fit for Lexus’ mission to craft an amazing, engaging experience. And the LC’s aggressive styling, high performance and agile handling are a perfect fit for the Black Panther’s quick, cat-like reflexes and superhuman feats. We’re excited to see the duo in action,” said Lexus Marketing General Manager Brian Bolian.
The 2018 LC continues the company’s mantra in bringing top-notch Japanese craftsmanship to the world through luxury automobiles. Powered by a 470 bhp engine, the car matches the Black Panther’s superhuman energy and drive. To match the superhero’s reflexes, the LC has been equipped with aluminium and carbon fiber to reduce weight and optimize dynamic handling. Marrying sleek new design with innovative technology, the car’s Structural Blue pigment reflects nearly 100% of light compared to the conventional 50%.
In addition, Lexus has worked closely with Marvel Custom Solutions to create an original graphic novel by Fabian Nicieza. The cover and illustrations have been done by emerging graphic artists Scott “Rahzzah” Wilson and Szymon Kudranski. The story revolves around Black Panther and how he brings down a legendary villain with the help of his Lexus LC 500. “This campaign clicked from the get-go. We have this bold, sophisticated hero stepping into the spotlight for the first time, and it’s been a blast to work with the Lexus team to build out a story that will familiarize fans with T’Challa as well as his advanced home nation of Wakanda,” states SVP of Global Partnerships Mindy Hamilton.
Ushering in a new era of design and engineering at Lexus, the LC 500 is expressive and stylish, with enhanced dynamic capability and performance. Additional information on the LC 500 in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther can be found on https://www.lexus.com.ph/en/discover-lexus/black-panther.html. Details of the flagship coupe can be found on https://www.lexus.com.ph/en/models/lc.html.
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By Chino R. Hernandez
