What type of transmission does the Lexus LC 500h use that combines a CVT with a 4-speed automatic?

The Lexus LC 500h uses a Multi-stage Hybrid transmission, combining a continuously variable transmission with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

Lexus developed the system for the LC 500h to make its hybrid drivetrain feel more like a performance car. The planetary continuously variable transmission manages the relationship between the gasoline engine and electric motor, while the added four-speed automatic section changes the final drive ratio across four stages.

Together, the two gearsets create the effect of 10 selectable ratios in manual mode. The system can therefore keep the V6 in an efficient operating range while also giving the driver more familiar stepped responses during acceleration. In automatic mode, software selects the appropriate ratio for speed, load, and driving conditions.

The term “e-CVT” can be misleading here. The LC 500h does contain a planetary-type CVT, but its defining feature is the additional four-speed automatic gearset. That combination is why Lexus calls it Multi-stage Hybrid rather than an ordinary single-ratio e-CVT.