Do you want to drive an exotic near-supercar as a daily driver; enjoy its luxury, performance and gorgeous looks and part with it for high dollars? Who wouldn’t?
You may not have much time to make it a reality with declining sales of the Lexus LC 500. Its limited production makes the hardtop and convertible all the more valuable down the road. Lexus’ $375,000 LFA supercar bones are built into every LC. The LCs have come off a high of 2,782 units sold yearly with decreasing numbers since its 2017 debut.
Available as a hardtop and convertible since 2019, the LCs are powered by a naturally aspirated V-8 producing 471 horsepower or a V-6 hybrid powertrain. The former is our preference, although the hybrid’s 354 hp gas-electric combo is no slouch with its continuously variable transmission. Our soft top tester rumbled on command as a throaty V8 and takes the prize for the poshest interior amongst rivals.
In our independent testing, the new LC clocked 4.5 ticks in the zero to 60 mile per hour run. While it trails Porsche 911, AMG models and the mid-engine Corvette, it leads the pack with stand-out lines, run-flat paws and performance brakes.
Sport and Sport Plus modes will not disappoint as the 10-speed automatic transmission rips through the gears. Eco and Comfort round out the driving modes with improved gas mileage.
We’ve said this before. The 500 LC is a driver’s car with full power wrap-around seating up front. While a rear seat is included, think of it as a posh, upholstered cargo area that backs up a five-cubic foot trunk. We fit two golf large clubs in the rear seat section.
Interior craftsmanship is superb with form-fitting front seats, rich leathers and micro-suede touches. Hidden cupholders pop up from the center console and a generous bin is ideal for stashing electronic stuff. Early Lexus cars, including the LCs, were plagued with a touchpad-controlled infotainment system that finally gave way to a 12.3-inch user friendly touchscreen in this year’s LC models. Our soft top was four layers thick with neck heaters and a wind deflector to make the drive more enjoyable. The convertible goes topless in about 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Body panels lift up and out of the way to make room for the folding soft top.
A full suite of safety features is standard fare in the LC 500 and includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist with steering assist and lane departure alert, intelligent headlamps and blind spot monitors with rear cross traffic alert.
New this year is a Bespoke Build Program, a $5,500 option that offers exclusive paint, upholstery, trim, wheel and feature combinations not available with the well-equipped standard offerings. It’s worth the extra coin if you prefer a dark red or blue roof fabric and other niceties.
The oversize spindle grille on many Lexus models looks right at home here, and the rear end is a standout with wider quarter panels than the rest of its skin.
The LC is a one-of-a-kind exotic appealing to millennials and boomers alike. Hardtop, convertible and Hybrid models sell in the $100,000 base range, compared with the LFA price tag of $375,000 that races to 60 mph a second faster.