2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible review: Stunning looks above all

Each and every maker has a halo car or truck, and for Lexus, it is the LC five hundred. Toyota’s premium model may be most effective identified for producing magnificent sedans and staid crossovers, but the LC is one thing completely different. It’s fast and lovely, and in addition to the coupe, the LC five hundred is now available as a convertible.

Irrespective of overall body design, the LC is a looker. My tester is protected in a luscious shade of red paint, which is most likely the most lovely rouge this side of Mazda’s Soul Crimson. Lexus’ spindle grille doesn’t appear negative in this software, and I adore how the unique headlight form is echoed in the taillights. Entrance to back again, the LC is breathtaking.

There’s effectiveness to back again up that design, also — primarily. The LC employs a five.-liter by natural means aspirated V8 engine with 471 horsepower and 398 pound-toes of torque, and Lexus states this convertible can accelerate to sixty mph in four.six seconds. But when I hit the throttle, all I sense is hesitation. I want the LC five hundred to leap off the line, but you’ve got bought to give it a 2nd for the engine to rev into the coronary heart of its powerband.

Once you are up and shifting, having said that, the LC is a overall blast. The 10-speed automatic transmission is joyful to allow the engine dangle out significant in its rev variety, only upshifting when it nearly touches the redline. The brakes have linear halting sense and electrical power, giving me the self-confidence to brake late ahead of diving into corners. The transmission downshifts preemptively, producing confident I am in the fantastic gear for utmost assault on a corner exit.

Even with its four,540-pound control excess weight, the LC is a lot nimble, keen to be tossed into corners with a lot of grip available from the Michelin Pilot Sport ZP tires (wrapped all over 21-inch solid alloy wheels). Even nevertheless these are operate-flats, the Michelins don’t have that challenging-as-a-rock experience prevalent with this tire variety. My tester also has the optional Torsen restricted-slip differential, which will help this rear-wheel-push behemoth rotate all over turns. The LC is unbelievably well well balanced with nary a trace of oversteer.

The EPA costs the 2021 LC five hundred Convertible at 15 mpg metropolis, 25 mpg freeway and 18 mpg put together. Even with my significant right foot, I managed to see 20.two mpg during a 7 days of tests.

With the 4-layer convertible top up, highway and wind sound are held to a bare minimum. But when I want to allow the sunshine in, the roof folds back again in 15 seconds and can be operated while driving at speeds up to 31 mph. Oh, and FYI, the top command button is concealed underneath the palm rest for the infotainment controls. I went absolutely ridiculous attempting to come across this there’s no way to know it is there.

As with most convertibles, the top system cuts into storage space, leaving the Lexus LC with just 3.four cubic toes of space in the trunk, which is rarely enough for two smooth-sided vacation bags. You can probably place these in the back again seat, which is high-quality, because most older people ought to by no means endeavor to sit back again there.

With the top down on a sunny working day, I am reminded that the cooled seat options are buried in the infotainment controls, which is annoying as hell. I also wish the seats’ neck air shops fed cold air as well as heat.

Talking of infotainment, this may be the LC’s most apparent Achilles’ heel. The Enform multimedia tech is housed on a 10.3-inch display, controlled by a touchpad on the heart console. Lexus states the pad ought to get the job done like a smartphone, with faucet, swipe and pinch-to-zoom controls. Challenge is, it is exceptionally complicated to use, specially while in movement. It’s uncomplicated to swipe earlier icons, the graphics are dated and the whole thing ought to just be scrapped. The LC doesn’t still have Lexus’ new touchscreen, but at least Apple CarPlay, Android Automobile and Amazon Alexa are regular. Other regular technologies involve blind-location checking, lane-preserving support, precollision braking and whole-speed adaptive cruise command.

The 2021 LC five hundred Convertible starts at $102,a hundred seventy five such as $1,075 for place. My tester usually takes items a bit further more with a variety of options, such as upgraded wheels, a head-up show and a number of accessories, for $113,320 as analyzed.

Challenge is, I am not confident what the LC five hundred is attempting to be. It’s not a sporting activities car or truck like the Porsche 911 but it is not accommodating enough to be a grand tourer like a BMW 8 Sequence. The LC five hundred is type of in this strange ‘tweener space. But damn if these very good appears to be don’t make it compelling irrespective.