LEXUS TAKES ITS PLACE AMONG ELITES
LC 500 delivers luxury, performance
OK, it had me as soon as I cranked over its snarling 471-horsepower V-8.
Yeah, the first growl of the 5-liter, which settled into a deep-throated gurgle, was all it took for me to really love the flagship 2018 Lexus LC 500 and then I popped it into drive. Yikes, away we go.
This is a driver’s machine through and through and I enjoyed every moment behind the wheel, even when I got caught in a biblical deluge of rain and local street flooding. The Lexus kept its cool and negotiated its way down the road. But what a fun luxury sports car the Lexus engineers have made. Oh and by the way it’s quite the head-turner.
Tight, competitive, super responsive and quick, the LC 500 delivers on every front right down to a few pops and snaps when downshifting with the paddle shifters. Yet this is also an elegant and luxurious coupe that delivers comfortable all-day driving. This sports coupe certainly belongs with the elites like the Porsche 911, MercedesBenz AMG GT and dare I say — Aston Martin.
The powerful engine spins a super smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic. Tuning of the suspension and the shift points is spot on as the car seamlessly ramps up speed or down-
shifts into turns. The adaptive variable suspension keeps the coupe nicely tracked while delivering a firm yet at times supple ride. Powerful multi-piston disc brakes with oversized calipers makes for terrific stopping power.
The low-slung coupe was built from the ground up using some of the tricks learned from the all-carbon LFA racing architecture. It folds around you as soon as you settle into the cockpit. The handsome color-coordinated leather and suede interior is just right. Not overly ornate but with finely engineered fit and finish that meets all of Lexus’ exacting luxury standards including a glass roof.
Select from one of the five driving modes to suit your driving desires and settle in for either a titillating spin through the curves in Sport S + or just a freewheeling highway journey in Eco. Do pack lightly through as trunk and rear seat room’s tight. A center-mounted speedometer highlights the simple dash with the digital information box hidden. When the speedometer slides to the right it reveals myriad submenus for most of the car’s needs.
The upgraded Mark Levinson stereo highlights the infotainment center that features a 10.5-inch touch screen. You can also manipulate all the car’s digital functions from a mouse pad and this may be the only weak spot. I found the pad a tad overly complicated.
The sweet lines of the maxed-out $101,000 LC 500 start with the familiar Lexus blackedout carbon fiber-like hourglass grille framed by slick LED headlamps. The masculine body sweeps back to flared rear wheel wells housing the 21-inch low profile tires. Gentle multidirectional folds in the sheet metal create shadows and handsome swirls while a squint of the eyes reveals nods and hints to Porsche, Corvette, Audi and Mercedes-Benz — however the Lexus carves its own strong personality with the sportsters.
Superlatives rack up quickly for the machine but if you’re in the market for a pure luxury sports car this Lexus is a must test drive.