Customize LC 500 your way
How do you improve on a luxury sports cruiser that is jaw-droppingly beautiful, supremely built, with a V-8 growl, athletic performance and exquisite two-tone interior with neck heaters?
Well, that’s your call. Be creative.
For the first time, the 2024 Lexus LC 500 Convertible offers the Bespoke Build option, which allows buyers to customize with personal style and performance features. Options include 21-inch forged alloy wheels with black finish, dark chrome trim, carbon scuff plate and neck heaters (built into the headrests) for drop-top time. A sharp blue and white interior is available, too.
To document the distinct look, there’s a special badge on the center console and a certificate of authenticity.
The convertible version of the LC 500 Coupe, introduced last year, is a head-turner. A sloping hood, broad grille and triple-beam LEDS give it a sleek front, while the rear rises slightly with a spoiler and unique Y-shaped taillight design.
The LC is more about road comfort and handling than speed. Lexus says careful attention was given to the convertible’s suspension, tuned to adapt to weight differences from the coupe. The adaptive variable system adjusts the damping to the road surface and driving style.
The result is nearperfect performance on corners with minimal body roll and improved steering feedback under strong G-forces. The ride is comfortable enough for daily driving, too, even with the 21-inch wheels.
Dual-clutch shifting is quick and smooth, and the paddles are responsive, too. Flip into Sport S and Sport S+ drive modes for tighter steering and stiffer suspension. You may prefer Normal, Comfort and Eco modes for trips and errands.
The top has three layers of fabric and one made of sound-deadening material. Lowering it is a breeze: It takes around 15 seconds to hydraulically lower or raise, and it can be done at up to 31 mph. Monitor the operation from an animated display inside so there’s no guessing that it’s complete. A tonneau cover conceals it neatly.
Inside, the optional Lexus Climate Concierge with upper-body heating keeps a good comfort level when the top is down.
The four-seat cabin is first-class and fashionable, with two-tone leather and a blend of fabrics, textures and design patterns. Ventilated seats are supportive and comfortable up front, with eight-way power, but the rear is strictly for kids. There is dual-zone climate, though, and luxury touches abound.
A welcome addition this year is Lexus’ new multimedia system, which appears on a crisp, new 12.3-inch central touchscreen. The interface is easy to figure out and includes navigation, available Wi-fi hotspot, and compatibility with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
A driver head-up display is available ($900), as is better audio with a premium Mark Levinson system ($1,220) pumping sound from 13 speakers.
There isn’t much space for personal items in this sports car, with a modest center-console pit and few cubbies for anything else. Same goes for cargo space: a below-average 4.7 cubic feet in the trunk, enough for a couple of duffles. Rear seats don’t fold either, so no help there.
Lexus’ Safety System+ 2.5 comes standard and includes adaptive cruise control with emergency steering, Pre-collision System with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, blind-spot monitor and intuitive parking assist with panoramic-view monitor. Road signs also are posted on the instrument panel.
The LC 500, introduced in 2020, keeps refining the concept and this year moves another step forward. Now, with the Bespoke Build option, the other improvements are up to you.