Why the new Lexus is too hot to handle

How hard can it be to get a test-drive in this stunning new Lexus supercar? As it turns out, very very hard indeed...

Lexus LC 500/500h (for the design)

Sleep is a funny old thing in the first place but stranger still when it seems like you’re the only one not getting any. That was me at CarFest South last Friday at 2.24am – wide awake, sitting under the stars outside our caravan on a pink novelty picnic chair, reading a big chunky hardback.

Two things were keeping me up. First, there was the unavoidable challenge of jet-lag, having landed in England from southern California a mere 15 hours previously. Second, an almost painful mechanical grinding sound emanating from somewhere underneath the van in approximately four-second blasts, approximately every 11 minutes. I knew this because I’d been timing it on my phone since midnight.

Now what if I wait for the next volley to happen, I mused. Then when it does, set the timer on my phone for 10 minutes. This will give me a head start of approximately 60 seconds to position myself around whence the noise is coming. I could then commence a process of elimination – turning off nearby taps and closing flaps – until the racket ceased. And what d’ya know? It worked, sleep eventually ensuing circa 3.45am.

This gave me at least a couple of hours of priceless kip before I was woken by numerous excitable children – all divebombing my duvet, requesting instant fun and no excuses. I, however, had other ideas. After requesting special dispensation from Mummy Evans, I sneaked off for a lukewarm douche before grabbing a take-away cuppa and jumping into one of our CarFest buggies.

This was our 12th and biggest festival so far, all set to go, looking resplendent under clear blue skies with record temperatures forecast for the whole weekend (if we could buy the same weather for next year, we’d send the deposit now).

Not that I was contemplating any of this as I raced through various golden cornfields on my way to our main showground. I was focused on my mission, the seed of which had been sown four weeks ago at CarFest North…

‘Wow,’ I gasped as I eyed the Naples yellow hybrid V6 and the Sonic red petrol V8 Lexus LC 500 twins for the first time in the flesh. A car I’d already been mesmerised by for most of the summer via a comprehensive Lexus ad campaign sprawled across prominent billboards. ‘Please can we stop for a closer look?’ I begged the CarFest North organiser as we jogged breathlessly past.

‘Sorry, no. The first band is on in three minutes and you need to be there for the big welcome.’ D’oh! I thought. ‘Okay, no probs,’ I said. But I couldn’t leave it there. I made a note to self: must get on the phone first thing Monday and request an LC 500 road test for my More car column. However, shock, horror when I made the call. ‘Sorry, no can do,’ said Lexus HQ. Apparently there were no press cars available.

‘Er, except the two we had running up and down the hill at CarFest North all weekend,’ I squealed back. Turns out, that was down to a different department. Time for plan B. I called a bloke who can lay his hands on almost any new car when most other people can’t.

‘Give me 20 minutes,’ he said. ‘If there’s one out there, I’ll get you in it.’

But again – double shock, double horror – the answer was again no. ‘What is it now?’ I sobbed.

‘They said they are happy for you to drive the car but not if you’re going to write about it.’

Eh? This was now bonkers. I was already deeply in love with a car Lexus has spent millions promoting (including a European mega-launch with musician Mark Ronson in Ibiza) and yet it seemed they were doing all they could to avoid a glorious two-page spread.

But hang on, what the heck was I getting my knickers in a twist for? Of course, Lexus would be bringing both LC 500s to CarFest South over the August bank holiday weekend. I could simply bag a drive then.

In the meantime, like a child at Christmas consumed by thoughts of their ‘big prezzie’, I read anything and everything I could about it.

Such as: Lexus engineers having employed some extremely clever creative optional illusions to make the car appear lower than it actually is, and therefore more sporty, eg, low door tops and low-slung wing mirrors. The fact that the petrol 5.0-l V8 produces 471hp (compared to the much quieter, more discreet 3.5-l V6 hybrid’s 472hp!) via our second 10-speed automatic gearbox in as many weeks – following on from last week’s stunning Ford Raptor. Both cars fairly sprint from 0-100km/h: 4.4s for the V8 and 4.7s for the 500h hybrid. And, according to most US reports, the car handles much better than expected – very well indeed by all accounts.

But! The infotainment set-up is pants and no one can get anywhere close to the claimed 6.4-l/100km for the 500h.

All revved up then, finally the day came and there we were, just the three of us. The two Lexi et moi, the hybrid to my left, the V8 to my right and, I have to say, they were even more gorgeous than I imagined.

I wonder what the design team over at Aston Martin makes of all this, was my first thought. The DB11 being the bestlooking new car for ages, I’m sure they agree the LC500 isn’t far behind. Although completely different from a philosophical point of view – as busy as the DB11 is calm – it has a unique flow all its own. Flash but not gaudy.

It’s funny, though. You can get away with a lot less subtlety in certain environments than others. Let’s not forget I was in a paddock full of super-cars at CarFest and Mark Ronson was in the baking-hot Balearics. Maybe Toyota’s new design flagship would look a little less at home stuck in traffic on a wet Wednesday afternoon.

And so what is it like to drive? Ha! I still have absolutely no idea. I was only allowed to sit in it and no more. Presumably because I was threatening to throw a spanner in the works of Lexus’s meticulously orchestrated PR strategy. Whatever the reason, they were having absolutely none of it.

Reader, I’m sorry. I have failed in my mission but I did try.

What I can tell you is, having witnessed the V8 being driven up and down our CarFest hill numerous times, the petrol version certainly sounded and looked as sexy as that glamorous ad campaign.

I can also confirm that there are definitely four seats, the two in the back, as per most GT 2+ 2s, basically useless. But there’s lots of lovely leather and Alcantara everywhere, along with the Lexus signature raft of heavy-duty switchgear that screams quality and durability.

The most exciting thing I did get to experience was the snazzy central dial, which slides into position on ignition. Oh, and the dramatic Star Wars-style exploding graphic that accompanies it.

Lexus is predicting an approximate 50/50 split in customers for petrol or hybrid.

And that all-important price – €137,950 – steep but for a dream machine like this, it’s value.

Not that I can say for sure…

‘WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? HA! UNBELIEVABLY, I STILL HAVE NO IDEA’