Lexus LC 500 leaves custom touches to you
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.
The 2024 Lexus LC 500 Convertible for the first time 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 the neck heater for drop-top time. A sharp blue and white interior is available this year, too.
To document the distinct look, there’s a special badge on the center console and a certificate of authenticity printed on durable Japanese washi paper.
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. New exterior colors include Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 and Copper Crest.
The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 engine excites the innards the moment it revs up (someone said the exhaust note took five years to develop). The front engine, rearwheeled convertible has the same power plant as the LC 500 Coupe and punches out 471 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque.
Mated to a 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters, it scurries to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, and hits 100 mph in 10.5. Track speed is electronically limited to 168 mph.
As impressive as these numbers are, it’s not in the same league as, say, a Porsche 911 S (0-60 mph in 2.2 seconds) or a couple of entries from BMW. But it’s quick enough for good, clean thrills.
The LC is more about road comfort and handling. 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 — with an amazing 650 distinct levels of damping, says Lexus.
The result is near-perfect 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.
Partly due to its heft — it’s hundreds of pounds heavier than rivals — the LC 500 Convertible won’t impress anyone with its fuel economy: Epa-rated 15 mpg city, 25 highway and 18 combined — on a good day.
But the four-layer convertible top will impress. It 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. It adjusts the seat heaters, neck heaters (built into the headrests) and steering wheel heaters.
The four-seat cabin is firstclass and fashionable with two-tone leather and a blend of fabrics, textures and design patterns. New this year is Rioja Red but the Bespoke adds the optional deep blue and white. Upholstery is hand-stitched to perfection.
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 like neat magnetic clasps that keep the seatbelts secured when not in use.
A welcome addition this year is Lexus’ new multimedia system, which appears on a crisp, new 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Last year’s touchpad is thankfully gone. The latest 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 with a below-average 4.7 cubic feet of trunk space, enough for a couple of duffles. Rear seats don’t fold either, so there is 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 with improved handling and upgrades to safety and interior tech. Now, with the Bespoke Build option, the other improvements are up to you.
2024 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE
MSRP:$105,200 As tested$113,210 (Includes Bespoke Build package, $5,500; dark chrome exterior trim, $650; Mark Levinson premium audio, $1,220; carbon fiber door scuff plates, $600)
What’s all the excitement about? Sporty look and build, four-layer convertible top, improved technology, and now an option to tailor the car to your taste.
Powertrain: 5.0-liter V-8 engine good for 471 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque; active sport exhaust; mated to 10-speed automatic transmission
How’s the performance? Acceleration to 60 mph in a quick 4.6 seconds, but handling is its hallmark with an assist from adaptive variable suspension
Fuel economy: No awards here: Epa-estimated 15 mpg city, 25 highway, for combined average of 18 mpg.
(Barry Spyker was the automotive columnist for The Miami Herald and editor of its Wheels & Waves section. Readers may send him email at spy2351yahoo.com.)