Contents Show
Whether tattoos, exotic fashion or a daring haircut - anyone who wants to stand out these days has to come up with a lot. Or he sits in one Lexus
A short press of the start button is enough, and you can be sure of the attention of bystanders. The start procedure with sonorous V8- Hissing and scattered misfire flickers inevitably arouse curiosity. But if you are expecting a sports car from Bella Italia in view of the promising sound, you will be surprised: In fact, it is a Lexus that is rather unknown even to car fans. The LC 500 Cabriolet, that much is certain, is an absolute exception in this country, which with its sound and style attracts attention like a gigantic magnet. Even stronger than some Maserati or Ferrari. The newcomer from Japan just can't hold a candle to such grandees in terms of driving dynamics.
Keeps up with the German athletes
However, this is not due to the performance, because under the lavishly long front hood there is a potent five-liter suction gasoline engine of the elegant and vehement kind, which can unleash a lively 341 kW / 464 PS and a bearish 530 Newton meters of torque on request. Sent to the rear axle alone, thanks to the optional limited-slip differential, these convert energetic full throttle commands amazingly cleanly into fast propulsion. With a wild roar, the flat cloth cap wearer storms to 4,7 km / h in just 100 seconds and continues quite powerfully until the electronics put a stop to it at 270 km / h. The bombastic passage is also thanks to a fine interaction with the 10-speed automatic, which only changes its gears in a slightly rough manner under full load.
In its overall fine-grained manner, you can also tell that the LC 500 was created for another world, namely that of the US market, where at least the curve performance does not play such a decisive role. The 2,1-tonner may be a quarter mile sovereign and also a brisk pleasure glider, but more ambitious cornering provokes drastic interventions earlier than with other sports cars of this caliber due to the attentive anti-skid protection. The high weight is also due to the body stiffeners, which still cannot prevent the body from shaking and twisting on bad roads. These deficits will hardly play a role in relaxed everyday car life, because the almost 4,80 meter long low-rise building spoils its guests with all imaginable comforts all too eagerly. At least as long as there are two guests enjoying good space on the finely leather-covered and air-conditioned seats. There are also two jump seats for children, which, however, must not be particularly large and if they want a bit of legroom, they severely restrict them on the front seats. In view of its enormous size, the open LC 500 is a regional league in terms of space economy, because both in terms of storage space and the 149-liter trunk, lavish hip flasks are pretty stingy.
Good wind protection
Its big moment comes when the convertible top button in the center console is pressed and the large and elegantly fitted fabric roof disappears completely and invisibly in the rear in an entertaining 50 seconds, even while driving at up to 15 km / h. Then the Lexus not only looks stunningly chic, it spoils its occupants, who are certainly open to the looks of others, with plenty of attention, sunlight and a fresh breeze. Thanks to four side windows and a wind deflector, the latter is not intrusive even at high speed on the motorway. However, if it gets too loud for you, you can alternatively enjoy pleasant rest and the beautiful ambience under the multi-layer skin, supported by the cruise control.
Cockpit takes getting used to
The workmanship and materials in the LC 500 definitely confirm Lexus' reputation as a world-class luxury brand. Even where you seldom look and grasp, there are noble surfaces instead of hard plastic. The operating concept with its two large display areas will take some getting used to. But in the search for functions that are not always easy to find, you will probably discover the shift mechanism of the round tachometer at some point. If the corresponding button on the steering wheel is pressed, the central display in the digital instrument cluster moves to the side, while the information on the background display is regrouped around the round instrument. That doesn't do much, but it makes a difference.
The view of the consumption display can also be astonishing, because if you unwind many kilometers on the motorway at 140 km / h in eco mode, you stay under nine liters. Anyone who pounds through the countryside with more pleasure can easily double their fuel consumption. According to the standard, it should be around 12 liters, in our case it was a total of 10,2 liters. The purchase price of the open LC 500 also requires a certain amount of leeway. It starts at around 118.000 euros. Then almost everything that you could wish for is already on board. Only a touring and a performance package can be ordered, which together cost around 9.000 euros. In return, the Torsen limited-slip differential, head-up display and neck warmer are also included. On top of that, free of charge, there is also the certainty of being perceived as wealthy by others as an occupant of the LC 500.
Technical data
Two-door, 2 + 2-seater convertible coupé of the luxury class; Length: 4,77 meters, width: 1,92 meters, height: 1,35 meters, wheelbase: 2,87 meters, trunk volume: 149 liters
5,0-liter V8 petrol engine; 341 kW / 464 PS, maximum torque: 530 Nm at 4.800 rpm, rear-wheel drive, 10-speed automatic, 0-100 km / h: 4,7 s, Vmax: 270 km / h, standard consumption: 11,7 liters / 100 kilometers (WLTP), CO2 emissions: 275 g / km, emissions standard: Euro 6 AP, efficiency class: G
Price: from € 117.950
In brief
Why: fine V8; good driving performance; comfortable layout, great exterior design
Why not: expensive; Rugged cockpit; Operation sometimes cumbersome; too heavy
What else: the cheaper, sportier coupé version - or the upcoming Mercedes SL
