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Lexus LC500 Convertible review

4 years ago

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Writer:

Dan Prosser | Ti co-founder

Date:

12 April 2021

If a car looked sensational, had beneath its bonnet one of the most stirring engines in production today and pampered its occupants with probably the best cabin of any sub-£100,000 car, how sizeable a shortcoming would you be prepared to overlook? I think you’d forgive that car its unnecessarily fiddly infotainment interface and even its hopeless rear seats. But would you willingly disregard the fact that car had a major identity crisis? Perhaps you would, but I don’t think I can.

Lexus LC500 Convertible

The Lexus LC500 Convertible follows three years after the coupe model. Roof down it’s a spectacular-looking machine, but with it in position you’re reminded of how unconvincingly a fabric hood imitates a fixed metal roof from an aesthetic point of view. With it stowed, however, you are at least treated to the fullness of the naturally aspirated 5-litre V8’s voice – a fast rumble that builds to a howl. It delivers its 457bhp like a Hans Zimmer score, rising to a crescendo.

And that cabin! Architecturally ambitious with first-rate materials and switchgear, faultless build quality and endless pleasing details (but, yes, also a frustrating infotainment system and tiny rear seats). The trouble with the LC500 Convertible isn’t that it weighs more than two-tonnes, has vague steering and the lazy body control of a heavy car, but that it tries to deny all those things. It pretends to be an alert and agile driver’s car when clearly it can be no such thing.

Lexus LC500 Convertible Interior

That manifests as a ride quality that’s not as creamy smooth as it should be. On the motorway in particular and even in comfort mode, the car shimmies and jolts over lumps and bumps in the road surface that it really should smother effortlessly. I just wish Lexus had been more honest with itself as to what sort of car this is. Wound back a notch, it could be one of the best droptop grand tourers around – but looks, an engine and a cabin go only so far.

Lexus LC500 Convertible
Engine: 4969cc, V8, n/a
Transmission: 10-speed auto, RWD
Power: 457bhp @ 7100rpm
Torque: 391lb ft @ 4800rpm
Weight: 2055kg
Power-to-weight: 222bhp/tonne
0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
Top speed: 168mph
Price: £90,755
Ti rating 7/10
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