Lexus has been excellent and reliable in the production of luxury cars for decades, but the time for a change has come, and even they realize that it is essential to do something different because younger generations are coming.
As soon as you walk into dealership or showroom, you will see the spindle grille which is too large, slim LED lights which look more like Nike logo than the headlights of a vehicle – all of this in order to improve the credibility of the carmaker and Lexus design. Some of these changes are successful, some not so much, but the fact is that Lexus is doing something differently. The 2018 Lexus LC 500 has been put to the test to see how much the Japanese manufacturer decided to modify.
Exterior
The first thing we need to say is how attractive actually the new LC 500 is. Daytime running lamps that we can see on the ongoing IS have been stretched, and the triple-element units are surrounded by a dark trim. The new Lexus sports long sloping hood which gives the car more elegant look, while the low profile suits this car well. Although the rear deck is short, the vehicle has an incredibly stylish design that you simply must like.
2018 Lexus LC 500 Interior
The interior of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 is something we could have expected from this carmaker. However, some of the parts such as suede door panels and weave pattern on the surface of the glove box remind us more of a concept than on the actual production vehicle, which doesn’t mean that it looks bad. Lexus used high-quality materials for the cabin which really looks luxurious and refined.
Engine Options
The 2018 Lexus LC 500 will come out with two engines under the hood. The first one is the 5.0-liter V8 unit, while the second option will be a performance-oriented hybrid which probably won’t be that popular in the US. We are not going to talk about the hybrid version, so let’s focus on the conventional engine we mentioned.
This powerplant produces 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque and will be mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 model is said to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, and as the revs go up, the power sent to the rear wheels jumps, so you will always be tempted to push it to the red line where all fun is.
So far, the fuel efficiency figures for the 2018 Lexus LC 500 have been unknown, but we can compare this model to the RC F and see how often you will have to stop to refuel. The new LC 500 has slightly more power, but it also has 300 pounds more to it, so we expect that the new model will be rated at 16 city, 25 highway and 19 combined or slightly less than that.
Driving Experience
You might think that new Lexus is a luxurious muscle car from Japan, due to its V8 and rear-wheel drive, but the chassis is exceptional, and the driving is something that needs to be experienced. The steering response is outstanding, and the 2018 LC 500 is stable giving the driver a feeling that he is always in control, which is great.
You can opt for Sport mode if you want to test this Japanese beast to the fullest, but good balance, when you drive aggressively, is guaranteed. The new car is equipped with 6-pot calipers that squeeze 13-inch front discs. This setup really affects your ability to perfectly prepare the vehicle for next corner as powerful brakes allow you to lower speed quickly. Handling and road grip is just incredible, and going out of one turn into another is a piece of cake.
Although the 2018 Lexus LC 500 is a luxury sports car it was also tested on the Monteblanco Circuit near Seville. Again, the steering response in Sport+ mode was excellent and in spite of the 4,000-plus pounds total weight, Lexus was confident in the corners.
2018 Lexus LC 500 Price
The price of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 is still unknown, so we will have to guess it. The performance level is similar to what we get from the RC F, which costs $65,000. Some of the competitors such as Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe and BMW 650i are priced between $90,000 and $100,000, so we believe that the new vehicle will be within this price range.
