The marketing tagline of Lexus is no longer “The Pursuit of Perfection” as this was changed to “Experience Amazing.” With the Lexus LC500, they obviously want to amaze the customers, and with this new vehicle which has been in development for a long time, the brand wants to show you that “boring” is out of the picture.
Exterior
The LC is probably the best adaptation of the L-Finesse design language that brings spindle grille which is an authentic characteristic of Lexus models. The new coupe from Japanese company is definitely graceful, with amazing details on the front grille, but its design is far from the cleanest one. Furthermore, a lot of chrome has been used for its body and wheels.
The Cabin – Advantages and Flaws
The 2018 Lexus LC 500 is based on the LF-LC concept, but the production model looks more realistic and simply, delivers changes needed to happen for it to be offered. The look of the concept car extends to the cabin. What you can hear often is that Lexus people boast about the interior details and how everything is handmade. Almost every part of the cabin is covered in leather which is stitched together perfectly, while the seats you can see in the photos are standard. There is the Sports Package that brings concept 21-inch wheels, a limited-slip differential, and tight racing-style seats.
The LC 500 is a beautiful vehicle that is great for two people. What is also authentic is an abundance of standard equipment and high-quality materials all around the cabin. Not everything is dream-like though. Those upholstered lumps behind the rear seats are intended to be seats, but their better use is to put tote bags. Furthermore, the trunk is shallow and although you can put a couple of suitcases in it, it still lacks space to be useful.
The infotainment in the 2018 Lexus LC 500 comes with a redesigned trackpad, and it offers better resistance to fingerprints, which is an upgrade after a terrible debut on the NX. Turning up the ventilation function is complicated, and it might be even dangerous if you are driving, but that will definitely take your eyes of the poor navigation graphics. Even when you are not driving, it is still difficult to turn up the seat ventilation function.
On the good side, there are physical controls for the audio functions which are located ahead of the trackpad on the center console. These buttons look as if they were driving mode selectors, but at least they are easy to use.
Engine
The 2018 Lexus LC 500 is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8, the same engine that can be found in the RC F and GS F models. The difference is that in the LC it produces 471 hp and 39 lb-ft of torque and it is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The unit is capable of running in Atkinson cycle at low revs in order to increase fuel efficiency, but generally speaking, this engine is traditional. Although it produces lots of power, the LC 500 doesn’t feel that fast on the road and despite Lexus’ attempts to be “deceptively quick” it constantly falls short.
The handling is satisfactory for a big vehicle like this one and the company did prove it to be good in sharp turns. There is the optional Performance Package that improves performance, but it also replaces the standard fixed glass roof with a carbon fiber one. Active rear steering also enhances the handling of the 2018 Lexus LC 500. With the Performance Package, this vehicle is a mixed blessing – it is hard to cruise around comfortably and it is still far from the sports car. Moreover, the package adds an active rear spoiler and variable-ratio steering.
2018 Lexus LC 500 Price
If you want to purchase the 2018 Lexus LC 500, you need at least $92,000. The price can reach even $102,000, but most of the dealerships will sell it for just under $100,000. This luxury coupe will go on sale in May 2017. At the similar price, you can find a BMW 650i and Jaguar F-Type, while a Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe is much more costly.
There is no doubt that 2018 Lexus LC 500 is an amazing car, but it has some visible flaws, and it is not what we got used to seeing from this carmaker. We always expect a vehicle close to perfection from Lexus, and they produced these types of cars earlier, but now it appears that they have slightly gone off course.
What do you think about the 2018 Lexus LC 500?
