This is a car that finally puts Lexus right into the competitive frame it has striven a very long time for. It has'nt arrived there just in terms of sports car performance, but also in terms of the styling statement the LC makes about the future of Lexus.
The first version of the Lexus LC was very short on the kind of styling Lexus competes with in this sector - think Jaguar, Mercedes and BMW and more niche manufacturers too - and, even allowing for its age, it was soft in many ways. There were lots of nice and technically interesting things about it but it did'nt have any dynamic styling cues and was short on dynamic driving qualities too.
This latest iteration of the LC 500 shows how everything has moved on, and with a new determination. With this car Lexus has come of age - in a new direction that suggests technical excellence is no longer a sufficient goal for the company. This car will stand comparison with the best of its luxury performance competitors.
The road presence is fantastic and a huge leap for Lexus.
The car has now a really appealing identity, thanks in the main to its boldness, sharp lines and fantastic road presence. The designers have taken things to a point where they've challenged people to ask if this really is a Lexus ? It looks nothing like previous cars from the company and it looks as good as many cars that have come from their rivals, and even the likes of Maserati. Like these companies, the aim is to produce a look that has global appeal. This the LC has in spades. It's a car that shouts cutting edge styling along with cutting edge performance.
The door handles open out at 60 degrees.
Then there is the detail. The door handles are flush with the door and pop out at 60 degrees to facilitate entry and then retreat back into the door. When you get inside there is an immediate feeling of being cosseted, sitting on nearly perfectly sculpted sports seats (nearly perfect unless you are tall and wide, in which case you are in for a bit of a squeeze) and sorrounded by things that have'nt just thought through but really well executed. All the displays and dials are an ergonomic fit, the centre binnacle is set slightly off and well positioned, the steering wheel is extremely and, at times, confusingly multi-functional and the gearshift is a little mystery device that guides the car into movement before a ten-speed gearbox takes over.
In terms of driving, there are questions to be asked. I drove the hybrid version (the V8 is really just an American consideration) and hybrids are for reflective people rather than those for whom out and out performance is the key indicator of performance. A hybrid engine is at its best being teased between improved fuel consumption and required performance. Besides, thinking in the hybrid context invites a different style of driving and its a more rewarding style, especially in traffic. Not that the 3.5 litre engine is one that requires just to be coaxed along.
This car - a heavy enough one - will take you from 0 to 100 KPH is about five seconds and has a top speed of over 240 KPH. Both can be delivered without great effort. For me though that's not what the LC 500 is about. Driving it - knowing the performance is there - relative sedately and at appropriate motorway speeds is a refreshing experience. In fact, better to wait until you get on to a country road and let the car reveal itself as something that has been tuned to almost within an inch of its life. You can, however, select different settings to accommodate your ride - from cruising to sport.
An over-sensitive swipe screen is one drawback.
There are some drawbacks, some of which could be addressed and others that probably can't be because of the tight design parameters. The functions selection is made with swipes and the screen often over-sensitive. You can find yourself fiddling for attention-distracting seconds to seek through radio stations, for example.
The rear is very tight and I don't really see any way of trying to accommodate anyone bigger than a small child without taking away from the car's flanks and the boot needs to be looked at very carefully by any prospective buyer. It is limited almost to delicatessen cargo rather than a trip to Supervalu.
The list of standard equipment is almost endless. The safety technology is particularly comprehensive.
The LC has privacy glass, smart entry system, electrically operated boot, machined aluminium sports pedals, front seat lumbar support, front seats with10 -way electrically adjustable with memory (driver), heated and ventilated front seats, rain sensing windscreen wipers, electro chromatic (auto-dimming) rear mirror, electronic climate control, head-up display, 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround system, bluetooth mobile phone and audio connectivity, 10.3" multimedia display with Lexus Premium Navigation, hill-start Assist Control,, automatic high beam, parking assist sensors, front and rear, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, Drive Mode Select (ECO / COMFORT / NORMAL / CUSTOM –/SPORT S / SPORT S+), Lexus safety system, pre-crash safety, adaptive cruise control, advanced lane keeping assist,lane departure alert, road sign recogniton and more on all versions..
The sports version I drove also had 21" forged wheels, a carbon fibre roof and scuff plates, Alcantara upholstery, an Alcantara instrument panel, sports design front seats
At €110,950, this sports LC is not going to be spotted in many supermarket car parks. Yes, it's very expensive but it's a niche car that does'nt do family motoring. Not even all of those who can afford it may like to either, perhaps because it's a hybrid. But Lexus has arrived and this is not a car you could ignore.
