457bhp Lexus LC500 Convertible on sale from £90,775
The V8-powered LC500 has been given the drop-top treatment, and order books are open now
Lexus revealed its LC500 Convertible at the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, following a prototype showing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The drop-top will be available only in V8 form and is available now priced from £90,775, with deliveries set to commence later this year.
The LC500 coupe offers a rare, boost-less grand tourer experience, with its power coming from a 5-litre naturally aspirated V8. Its power figure isn’t a match for the likes of the BMW M850i, but its intake and exhaust orchestra most certainly make up for it. Though we’re yet to test the new convertible, odds are that it’ll only enhance the aural experience further.
Power output is identical to its updated hardtop sibling, with 457bhp and 391lb ft of torque sent to the ground through a ten-speed automatic gearbox. Despite an increase in kerb weight performance doesn’t take much of a hit, with its 168mph top speed matching the coupe and 0-62mph coming just three tenths later at 5sec.
> Lexus LC500 V8 review – A GT that feels as special and as exotic as it looks
As with the coupe, much importance has been placed on the engine noise, and so the same sound enhancing treatment found on the coupe has been applied to the convertible – a sound generator (not electronic) pumps intake noise through the dash when the roof’s down, whilst an exhaust valve enhances tones from the rear.
Though a desire to throw buckets of V8 sound into the cabin is clear, the brand also understands that this isn’t always appropriate, and so it has worked on measures to reduce noise when the time is right. A transparent polycarbonate wind deflector and sound insulation in the roof work with clever ‘Active Noise Control’ features to suppress wind and road noise, allowing passengers to hold a conversation whilst on the move.
The styling remains largely familiar, with the marque’s recent contemporary design language seen throughout. In order to avoid the loss of elegance some cars see with the removal of the roof, the Japanese marque has made a few changes. The rear of the model has been lifted and widened, with the beltline also raised behind the doors to enhance rake with the roof down. To avoid an unkempt appearance, the folding roof is stored under a tonneau cover, while crease-free fabric and a near-invisible supporting frame play their part when the roof up. The brand claims the roof mechanism can be operated at speeds of up to 31mph.
Of course, the car’s structure has had to undergo some strengthening in order to retain some of the rigidity of the coupe, but lightweight materials such as magnesium and aluminium were used to keep weight gain to a minimum. Despite this, the LC500 Convertible still weighs in at a hefty 2035kg, 105kg more than the coupe.
The Lexus LC500 Convertible is on sale now with prices starting at £90,775, just over £10,000 more than the coupe. Select the Sport+ Pack and you’ll pay £96,625, with 21” forged wheels, uprated upholstery and integrated neck heaters coming as standard. Deliveries are set to commence in autumn of 2020.
