Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Lexus LC500 – design

Distinctive, aggressive yet elegant and underpinned by spectacular proportions

Evo rating
  • Superb chassis balance; engine; interior; design
  • Transmission the weak link; iffy infotainment; hybrid nothing like as good as the V8

The LC is a car of extremes, and the design is no different. For a sub-£100k car it turns heads like few others. The shape itself is delicately honed, the bonnet low, the surfacing full, the tapering cabin accentuating the wide hips. 

Look closely and the myriad of different finishes and materials can jar, but on the road, once moving, it’s elegant and aggressive – in perfect partnership with its overall character. There are some awkward angles, and if a subtler method of travel is preferred then the LC might be a little much. But credit where credit’s due – the whole package is perfectly accentuated by its design. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The LC is brilliant – it follows no lead, it wants for little and has such a strength of character that on looks alone it makes for a fascinating alternative to the European opposition. It looked like a concept car when it launched in 2017, and it's telling that Lexus never needed to overhaul its design until it went out of production. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 review - the 340bhp V6 sports car you never knew you needed
Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 corner rear
Reviews

Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 review - the 340bhp V6 sports car you never knew you needed

By putting a 340bhp Jaguar V6 in Mazda's MX-5 specialist Rocketeer has created one of 2026's unexpected driving hits.
22 May 2026
Theon Design Porsche 911 review – twice a GT3 RS's price, but twice the car?
Theon Design Porsche 911
Reviews

Theon Design Porsche 911 review – twice a GT3 RS's price, but twice the car?

Theon Design's latest Porsche 911 restomod calls back classic racers and costs twice as much as the best new 911. We drive it to see if it's worth it
21 May 2026
The surprising 1990s sports car that matches a brand new £100k Morgan for joy
Morgan Supersport
Opinion

The surprising 1990s sports car that matches a brand new £100k Morgan for joy

Few cars bring joy like the new Morgan Supersport, although Porter knows of another
22 May 2026