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Feann Torr22 Jul 2017
REVIEW

Lexus LC 500 2017 Review

Equal parts luxury cruiser and muscle car, this is a Lexus to get excited about
Model Tested
Review Type
Road Test

Rarely does a show-stopping concept car transition to the real-world without being pared back, dumbed down, diluted and sterilised. So, when the $190,000 Lexus LC 500 emerged in production form, my gasps were audible. Yes, it's a great GT car, comfy and luxurious, but for the first time Lexus has developed a striking luxury sports car with the soul of a muscle car. And it's fun to drive fast. Has Lexus democratised the LFA?

The Lexus LC 500 looks amazing. I'm not sure I'd opt for the lurid ‘Flare Yellow’ paint scheme of our test car, but in the metal, the unconventional design has the presence and intimidation factor of a top predator.

Remotely unlocking the LC 500 causes the door handles to extend out of the car body. This is next level cool.

Slotting into the low slung but wide, supportive leather seats, the interior design and quality of materials in use are breathtaking. Leather, Alcantara and aluminium ensure your hands are content, wherever they fall.

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Thumbing the big engine start button lights up the dashboard with a moving star scape, then calls forth the sort of raucous, slightly caustic V8 bellow familiar with a heavily-modified Chevy crate engine, but until now, not a Lexus.

After less than a minute with the LC 500, I'm grinning stupidly, because I know the next 10 days could be more fun than a theme park waterslide.

Old Lexus, meet new Lexus
Unlike almost every Lexus before it, the LC 500 has a sinister attitude courtesy of dramatic looks and a pile-driving powertrain. Then it engages the driver with unexpectedly satisfying chassis dynamics.

Rest assured this Lexus hasn’t completely forsaken comfort or luxury, but it has donned a superhero costume, complete with a high-tech utility belt.

Powered by a Yamaha-tuned, Lexus-built 5.0-litre quad-cam V8 with variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust strokes, the LC 500 can certainly hustle. It's not quite HSV GTS or AMG 63 fast, but the emotional encounter is comparable.

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While its 1950kg is undeniably portly, the Lexus LC 500 feels fleet of foot as that engine, code-numbered 2UR-GSE, delivers a wide, lusty spread of thrust. With 351kW of power at 7100rpm – 7300rpm redline – it’s eager to rev and the Yamaha fettling injects a beautifully accessible top-end.

The 0-100km/h dash takes a claimed 4.7 seconds and top speed has been recorded by Lexus at 270km/h… Which means the LC 500 isn’t electronically limited.

A big whack of torque, 540Nm, peaks at 4800rpm, providing a potent powerband between 5000 and 7000rpm. At these engine speeds, the eight-cylinder and its high compression ratio (12.3:1) combine with a couple of tricks to add a level of braggadocio never before felt in a Lexus.

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Up front, there's a resonance tube connecting the air intake to the firewall – let's call it a funky airbox – to generate engine noise ahead of the driver, while at the rear an active exhaust system makes use of valves to increase or decrease the tenor. Together with newly developed exhaust piping, the result is a loud, resonant note with a beautifully ragged after effect. It's almost as if there's no baffle in there and, combined with a hearty induction sound, some reckon the overall result borders on antisocially noisy (sports car fans will love it).

The V8 works beautifully in unison with the new 10-speed automatic transmission, especially in ‘Sports’mode, producing a muffled rifle-shot echo during upshifts and an acute crack-pop during downshifts.

Noise and poise
The Lexus LC 500 has a purposeful image and marshals an evocative war cry but, there's more to it than just visual and acoustic theatre. The 10-speeder and limited slip differential ensure provocative power delivery and unlike almost every previous Lexus, the LC 500 doesn't mind a bit of tomfoolery.

That conventional (epicyclic) automatic transmission from Japanese supplier Aisin ensures super-rapid gearshifts when you're turning up the tempo, on par with European cog-swappers from the likes of ZF.

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Pricing and Features

It's a pretty nifty setup to be honest, capable of rev-matching rapid downshifts in one instant and soon after can have the LC 500 ticking over at just under 1500rpm at 110km/h in 10th gear. Yep, it's a proper grand tourer or GT car and all 10 gears can be used legally in Australia, which can't be said for all high-level automatic transmissions.

Lexus says the V8 engine complies with Euro 6 emissions regulations and, while it does require premium petrol (95 RON), decent open road fuel consumption is possible. But if you drive it like you stole it, it'll drink fuel faster than parched stockman at a Nullarbor watering hole.

Once or twice the LC 500 did show signs of struggling – crawling peak hour traffic for example. On a couple of occasions I felt the car's driveline physically thump, with what felt like a half-halted shift, as it tried to figure out which gear to slot into. Otherwise, apart from restricted visibility through the back window, it's a good daily driver.

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Without doubt the LC 500 has good levels of ride comfort. Adaptive dampers do a surprisingly great job on crummy roads, which is even more remarkable when you consider our yellow monster rides on big 21-inch alloy wheels shod with rigid run-flat tyres.

The downside is there's no spare tyre.

The Lexus LC 500 is a balanced, forgiving apex attacker too, it's tubby two tonne weight almost forgotten when you throw it into a corner. Body roll is not too bad; the car tracks through corners with a flat, keen attitude and the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres offer steadfast contact with the road.

Certainly some credit for that cornering dexterity goes to the rigid body Lexus has developed for the LC 500. It’s made from carbon-fibre composites, aluminium and steel and works together with the double-ball joint strut front suspension to make the car's nose feel sharp and alert.

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Impressive cornering response and initial turn-in? It seems as though Lexus has finally got the high-performance recipe right with the LC 500, which exhibits none of compromises evident in the likes of the Lexus GS F, which was too stiff and had average steering.

The faster you push the LC 500, the more satisfying things get, and blasting out of corners at full noise is one of those experiences which, in hindsight, will be deeply missed in a few decades when electric cars are the norm. Matching this impressive cornering balance is the LC 500’s forgiveness when you do overstep the limits, which is surprising for such a big, heavy machine.

Further contributors to the package are the LC 500’s 54:46 front to rear weight distribution and the disc brakes (338mm front/308mm rear) which do a magnificent job of deceleration. I was expecting a big, brash cruiser, but I had no idea the LC 500 would be so confidence inspiring on challenging roads.

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Slow down and smell the Alcantara
Cleverly, you don’t have to drive the LC 500 fast, or have the V8 bouncing off the rev limiter to enjoy it. For front occupants, comfort levels are class-leading and the interior fit, finish and polish is almost without equal. Did I mention the cabin is hand-made?

The leather quality is top-notch and the seat cushions straddle ‘not too firm but not overly soft either’, making long distance trips a dream. This is a perfect interstate cruiser.

Dashboard design borders on concept car cool - guaranteed to impress anyone who steps inside – and all the mod cons are there, such as heated and cooled power adjustable front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, plus a couple of USB ports and adequate incidental storage.

High marks to the head up display, the cabin is quiet and Bluetooth integration works well. I listened to several podcasts on ‘TuneIn Radio’ and Queens of the Stone Age sounds epic through the car’s mega stereo (a 918W Mark Levinson creation with 13 speakers, a big fat subwoofer and active noise cancelling). Bluetooth phone calls were also very clear in both directions.

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Lexus has updated its infotainment input system too, a compact touchpad replacing the bulky joystick operation which angered some Lexus owners. It works well, but a backup touchscreen would've been nice, and the lack of Apple CarPlay will frustrate some.

While we're visiting gripe town, the rear seats are pretty tight – but not Porsche 911 tight. There's enough room to squeeze a child seat and vertically challenged people in the back, but that's about it. The boot is also tiny. Absurdly so. Good luck getting anything larger than a briefcase in there, and you can forget a golf bag.

Lexus has seen fit to add several driver aids; the radar cruise control works well, but the active steering is all but useless. This is one area where Lexus (and by extension Toyota) appears to be lagging behind the industry and some significant catch-up may be required when autonomous cars become must-have toys.

While I'm at it, the gear-shifter J-pattern is initially confusing to find reverse and voice activated operations are about 80 per cent there. Attention there too please Lexus.

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Modern take on traditional recipe
I really enjoyed driving the Lexus LC 500. It delivers a concept car look and feel with a muscle car attitude and, if I was rich, I'd get one, no question. Some contend the $190,000 (plus on-road costs) price tag is about $20K overt the mark. True, we’re talking a fair whack of coin there, but don’t dismiss considerations like Lexus’ bullet-proof build quality and four-year warranty. It's also considerably less than the V10-powered Lexus LFA supercar, which still sells for over a million bucks second-hand.

In some ways the LC 500 is a bit like a Japanese Aston Martin V8 Vantage, an extravagant creation which will be loved by owners and ridiculed by speed hunters. It's not the fastest nor the most dextrous sports car ever made, but it stirs the soul and you feel like a super star behind the wheel.

It's taken a long time for Lexus to truly nail the sports car manifesto, but if this is a sign of a high-performance renaissance, bring on the big guns. Lexus LC F, anyone?

2017 Lexus LC 500 pricing and specifications:
Price: $190,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol
Output: 351kW/540Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 267g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA

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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
88/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
18/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
15/20
Safety & Technology
16/20
Behind The Wheel
19/20
X-Factor
20/20
Pros
  • Engine response
  • Concept car eye candy
  • Ride and handling
Cons
  • Tiny boot
  • Driver assistance systems
  • No touchscreen functionality
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