Much like its Coupe sibling, the Lexus LC 500 Convertible is one of the most beautiful vehicles on sale. However, does the driving experience live up to the stunning looks?
To find out, Matt Farah jumped behind the wheel of a bright yellow example through some of the canyon roads near Los Angeles. The journalist admits to being a fan of the LC 500 Coupe, so it’s hardly a surprise that he is just as fond of the Convertible.
Like the Coupe, the LC 500 Convertible is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 producing 471 hp at 7,100 rpm and 398 lb-ft (539 Nm) of torque at 4,800 rpm. Mated to this engine is a Direct-Shift 10-speed automatic transmission that allows the Japanese GT to sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.6 seconds and hit an electronically limited top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).
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This engine is one of the last great naturally-aspirated V8s on the market and it sounds absolutely amazing – and it goes without saying that, with the soft top folded away, drivers can enjoy this engine even more. Sure, some other turbocharged V8 engines on the market offer up significantly more power, but none of them can match the soundtrack of the Lexus.
Farah adds that, despite the lack of a fixed hardtop, the LC 500 Convertible still feels very rigid and rides beautifully, soaking up bumps with ease.
As good as the LC 500 Convertible is, though, Farah doesn’t think all that many will be sold. That’s a shame because this could prove to be one of the last great V8-powered grand tourers before electrification sweeps across the industry.