Lexus has been busy spring cleaning its line of LC coupes and convertibles, giving the European-market cars crucial infotainment, trim, and chassis upgrades and introducing a high-rolling Ultimate Edition special that tips a hat to the V10 LFA supercar.
The Ultimate Edition’s Hakugin White paint has a matte finish inspired by fine Japanese porcelain and is contrasted with black exterior trim, including a black carbon rear wing on the coupe version. But it’s another kind of aero device located at the other end of the car that Lexus is most proud of.
Take a close look at the Ultimate’s front bumper and you’ll see a set of canards on each corner. These fins are designed to control airflow and reduce front-end lift and are commonly seen on race cars, but not so much on luxury cruiser convertibles; this is because we all know they’ll offer precisely zero meaningful benefits to the handling at road speeds and look kind of ridiculous on anything with license plates. What makes the LC‘s canards unusual is that they’re “incrementally formed,” which means they’re part of the bumper, and not just stuck on afterward.
Lexus says the Ultimate’s 471 hp (478 PS) 5.0-liter V8 and rear differential have been subtly tuned to improve the sound and response of the drivetrain, while the interior is set apart from standard models by a special plaque on the console, Limited Edition scuff plates and Kachi-Blue upholstery leather colored like the threads used for samurai armor.
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But the introduction of the Ultimate Edition isn’t the only big news for the 2024 model year. Regular LCs get a new bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen display mounted 86 mm (3.4-inches) closer to the driver while finally ditching the nasty trackpad on the console. Completing the interior overhaul, the LC Coupe and LC Convertible can now be ordered with a two-tone blue and white interior or one decked out in DK. Rose, which blends black with red for a rather more devilish look.
There are serious changes under the skin, too, including an enhanced Pre-Collision System, that can now spot cyclists, reduce the cruise control speed on bends and help you make safer turns at intersections. And if you’re one of those people who, you know, actually wants to make those decisions for yourself, there are many updates to multiple suspension components, the tuning of the 10-speed automatic transmission, and a new drift-friendly Expert mode for the traction control promise you’ll have more fun than in last year’s car.
The refreshed Lexus LC goes into production in May 2023 with the exception of the Ultimate Edition, which starts rolling down the line in September. All of this is specific to the European market LC – Lexus USA hasn’t announced its 2024 range yet, but expect the changes to mirror those on the other side of the Atlantic.
