Lexus Australia has confirmed pricing for the new LC 500 Convertible, which will hit showrooms imminently with a starting price of $214,000 plus on-road costs. Priced above that are the ten Limited Edition cars, asking $234,000.
Buyers of the stunning drop-top will surely be happy enough that beautiful naturally aspirated V8, but owners will be thrilled they can take advantage of Lexus’ Encore Platinum program for three years. This will allow them to pick and choose something like an LX 570 for a weekend off-road getaway.
Naturally, the extra engineering and parts that have gone into developing the convertible make it more expensive than the LC Coupe – $19,607 before on-road costs, to be exact – but prospective buyers will likely be more focused on the experience the drop-top will offer.
With the roof up it might actually look better than the Coupe
For now, the LC 500 Convertible will only be available with the Yamaha engineered, naturally aspirated five-litre V8 screaming out 351kW at 7,100rpm and 540Nm of torque at 5,400rpm. That’s hooked up to a reworked ten-speed torque converter automatic.
The hybrid LC 500h powertrain that combines a 3.5-litre petrol V6 with an electric motor for combined outputs of 220kW will remain an option only on the fixed-head LC.
Extra strengthening of the body shell also sees the weight of the LC Convertible climb by 125kg to 2,035kg to retain the Coupe’s stiffness.
Especially in this Infrared hue.
Lexus touts the extra underbody bracing and clever lightweight Magnesium-framed folding roof – which can be raised or lowered at up to 50km/h. We’ll see how this affects the drive when we get into one shortly.
But, if we’re honest, the LC Convertible isn’t about being the lithest sports car out there, no. Instead, the beautiful semi-aniline leather-trimmed interior gives the vehicle’s real intention away – a sultry boulevard cruiser, with the ability to go the distance.
Standard specification of the base LC 500 Convertible includes 21-inch alloy wheels, keyless go, a 10.3-inch infotainment screen controlled by a touch-pad that can run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and DAB radio.
_Just, wow. _
Naturally, riders are looked after by splendid interior kit including ten-way power-adjustable seats with memory, heating and ventilation. There are neck warmers and a heated steering wheel to allow top-down living even in winter, an eight-inch digital driver’s display and a bumping 13-speaker Mark Levinson stereo to top it off.
Unlike every other luxury brand, Lexus does not offer any options for the LC 500 Convertible, save for interior and paint colour combinations – of which there are 40 in total.
Building on the standard spec, though, is the Limited Edition which commands an extra $20,000. The lucky ten will get their LC Convertible finished in the pictured Structural Blue hue with an interior to match the yacht that they (likely) also own.
We’ll take it in tan, thanks.
But that’s all you get for the extra money – that said, we expect Lexus die-hards to jump at the idea of the Limited Edition, and expect the colour to be far more enchanting in the flesh.
Lexus also assures us that the LC will remain reasonably practical in Convertible form eschewing only 48 Litres of boot spaces, and 11mm of front headroom compared to the Coupe.
2020 Lexus LC 500 Convertible pricing
All prices are before on-road costs.
LC 500 Convertible – $214,000
LC 500 Convertible Limited Edition – $234,000