Price (as tested) 💲: $106,885
Powertrain ⚙️: 5.0-liter V8
Output 💪: 471 hp/398 lb-ft of torque
Transmission 🕹: 10-speed automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 4.7 seconds
Top Speed 💥: 168 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 16 city/25 hwy/19 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 4,371 lbs
To be caught in a moment, one must first be primed for it. To allow immersion, barriers must be lowered – even for a short while.
Luxury attempts to facilitate moments of calm or ease, and the best luxury experiences form bridges to them, rather than requiring one big leap.
In the case of the Lexus LC500, the bridge starts with intrigue. The coupe’s aesthetic doesn’t coalesce with its backdrop; it dials up the contrast to command attention. But there’s a right and wrong way to stand out. The BMW XM, with its frenetic structure, quickly turns intrigue into offense. The LC500, meanwhile, converts it to attraction.
The next step on the bridge to luxury is interior ambiance. Leather lined, ergonomic, and detailed, the LC cabin is both inviting and extraordinary. However, a sudden gap in bridge panels is owed to a finicky, non-touchscreen infotainment.
Soothing sure-footedness is reestablished by ride compliance. Cosseted in supportive, plush seats, passengers commute in comfort. Road blemishes do little to distract or disrupt a pleasing drive.
Luxury’s transition from bridge to destination is owed to the LC500’s powertrain. A 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 doesn’t produce class-leading power figures, but it does provide a segment busting soundtrack. Its gravely roar penetrates your weakened defenses to cast a formidable spell. Immersed in thunder, you’ll delight in each crack and pulse.
The LC500 isn’t the only path to palpable luxury, but for the money ($96K), it’s the clearest.