I’ll go ahead and say it right from the start: The Lexus LC 500 was already one of the best looking coupes in current production. Take the roof off, though, and you get nothing short of a fantastically handsome drop top in the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible. While we saw the production-ready concept earlier this year, we weren’t sure Lexus was actually going to build it. That is, until we saw a camouflaged version making the rounds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Now, this is the real deal, and the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible is going on sale in Summer 2020.
Most of the LC 500 Convertible below the roofline remains intact. However, that four-layer soft top can open in 15 seconds and close in 16 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. Add that to the equation, and the car transforms into what could be the luxury drop top to have. Of course, styling is subjective, but to me this strikes the right balance of elegance and style without being too conservative or too overbearing. The top is available in black and beige, to go with the LC 500 Convertible’s ten available exterior colors. You can even get it in Flare Yellow, if you do want to be really over the top.
Familiar powertrain
Under the hood, you still get the same 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 as before. It hooks up to a ten-speed automatic transmission, and produces 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. This is a big, heavy two-door luxury car, so those performance numbers didn’t exactly turn the coupe into an out-and-out sports car. Take the roof away, though, and this does make a convincing argument as a boulevard cruiser.
This Structural Blue LC 500 Convertible is part of Lexus’ so-called “Inspiration Series”. These are production-limited to just 100 units, with standard white semi-aniline leather trim and standard 21-inch wheels. Inside, all versions of the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible will get a 10.3-inch split-screen multimedia display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Pricing info to come
Exact pricing for the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible has not been announced yet. That said, there is a unique opportunity to bid for one of the Inspiration Series at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale on January 17, 2020. If you can’t afford what it’s likely going to cost — and we can’t blame you there — you can see it up close at the 2019 LA Auto Show.
Stay tuned for more Lexus news and more reveals from this year’s event!
