Something special with impressive mechanisms but limited space. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

There are some cars you get into. There are some cars you put on.

The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is one of the latter. You just don’t get into it, but you essentially wrap yourself in the driver’s seat—which, of course, is a sumptuous, buttery leather surface with heating and ventilation.

The vehicle is undoubtedly designed and engineered for those who like to take weekend road trips on roads that are not freeways but those with curves through forests or along beaches below.

After all, you want that top down so you can smell the pine or the sea breezes. Sitting in traffic going nowhere slowly is not what you want to be doing with the soft-top retracted.

Swish

One thing about the retraction that you might now intuitively know: Its movement is predicated on Japanese calligraphy with a brush: inked brush is applied to paper; the brush stroke is to the right; the ink brush stops. I am not making this up.

Something that is notable about that top, too, is that it can be opened in 15 seconds or closed in 16, and you can do that at speeds up to 31 mph. The quick closing is the more important of the two because who wants to be caught in a sudden cloudburst?

Materials Matter

Another thing notable about the top—something that could provide a bit of bragging rights of a somewhat technical—and therefore cool—nature is that components for it are made with magnesium and aluminum, not your run-of-the-mill ferrous materials. If that doesn’t impress whomever, perhaps the fact that the top consists of four layers—three fabric and one sound-insulating—may do the trick. And I won’t even get into the hydraulic actuation controlled by an electromagnetic valve. All of this is serious stuff.

Speaking of the top down and climatic conditions:  The HVAC system is engineered so that it keeps the cabin occupants comfortable. It has something called the “Lexus Climate Concierge with Upper Body Heating.” So the air conditioner, seat heaters, neck heaters (yes, neck), and steering wheel heater are activated as necessary.

Vroom

Of course, one of the real features that someone who is interested in a sport convertible is probably more interested in than a top-folding mechanism or a neck heater is what is under the hood.

And here the vehicle also has quite an impressive mechanism: an all-aluminum 471-hp V8 that’s mated to a 10-speed automatic. This 5.0-liter engine is naturally aspirated (i.e., no turbo).

According to Lexus, the car goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and the top speed—on a track, because you don’t want to do this where you’d get a massive moving violation—is an electronically limited 168 mph.

Now some people might look at that 4.6 seconds and think that an electric car like a Hyundai Ioniq 5—and I’m not talking the “N” version, but a standard AWD—and beat it.

But what no electric car can do is provide the audible sound of a V8 engine, which is part of the experience of driving a vehicle like the LC 500. Recognizing that, the Lexus engineers plumbed a pipe that takes the engine intake sounds that have been fed into a diaphragm, then, though the pipe, into the cabin. This is not artificial noise but the real rumble. And because they evidently figured that’s not enough, they include a computer-controlled vale that adjusts exhaust back-pressure, exhaust tone and volume at higher engine speed to, in effect, turn the sound of the engine up to 11.

Tighten Up

According to Lexus, the LC 500 Convertible seats four. Which is something of an exaggeration by two. Sure, there is a rear seat and the front seats fold forward to allow access to the rear. But it is hard to imagine anyone being comfortable in the front seats while there is anyone—even small children—in the back. (The front legroom is 42.6 inches and the rear 28 inches.)

Then there is the aforementioned weekend road trip.

The cargo space is 3.4 cubic feet. You’d need to pack with care as that space can handle two small carry-ons—and you might opt for luggage that isn’t hard-sided to assure that it is going to fit.

Exclusivity

And there is another number that needs to be considered: $115,705. That’s the MSRP for the LC 500 Convertible with the optional Bespoke Build Package, which includes the option to select from nine exterior colors, four interior color schemes, three 21-inch forged wheel styles, and chrome or dark chrome interior accents. There is also badging on the center console that proves you’ve got it.

Add the red soft top, the 10-spoke alloys, Mark Levinson audio, .premium paint, carbon fiber door scuff plates, and a carpeted trunk mat.

Add the $1,350 for delivery, processing and handling, and you’ve reached $117,055.

But you’ve also got something special. Through the first half of 2025 there were 790 LCs sold in the U.S.

You will not see these vehicles—especially the Convertible—going and coming.