LEXUS LC500 CONVERTIBLE

Enright’s not a big drop-top fan, but could he be a convert to the LC500?

- ANDY ENRIGHT

ENGINE 4969cc, V8, DOHC, 32v

POWER 351kW @ 7100rpm

TORQUE 540Nm @ 4800rpm

0-100km/h 5.0sec (claimed)

WEIGHT 2035kg

PRICE $214,000

LIKE: That engine; styling; plush cabin; slick roof; more composed ride; ownership

DISLIKE: Infotainment still klutzy; token rear seats; fiddly gear shifter; weight

DO YOU KNOW what a Lexus LC500 is? Sure, some of you might be able to picture the car, and a smaller subset might even have an idea of the asking price, but I’d be surprised if many of you otherwise well informed readers could pin down exactly what sort of car it is other than a big coupe. And that’s it’s problem.

The old LC500 coupe always had a bit of an identity issue. For the most part, it was too aggro to be a properly wafty GT coupe, so never really cut it as a half-price Bentley Continental GT. On the other hand, there were plenty of rivals for its $200k asking price that were better at surgically dissecting a set of twisties. That it could do both tasks acceptably well wasn’t enough of a drawcard. Now Lexus offers the LC500 as a convertible.