Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

86 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

I

n this turbocharged age, the
new Lexus LC 500 is a rare
beast. It has a big, naturally
aspirated 5.0-litre V8 that roars
and revs the old-fashioned
way. Most other manufacturers
these days are forced by
regulations to rely on smaller-
capacity, slower-spinning
turbo engines in performance
models, because they produce
similar performance with
lower emissions.
The LC 500’s powerplant
is possibly the only thing
that’s retro about this quick
and capable 2+2 coupe. It
features the world’s fi rst mass-
production 10-speed automatic
transmission, for instance. This
isn’t a complete gimmick. The
Lexus V8 lacks the broad torque
band of a turbo, and more gears
mean more chances to use the
part of its rev range that’s best,
for power and effi ciency.
Priced at $190,000, the Lexus
LC500 also comes standard
with an array of infotainment,
safety, driver-aid and car set-
up technologies that’s decently
competitive.
Luscious is the right word to
describe the cabin of the LC 500.
The fl owing design of the leather-

clad instrument panel is beautiful,

and the entire interior is precision-

crafted. But rear seat room is too

tight for adults and the boot is

also very small, even though the

car wears run-fl at tyres and so

doesn’t carry a spare wheel.

From the outside, the LC 500 is

among the best-looking cars Lexus

has ever produced. The Lexus

spindle grille may be an acquired

taste, but otherwise the details and

decorations are hard to dislike.

The coupe’s overall proportions

are classically handsome.

The driving experience is

no let-down, either. The LC is

built on a new set of chassis

components intended to lift

Lexus’s reputation for behind-

the-wheel pleasure. This is an

area where the Japanese brand

has been often, in the past,

outgunned by its European rivals.

From the very fi rst corner, you

can feel that Lexus engineers

have been learning. The coupe’s

precise and perfectly weighted

steering is very good indeed, and

the neat way it handles bends is

confi dence-inspiring.

A Torsen limited slip

differential helps give it that

classical rear-wheel drive

controllability and attitude when

powering out of corners, though,

with 275 rear tyres, it’s a touch

underdone for rubber on the road

and, at almost two tonnes, it’s

also heavier than it should be.

Like most sporty luxury cars,

the LC offers its pilot a menu

of different driving fl avours.

There’s some genuine spiciness

in here, too. This car is the

fi rst Lexus to feature an active

exhaust system. Selecting the

sportiest mode not only fi rms

the suspension and makes

the engine and gearbox more

eagerly responsive, but also

fl ips open fl apper valves in the

muffl ers to let the V8’s big and

brassy voice be heard.

Yet the LC 500 is wonderfully

quiet and refi ned in the milder

driving modes appropriate for

everyday driving. It rides fairly

comfortably for a fast and

powerful coupe, too.

Lexus Australia execs expect

the LC 500 to outsell the hybrid

model launched alongside by

three or four to one. The LC

500h, at $189,629, combines a

3.5-litre V6 engine with a pair of

electric motors inside a 10-speed

automatic transmission.

While very quick for a hybrid,

the LC 500h lacks both the power

and charisma that makes the

LC 500 the most persuasive car

Lexus has produced in years. If

you’re thinking about a BMW 6

Series, Mercedes GT or Jaguar

F-Type coupe, give it a try.

By John Carey

THINGS WE LIKE

 Luscious, loaded interior

 Handsome exterior

 5.0 litres of naturally-aspirated

V8 love

 The best handling Lexus ever

 Outstanding quality, reliability and

customer service

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Useless rear seats

 Tiny cargo compartment

 Overweight and under-tyred

 Don’t bother with the hybrid

SPEX

Made in Japan

5.0-litre V8 petrol/10-speed

automatic/rear-wheel drive

351kW of power at 7100rpm/540Nm

of torque at 4800rpm

0–100km/h in 4.7 seconds

8.2L/100km highway; 17.6L/100km

city; 98 octane premium; CO2

emissions are 267gkm

Warranty: Four years/100,000

kilometres

Standard: Eight airbags, stability

control, radar cruise, lane keeping,

blind spot monitoring, rear cross

traffi c alert, tyre pressure monitor-

ing, 21-inch alloy wheels, adaptive

dampers, glass roof, bi-LED

headlights, heated, cooled, leather

upholstered front seats, head-up

display, Bluetooth, navigation,

10.3-inch infotainment screen,

Levinson audio.

Redbook future values: 3yr: 43%;

5yr: 29%

Safety

Not yet rated

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

LEXUS LC 500 FROM $189,629

compare with ...

BMW 6 Series, Jaguar F-Type,

Mercedes AMG E53 coupe