Sleek LC 500 Convertible is Lexus to the max

This review first appeared in the February 2021 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California ­– The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible rolled up to my driveway,  and right away I was feeling excited and nervous.

Excited about unwinding the sleek machine on the open road. Nervous about not making a silly mistake and allowing even a scratch on a car wearing a sticker with a bottom line number of $111,325.

Turns out the exciting part stole the show. I returned the LC 500 without a scratch, but to be honest, I would have paid cash on the barrel head for one more hour in the luxury performance coupe.

There are some cars that sit on a mountaintop as elite.  The LC 500 is one of them.

The low-level sculpting and aerodynamic sweep of the car's profile -- sitting on 21-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels -- all but scream purpose-built race car.  The look is more than justified by the LC 500's performance.

Pushing the start button produces a profound roar, and the awakening of the 5-liter, 471 horsepower V-8 is felt with decidedly good vibrations in the seat of the pants.  First forward movements are somewhat balky, almost like the car is upset with such slow progress.

That all changed on the freeway entrance ramp.

A gentle nudge on the accelerator increased the roar and delivered a steady, heart-racing thrust.  In essence, time froze as I blazed down the ramp and whistled past cars traveling in the 70 miles per hour ballpark.

It was a smooth power burst, like controlled lightning.  A genuine, soul-pleasing rush of power.  What else do you expect from a member of the elite?

Even more remarkable to me is that performance was so robust with a car that is no lightweight. It has a curb weight of 4,540 pounds, fairly hefty in this segment.

It also had what appeared to be a back seat, which looked like it might take on a single suitcase.  I couldn't envision a passenger there, not even a contortionist.

Beyond all this, the tester was lavishly equipped, including radar-based cruise control, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and intelligent high beams.

One other thing: The show of the power rooftop disappearing into the back of the car, commenced with the push of a button, is worth the time invested in a test drive.

Obviously, given the cost, this LC 500 is marketed to a specific -- let's say financially fortunate -- audience.  For those of us lucky enough to have even a short time behind the wheel, the experience amounts to an appreciation of the pinnacle of car-building art.  This is the Lexus in full.