Lexus fans might be quite familiar with the LC flagship coupe, but this is the first time it’s available as a convertible. It’s a distinctive, powerful roadster with an Aston Martin roar and Mercedes Benz style. It has a retractable, soft top but shares many of the same body lines as the standard Lexus LC coupe. This will be a detailed review of the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible.
The Inspiration Series Convertible
There’s also the Inspiration Series model trim with only 100 examples being produced. It comes in a stunning blue exterior paint with custom 21-inch alloy wheels. The brilliant blue paint is inspired by the color of a morpho butterfly. Inside the cockpit, there’s white leather upholstery and advanced climate control. The steering wheel and shifting knob have Alcantara trimming, as well.
The Touring package adds a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system to the LC Convertible, plus a heated steering wheel and embossed headrest. Most of these interior amenities come with the Inspiration model trim, but if you don’t like the spectacular blue paint, then this might be the way to go. The Inspiration Series is extremely limited and carries an MSRP of $119,000.
Stylish Exterior of the 2021 LC 500 Convertible
The 2021 LC 500 Convertible hits the ball out of the park in the style category. There are triple beam LED headlights set into the front fascia. The signature illusion grille with an hourglass shape is a hallmark of the Lexus brand and it fits the 2021 LC 500 Convertible quite well. The hood sweeps back long and low to house the enormous 5.0 Liter V8 engine inside.
It only takes 15 seconds for the hydraulic system to deploy the soft top of the 2021 LC convertible. You don’t even have to slow down. It can be done at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. There are two color options for the soft top. It comes in black or sand. The profile is one of the LC convertible’s best angles. It has flush door handles and large wheel wells to accommodate its 20-inch wheels.
The rear of the LC 500 Convertible has a broad spoiler and dual chrome-tipped exhaust ports. If the taillights of the LC convertible remind you of an aircraft, then that’s no accident. There are 160 LEDs along the rear of the vehicle that is designed to create a mirror effect. The result is something that resembles the afterburners of a fighter jet.
What’s The Interior of the LC 500 Convertible Like?
To call the interior of the LC convertible a cabin would be a bit of an overstatement. It’s more of a cockpit. The interior has an obvious concentration on the driver. The vehicle acts as an extension of the driver and even the front passenger will get a bit bored with nothing but paneling and the open road ahead of them.
The colors available for the upholstery are black, circuit red, and toasted caramel. The dashboard is dominated by a 10.3-inch touchscreen display. Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and Android Auto all have compatibility with the multimedia interface. You can use voice-activated controls to access navigation, make to-do lists while you drive, and listen to your favorite tunes. There’s a 12 speaker audio system inside the LC 500 convertible. Some of those speakers are mounted into the rear seats.
The windshield sweeps over the cockpit at a very narrow-angle to protect the driver and passenger from road noise and wind. There’s even a small windscreen in the rear of the cockpit, as well. The 2021 LC 500 Convertible takes climate control to another level. The HVAC system manages the air conditioning for several different zones around the cockpit. There are heating units in the seats, headrests, and steering wheel. There are even vents that can apply warm or cool air to the back of the driver’s hands while they’re gripping the steering wheel.
The steering wheel is ergonomically shaped to fit the driver’s hand in a way that maximizes comfort and control at high speeds. There are aluminum pedals beneath the steering column. The LC 500 Convertible has push-button ignition, illuminated entry, and a performance-inspired instrument cluster. You can find important vehicle performance information there with a G-force meter alongside your RPMs.
The manufacturer calls the 2021 LC 500 Convertible a four-passenger coupe, but anyone with eyes could see that the rear bench isn’t suitable for adult passengers. Even on paper, there are just 28 inches of legroom back there. The trunk has just 3.4 cubic feet of storage space. So, the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible loses a ton of points when it comes to its useless rear.
Related: Detailed Review of the 2021 Lexus RX 450H Hybrid
How Fast is the 2021 LC 500 Convertible?
The 2021 LC 500 Convertible has a 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 powerplant that produces 471 horsepower and 398-pound feet of torque. The 2021 LC Convertible’s top speed on the track is 168 MPH. The 2021 LC 500 Convertible can travel from zero to 60 MPH in 4.6 seconds. However, it’s important to consider that this vehicle has a curb weight of 4,540 pounds. With the right weight reduction, this could be a sub-3-second roadster. Unfortunately, it’s the heaviest of the LC models.
The 2021 LC Convertible has rear-wheel drive and a 10-speed direct-shift electronically controlled transmission. For such a powerful engine output, the fuel economy is surprisingly decent. The LC Convertible gets 18 MPG combined. It’s even better on the highway with 25 miles per gallon.
The LC Convertible has exceptional handling. There’s a new torsion box in the rear and other structural improvements to the chassis. The 2021 LC Convertible has independent double-jointed multilink suspension with coil springs on both the front and rear axles. One of the most impressive features is the Adaptive Variable Suspension. The AVS system makes automatic adjustments to the suspension in response to various driving conditions in order to deliver unprecedented control. We’re talking hundreds of micro-adjustments every second. The result is a driving experience that feels intuitive and vigorous – a true sports car.
Safety Gear from Lexus
Every 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible comes stocked with tons of advanced safety gear from Lexus. The Lexus Safety System+ comes with pre-collision warnings, pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts, lane-keeping assist, intelligent high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. Every vehicle comes with a backup camera and six airbags inside the cockpit. The standard LC coupe has eight airbags. Additionally, the LC 500 Convertible has blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist.
At the Finish Line
The 2021 LC 500 convertible has a starting MSRP of $101,100. With options and add-ons, the price can climb to around $120,000. That’s if you can find one of the rare Inspiration Series models on the market.
The LC 500 Convertible holds back only a touch when it comes to high-performance output. It’s a shame that the sport and dynamic packages don’t appear to be available for the LC 500 Convertible. These packages add performance enhancements and sporty carbon fiber pieces. Carbon fiber door scuff plates are optional, but hardly seem functional.
Otherwise, the LC 500 Convertible aces the elegance of a Lexus with its refined interior and well-sculpted exterior. The V8 engine is powerful enough to hang with supercars but tames the beast with next-level handling and steering upgrades. You’ll have fun driving the LC 500 Convertible, for sure. Just don’t ask more than one other person to ride with you. It’s strictly a 2-seater.