Convertibles, like coupes, are an endangered breed. With companies’ production lines slowly attending to crossovers not a lot of market is left for the other body segments. This trend is also seen in many high-end manufacturers like Bentley and Aston Martin. Thankfully, Lexus still caters to the small segment of enthusiasts who’d like to get the roof off to feel the fresh air outside with its LC 500 Convertible!
The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible rides perfect, the suspension is well-tuned for spirited drives, the interior quality is impeccable, the styling resembles a concept car, and the oh so beautiful symphony from its 5L V8! And, being a dying breed, the Lexus LC 500 Convertible has fewer competitors to worry about. This competition consists of the Mercedes AMG E53 Convertible and the Jaguar F Type R Convertible.
What’s New for 2021?
The ‘Convertible’ in the LC 500 Convertible is the biggest news in the LC line-up for 2021! It gains a new power-retractable soft top for open-air drives. Other than this, there are some tweaks made to the suspension and gearbox. Android users rejoice!
You can now connect your Android phone to the LC’s infotainment system seamlessly! The LC is the only one who has lost weight during this lockdown, 22 pounds to be exact. There are 2 new dresses to clad your LC 500 with Nori Green and Cadmium Orange.
What’s the Performance Like?
Powering the 2021 Lexus LC500 Convertible is a 5L naturally aspirated V8 which belts out 471 horses and 398 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant gets mated to only a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox which enables you to take over the gearbox using paddle shifters. Downshifting gets you a lot of pops and crackles (apologies for the spoiler 
) in a very typical V8 fashion and the symphonic exhaust pipes put many American V8’s to share with all the roar!
Body roll is minimum while on the twisties and the huge 21-inch wheels provide ample confidence to turn into a corner aggressively. The overall ride is smooth and vibes free with the newer suspension setup doing its job pretty well. The tuned suspension can now be a master of the city as well as the twisties. There are variable steering and adaptive rear-wheel steering available on offer which helps in making the LC 500 quick and agile. It negotiates with city driving well and also garners a lot of attention while on the streets due to all the loud styling Lexus has put into it.
Let’s factor in the frugality aspect as well. The LC 500 has an old-school 5L V8 with 47i ponies. The EPA estimates for this melodious powerplant stand at 15 in the city, 25 on the highway, and 18 combined which are pretty good considering it does away with many of the modern turbocharging technology seen on the current crop of V8s.
What Trims Do You Get?
Lexus offers two trims for the LC 500 Convertible: the standard and the Inspiration Series. Although they might look the same, the Inspiration Series boasts of a Morpho Butterfly inspired Blue paint scheme which is an eye-candy. The prices are jumped a little higher from the 2020 Lexus LC 500.
Although, the standard trim is very densely equipped with all the latest features and all the technology you can find in this segment. Let’s delve deeper into what all you can get from an LC 500 Convertible:
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Trim
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Standard
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Inspiration Series
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MSRP
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$102,025
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$120,825
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Key Features
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8-Way Power-Adjustable heated and ventilated front seats
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Adds to features of Standard
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Drive Mode Select with Adaptive Suspension
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Morpho butterfly inspired paint scheme
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Lexus Safety System Plus
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915-watt, 13-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound Audio System
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20-inch alloy wheels
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21-inch forged alloy wheels
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Triple Beam LED headlamps
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Two-piece Zero Halliburton travel case set
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Power Soft Roof
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Amalfi White semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats
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Active Sports Exhaust System
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Torsen limited-slip differential and Yamaha performance dampers
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The Inspiration Series comes with the Touring Package as standard, which costs $5,290 otherwise. Apart from that, we’d add in the All-Weather Package for $250 which adds windshield wiper de-icer and heated leather steering.
How Safe Is the LC 500?
For Lexus, safety is the top priority, and to enforce it, the LC 500 has been packed in with the best-in-class safety technology. The NHTSA and the IIHS have not crash-tested an LC 500 since 2018 but since the underpinnings are the same as that of the 2018 model year, we expect 2021 to be similarly solid as well! Some of the more reassuring features on the LC 500 are:
• Pre-collision system
• Pedestrian detection
• Dynamic radar cruise control
• Intelligent high beams
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure alert
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• 6 airbags as standard
Is This a Good Choice?
The LC 500 Convertible is one of the last contenders in the segment and offers a surfeit of latest technology, backed by Japanese engineering and an interior reminiscent of the good old days! If you are not a convertible fan you can also go for regular 2021 Lexus LC 500, it’s also a great option.
The engine is rhythmic and similar to the old American muscle cars. The price might feel a bit steep for a Lexus but every $ is worth spending on a beauty like the LC 500 Convertible!
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