The artworks were commissioned from seven artists and designers in different European countries with a brief to capture the driving pleasures and beautiful design of the open-top LC. These were displayed on Lexus’ social media channels during the past month, where people could vote for their favourites, prompting a close contest for the top honour.

In total, 3,459 votes were cast with top three placings taken by Georgia, then Spain, with David de la Heras’ view of the Sierra de Madrid, and then France, with Matthieu Forichon depicting the LC Convertible amid the scenery of the French Riviera.

A prize draw will now select 10 lucky winners at random from among those who voted for the Georgian entry. Each of whom will receive a framed print of the poster and some Lexus give-aways (winners will be notified by email).

Nino Gordeladze, Executive Creative Director of Windfor’s in the Georgian capital, described the design: “The start of an unforgettable summer adventure is around the corner – the sensation of freedom elevated with style and charisma, and in this case, the gorgeous city of Batumi stands waiting on the horizon, offering a rollercoaster of sweet summer fun.”

Each designer has produced an artwork featuring the LC Convertible in a popular touring location, inspired by vintage travel posters. The artists used a variety of different styles and materials, and their designs complement and highlight the smooth lines and distinctive styling of the Lexus LC Convertible.

A public vote to find out which is the most popular poster will be held here: Lexus LC Convertible travel posters European vote and on Lexus social media channels across Europe, from 23 August to 5 September. There is also the option for voters to sign up to be entered into a prize draw to win one of 10 framed prints of the winning poster, as well as a selection of Lexus goodies.

The Lexus LC Convertible has been hailed by many as ‘the most beautiful convertible in the world’ and is the perfect car in which to enjoy a great drive through stunning scenery. Launched in 2020, it is designed to look equally beautiful with the roof up or down, with Lexus’s famous attention to detail producing a beautifully appointed cabin. It delivers Lexus’s “exhilarating performance” thanks to its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine, with acceleration from 0-62mph in five seconds, while precise aerodynamic styling prevents wind buffeting when travelling at speed with the roof down.

The Lexus LC Convertible is a truly remarkable car that has already won a string of awards, including the Best Luxury Car of 2021 in the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards. The travel posters project was conceived as a way to celebrate its status as a perfect car for a grand tour and as a modern-day classic and the artists have captured that star quality in their beautifully crafted designs, which are in harmony with a car that showcases the best of Lexus brave design and takumi craftsmanship.

THE LEXUS LC CONVERTIBLE TRAVEL POSTERS

France – French Riviera, by Matthieu Forichon

Matthieu Forichon is an artist who demonstrates the French art de vivre. He has embraced the new possibilities opened by digital tools in creating a personal style in which precise outlines create harmony, demonstrating reality through elegance.

Forichon comments: “I wanted to add the highlights of vintage automobile illustration, especially in France. That means representing the French Riviera with its characteristic features: palms trees, pines, palaces (here the Negresco for inspiration), the Croisette and hills in the background.”

He uses golden colours and leaves the observer wondering whether the scene occurs in the early morning or at the end of the day and whether the lovers are arriving or leaving the palace.

Georgia – Batumi by Windfor’s Tbilisi ad agency

A team at Windfor’s Tbilisi agency lead by Executive Creative Director Nino Gordeladze created the vintage style poster of the Lexus LC Convertible rounding a corner to reveal the city of Batumi - the second largest city in Georgia, located in the south west of the country on the Black Sea.

Gordeladze describes the design: “The start of an unforgettable summer adventure is around the corner - the sensation of freedom elevated with style and charisma, and in this case, the gorgeous city of Batumi stands waiting in the horizon, offering the rollercoaster of sweet summer fun.”

Germany – Hamburg, by Danii Pollehn

Hamburg-based illustrator Danii Pollehn creates themes and images in her artwork that celebrate the natural world and the female form. She works across all media, creating paintings, digital illustrations and pattern designs.

Pollehn’s poster features the Lexus LC Convertible in Volcano Red with a modern woman enjoying driving the convertible and feeling the wind in her face. The background shows a sunset, Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie concert hall and part of Park Fictions, a kind of art installation which is a well-known and popular spot in the city’s St. Pauli district.

The Netherlands – Monaco, by Marc Lamers

Marc Lamers’ versatile style means he can paint in both an impressionist or more classical, detailed style. His oil on canvas poster features the Lexus LC Convertible Regatta Limited Edition against the stunning backdrop of Monaco, which has been the playground of the rich and famous for decades.

Lamers comments: “The sensationally beautiful Côte d'Azur fits perfectly with the equally sensational Lexus LC Convertible. Both the environment and the car itself convey an impression of luxury. The white aniline leather of the interior fits seamlessly with the white colour of the luxury yachts that can be seen in the highly detailed background.”

The LC Convertible featured in Lamers’ poster is in Structural Blue body paint, whose microparticles reflect the light in a way that emphasises the lines of the car.

Spain – Sierra de Madrid, by David de la Heras

David de la Heras is a Basque illustrator and artist, born in Bilbao and now living in Barcelona. His work is characterised by a wide chromatic range and the combination of a classic pictorial style with contemporary graphic resources.

De la Heras chose the location because “it contains an emotional baggage for me…The Sierra of Madrid is where I used to escape for a while to disconnect.”

Sweden – Älvnäs, Stockholm, by Hans Christiansen

In Sweden, Hans Christiansen is well known for his pictures in national media. He has written and illustrated several books on nature, cars and his meetings with people during his world travels.

The moment captured in this vintage poster creates an interesting contrast between the nostalgic and the modern, highlighting the Lexus LC Convertible’s timeless design.

The small building in the poster is a bus shelter in Älvnäs, Stockholm, inspired by the railway station in Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors, a location that has been featured in numerous TV programmes and films, including the Harry Potter series.

UK – Ladybower Viaduct on Snake Pass, the Peak District, by Rebecca Pymar

Rebecca Pymar is an illustrator from Norwich with a passion for colour and form. She chose the Peak District, and more specifically a section of Snake Pass, commenting: “It is renowned by drivers as one of the UK’s most enjoyable and breath-taking sections of road. It twists and turns, meandering through the hills and across the reservoir, with the sun bouncing off surrounding hills.

“Vintage travel poster art has forever been an inspiration for me and my work; it harks back to the golden era of transport, holidays and adventure. The Lexus LC Convertible inspired the colours and feel of this piece - dusky reds and yellow, like a balmy summer evening. The car itself has a distinctive form, each feature seamlessly blending into the next. It is both elegant and bold and really sets off the dramatic backdrop of the peaks.”

Born in Corsica, France, his talent blossomed after studying French cuisine under the Master Chef, Michel Troisgros. He then moved to Japan, where his philosophy towards cooking changed as he spent time reflecting on the art. What prompted the change was nature and the earnestness of the farmer-producers interacting with the Japanese landscape. “I used to cook to express myself,” Lionel explains, “but when I encountered the amazing wonders of Japanese nature and the people empowered by it, I realized that it ought to be ingredients that are expressed in the food, not the chef.” Now, he believes that “it is my mission and responsibility as a chef” to embrace and value this connection with nature.

And so to experience the power of nature directly, the LC Convertible was the partner of choice. “The natural, flowing design makes it look as if it had been born that way. What it symbolizes is similar to what I look for in a dish,” according to Lionel, giving his first impressions of the LC Convertible. Lionel begins his journey behind the wheel of the LC convertible, a car that resonates with his own philosophy.

Lionel, eager to discover the true meaning behind his cuisine, heads back to Oita Prefecture in southern Japan, a region he has visited in the past. This is a place energized by the earth’s power, nestled as it is, in the bosom of Mount Aso, one of Japan's most famous volcanoes. It is a locale where water is pure, plants are fresh, the air is clean, and the people live in harmony with nature. For Lionel, this is a special place that once helped him connect with nature and changed his views on cooking.

 “People say that my cuisine is unique because I possess both French and Japanese viewpoints, allowing me to show two different sides. So, experiencing Japan again through this drive is great for shaping my mentality and philosophy as a chef,” he says.

He takes the wheel and starts driving along the highland route. With the roof open, he can experience the mountain air directly; the steady acceleration releases all five senses to connect with nature.

“You feel at one with the car.” The drive creates a profound sense of freedom, as if the mind were blending into nature. While driving through the magnificent landscape, an image of wild birds, leisurely flying in the sky, occurs to Lionel. He feels as if he too could fly freely to wherever he desired. “Liberté absolue (absolute freedom)” were Lionel's words to describe the drive in the LC Convertible.

When Lionel returned to Tokyo after his trip, he prepared a dish based on his driving experience. One of the key ingredients was the wild bird that came into his mind as he drove through the highlands. “Free and wild, yet graceful and elegant. That is the shared image I had in my mind when I thought of the LC Convertible and wild birds,” Lionel explains. “What you discover through traveling enriches you and, in my case, is food for thought as a chef,” says Lionel as he reflects on his trip.

Food and cars. At first they may seem unrelated but Lionel explains that there are definite similarities: “Eating and driving are both physical sensations. They both need to appeal to the five human senses.” Those words signify the determination of a man set to satisfy the endless desires of the "human senses". Lionel concluded that, "There is no final goal to creating things. So, just as LEXUS continues evolving, I hope to take on further challenges myself."

We called upon professional driver Paul Swift to take on this unique challenge. Firstly, Paul had to safely drive the frozen Lexus LC out from the freezing climatic chamber with zero visibility. And then, ice still dropping from the LC Convertible, he put the open-top Lexus through its paces around a challenging test circuit.

Discover Paul's impressions from the driver's seat - both of the LC Convertible's awesome V8 power and its luxurious Climate Concierge system - in our short film.

It was a frosty start to the day - inside the car at least. "This morning I got in the freezer and sat inside the car which was quite crispy," explains Paul. "The steering wheel was freezing, and it was all completely dark."

"This morning I... sat inside the car which was quite crispy"

Professional driver Paul Swift on our frozen Lexus LC Convertible

Darkness wasn't the only challenge inside the chamber. The frozen Lexus LC had a coating of ice on the windscreen, just as with a normal vehicle defrost test. Combine that with an instant cloud of condensing cold air around the car once the chamber opened and Paul was driving blind. "It's quite unnerving not being able to see anything," he continues. "The screen was completely frozen up, so I was guided by the team over the radio for the first part... You could hear the crispness of the tires on the ground as I was turning the wheel. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before."

With the car running, the situation in the sculpted leather driver's seat rapidly improved. Our LC Convertible's Climate Concierge includes a heated steering wheel, heated seats and the optional neck heater. These features would be welcome on any chilly day, especially if you enjoy open-top motoring no matter the temperature. For Paul, they were a blessing in the conditions: "[I] started the engine and immediately I could feel the steering wheel warming up and [heat] coming through from the seat... There's even some vents behind your neck to keep that warm." His verdict on Climate Concierge? "Considering it was minus 18, immediately I felt quite comfortable in the car."

"Considering it was minus 18, immediately I felt quite comfortable in the car."

Professional driver Paul Swift on Lexus Climate Concierge

The windscreen completely defrosted within minutes so Paul and the team could head out onto Millbrook's famous Alpine Test Track. Paul highlights the challenges from a driver and vehicle perspective: "The Alpine Route's quite testing because it undulates quite a lot. It's got some quite fast-flowing corners into some tight hairpins, so you can feel the chassis. You're really asking a lot of the car as you're dipping into these corners and then turning in."

How would our luxury soft-top respond to this test? "It does everything you want from a performance point of view, but also it's comfortable," Paul relates. "There was no problem with understeer, the gear change is effortless, and it has the blipper as you're going down so you get that little [blip of revs] which is quite appealing." And as well as looking stunning from every angle - roof up or roof down - the LC Convertible sounds the part: "It's a 5.0-litre V8 engine," he explains, "You can give it full power and...you can hear the exhaust opens up and you could hear the full V8."

So, what was Paul's verdict after experiencing the frozen Lexus? "I've never really experienced anything as dramatic as this where you're going from such extreme cold back to sort of normal temperatures for the UK in May," he reveals. "In regular UK May temperatures, it's still not St. Tropez [but] I felt comfortable in the car, so it does exactly what it's meant to do: keeps you up to temperature." Paul continues: "It does everything you want from a performance point of view, but also it's comfortable. I'd like to keep it..."

Blue skies and sunshine are the ideal backdrop for a great drive in the Lexus LC Convertible, but this is a car that’s just as capable of dealing with much harsher weather conditions, as an icy endurance test has proved.

To demonstrate the LC Convertible’s depth of quality, Lexus subjected a standard car to 12 hours inside an industrial-scale refrigeration unit at -18°C. More than that, the four-layer roof was stowed for the sub-zero marathon, exposing the interior, and the test was followed by an immediate high-power drive around a demanding test track.

The gruelling trial is the subject of a new Lexus short film, available to view here.

The venue for the event was the Large Climatic Chamber at the Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK. The 468m3 unit is regularly used to test the endurance of defence equipment as well as road vehicles, at temperatures between +85 and -60°C, with up to 98 per cent relative humidity.

For the LC Convertible’s visit, the mercury was set at -18°C – cold enough to freeze rubber and the industry standard for assessing defrosting performance. Taking the test a step further, the Lexus was given a preliminary water spray so that a sheet of ice would form over the vehicle body.

Greg Fleming, the senior engineer overseeing the trial, said: “With the roof down, the interior components would be in an extremely stressed condition and it would not be a nice place for anyone to be – the hope was that the air conditioning system, the heated seats and steering wheel would all still operate as they should.”

Once the Lexus was parked inside the chamber, it took about an hour for the powerful gas conditioning system to bring the temperature down to the required level. Then the car was left untouched overnight.

Paul Swift, a professional stunt driver, was recruited to put the Lexus to its post-freeze test. On the call of “action” for the film crew, the 457bhp V8 engine fired up first time and the car’s displays and gauges sprung instantly to life, showing no adverse impact from the extreme cold.

As Swift discovered straight away, the Climate Concierge responded immediately to heat the cabin. “I could feel the steering wheel and the base of my back warming up and the vents in the head rest behind my neck. It was actually quite pleasant, considering it was minus 18, I felt quite comfortable in the car right away,” he said.

His driving skills were then called into play as he piloted the Lexus out of the chamber to take on Milbrook’s hill course, an alpine-style test route of challenging curves, climbs and descents.

Here the LC Convertible demonstrated exhilarating performance to match its styling and comfort, shedding dramatic shards of ice from its bodywork as it gathered speed.

“I didn’t really know what to expect but pressing the start button she started right away,” said Swift. “The route is testing, so you are asking a lot of the car and you can feel the chassis,” Swift explained. “There was no problem with understeer, the gear change was effortless and there is an appealing blip of the revs as you change down. This is a lovely car and does exactly what you need it to do.”

The goal is to produce paint quality that is unique to Lexus, providing colours with depth and lustre that not only catch the eye, but will last, too. The Lunar Silver paintwork on the new LS flagship saloon has taken the technology to new heights, achieved through years of dedicated research, development and breakthrough innovations.

Cosmo Silver

Lexus’s pursuit of an ideal metallic look yielded its first important results in 2003 with the introduction of Cosmo Silver, initially on the LS flagship limousine. This marked a significant evolution from a straightforward metallic finish to something that offered a much greater brightness and the fluid look of pure aluminium.

The key was precise control of the size of the aluminium flakes used in the paint to create an ultra-metallic look, giving an effect more like aluminium foil or chrome. This was achieved by selecting “radiant” materials, applying an orientation control technology for even arrangement of the aluminium flakes and using a multi-layer paint composition technique. With constant scrutiny for perfect quality, the result was an unprecedented metallic finish.

Breaking new technology boundaries with sonic paint technology

The next Lexus breakthrough was the development of sonic paint technology. Recognising that there were limits to what could be achieved using single base paint layer, Lexus developed its multi-layer composition technique so that each layer played a different role in the quality and appearance of the finished paint.

Sonic Titanium and Sonic Silver were the first Lexus metallic paint finishes made using the sonic process, initially introduced in the UK for the IS and GS saloon models from 2012.

Created by Lexus engineers in a five-year development programme, this technique produced a paint layer compressed to a thickness of just 12 microns. This brought the aluminium flakes floating in the paint into even closer and more uniform alignment. Used within the multi-layer finish, it brought new brilliance and shading to the cars’ bodywork, qualities enhanced by the precision of Lexus’s robotised paint process and the hand polishing overseen by its famous takumi specialist craftspeople. Although the sonic paint process requires more effort, when applied it needs fewer bakes in the drying process, so is more environmentally efficient.

Manganese Lustre

The launch of the fifth generation LS in 2018 signalled another breakthrough in sonic paint technology with the debut of Manganese Lustre, a paint finish designed to project the dense, solid feel of a metal mass. This was achieved using a thin metal paint layer to create a metallic accent in the bodywork’s highlights, in combination with a dark grey layer that emphasised the design’s tapering form.

Crucially the sonic process was developed so that a 12-micron layer containing mica particles would contract to a thickness of just four microns in the drying process, increasing the level of reflectivity.

Lunar Silver

Lexus’s ambition with the development of Lunar Silver (introduced in 2020 on the new LS) was to achieve “the ultimate metallic texture.”

A spokesman explains: “To achieve this, we were very discerning in selecting the type of aluminium we use and how to orient it uniformly in the coating. Specifically, the aluminium is deposited as a thin-film vapour that is a smoothly aligned in an ultra-thin layer. This produces a strong metallic reflection with a mirror-like lustre and smoothness, with strong and deep shadow contrasts.”

In this latest development of the sonic technique, the paint film contracts to an unprecedented thickness of just one to two microns. Producing such an extremely thin film free from any unevenness requires great skill and a perfectly smooth underlying surface – achieved through close collaboration between the paint engineers and Lexus’s manufacturing team.

Lexus has a dedicated in-house laboratory where a team of around 30 members research high-level paint technologies. It also recognises the importance of close collaboration with specialist partners on all aspects of paint development, design and production, and has worked with Kansai Paint and Nippon Paint since the Lexus brand was founded just over 30 years ago.

While the research programme is carried out in Japan, perceptions of and tastes in colours and quality are studied worldwide with paint colour options adjusted to suit different regions and markets.

Trends and tastes are important, but Lexus believes colour also relates closely to brand image. For example, while there are now several colours available that use sonic technology, these are characterised by their metallic qualities – the effects of brightness and shading – rather than the colour itself.

Structural Blue

For a more exclusive finish, Lexus’s technical centres in the USA and Japan and specialist thin film optical coatings and pigment producer VIAIVI Solutions worked together to produce Structural Blue. The lengthy project successfully produced a multi-layered pigment that replicated the iridescent blue of the Morpho butterfly – an effect created by light interference on the lattice structure of the butterfly’s wings.

Where conventional paints reflect less than 50 per cent of incoming light as visible blue colour, the level with Structural Blue was almost 100 per cent. Unsurprisingly, it required a highly specialised application process – no more than two cars could be painted in a working day. The colour was reserved for a special version of the LC Coupe, the LC Structural Blue Edition.

ENDS

As a category winner, it now goes forward for consideration for the Best Car of the Year title, to be announced by WWCOTY on 8 March, International Women’s Day.

This is the 11th year for the WWCOTY awards, judged by a team of 50 motoring journalists from 38 countries spanning five continents. It is the only jury in the automotive world composed exclusively of women.

Among the judges, Marta Garcia (Spain), WWCOTY Executive President, remarked: “The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is a delightful madness to dream about, a car to add to the bucket list. It retains all the passion of classic sports cars, the ones that didn’t need tricks or turbos to make you fall in love.”

Anat Daniel (Israel) commented on how the mixture of luxury with “Japanese sportiness” and a “magnificent” engine helps make this a “unique and unforgettable car,” while Charleen Clarke (South Africa) declared it “brilliant to drive.”

The LC Convertible – following the example set by its sister Coupe model – perfectly captures the spirit of Lexus’ evolution as a luxury lifestyle brand, providing discerning customers with driving pleasure, unique design and superb craftsmanship quality.

The scene was set for the LC Convertible when a concept version was revealed at the Detroit motor show in 2019, showing how Chief Designer Tadao Mori and his team had succeeded in translating the award-winning design of the Coupe into an equally stylish and desirable soft-top, following the principle of “ultimate beauty.” Only minimal changes were made for the production version, which was launched in world markets during 2020 and took its place as an aspirational, halo model for the entire Lexus line-up.

The designers focused on making a car that looks equally stunning with the roof up or down, applying Lexus’ famous attention to detail in areas such as the folding top mechanism to achieve the ideal lines without compromising cabin comfort or load space. The LC Convertible also delivers Lexus’ “exhilarating performance,” thanks to its 5.0-litre V8 engine and 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, matching the Convertible with a 270 km/h top speed (electronically limited). Acceleration to 0-100 km/h can be accomplished in just five seconds, while precise aerodynamic styling prevents any uncomfortable wind buffeting when travelling at speed. The cabin is beautifully appointed, finished in high-quality materials throughout and reflecting Lexus’ human-centred philosophy in its design, comfort and multi-sensory appeal.

For 2021, WWCOTY adopted a new voting methodology by which the three best models in each category were selected before determining the individual winners. Eligible vehicles were launched between January and December 2020. As in previous years, votes were certified by the independent auditor Grant Thornton New Zealand.

For more information about WWCOTY, please visit https://www.womensworldcoty.com/.

With around five million users, carwow is a respected and popular source of information and expert opinion for consumers. Its annual awards honour cars in different market categories and also, through a public vote, an overall car of the year.

Mat Watson, Chief Content Officer for the carwow car buying comparison website, expressed the qualities that make the LC 500 Convertible such an impressive car, remarking: “This car just looks absolutely stunning. It is a truly brilliant convertible with a fabulous interior. So just sit back, fold down the roof and soak up the admiring glances as you burble past".

Based on Lexus’s LC flagship coupe, the LC 500 Convertible has been created as a model in its own right, with meticulous attention to detail to ensure that its styling, aerodynamic performance, ride and handling are of the highest quality. Launched in summer 2020, it represents the best in Lexus design, engineering and takumi craftsmanship.

Chief Designer Tadao Mori and his team set out to create “the world’s most seductive convertible,” committing to preserve the powerful and elegant lines that distinguish the coupe. This included the design of an all-new retracting soft top with an ingenious folding mechanism that allows it to be stowed in a very compact space, without intruding in the load compartment. This arrangement and a bespoke tonneau cover ensure the sleek rear styling is perfectly co-ordinated with the rest of the bodywork.

Similarly, fine-tuning of the air conditioning system, aerodynamic details throughout the car and the suppression of wind flow and noise ensure that top-down driving is exhilarating yet always comfortable. Strategic strengthening in the body preserves the car’s poise and agility.

The LC 500 Convertible is powered by Lexus’s naturally aspirated 457bhp V8 engine. Matched to a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, it enables nought to 62mph acceleration in five seconds, accompanied by a rousing engine note that is all the more enjoyable when driving with the top down.

The Lexus LC range has all the qualities befitting a flagship range, representing the best in Lexus design, engineering and craftsmanship. Established with the introduction of the LC Coupe in 2017, it has now been extended to include an all-new soft-top model of equal status, the LC 500 Convertible.

The Convertible shares the Coupe’s beautiful design and exhilarating dynamic performance, while adding the specific rewards associated with top-down driving. Where the Coupe’s focus is an “ultimate beauty” design and performance imbued with the heritage of the Lexus LFA supercar, the Convertible enriches the sensory experience. Driving with the top down makes the driver feel even more closely connected to their car, the road and the world around them.

The LC Coupe – both the LC 500h hybrid and the V8-powered LC 500 - benefits from a series of improvements and innovations for the 2021 model year. These changes are also incorporated, as appropriate, in the Convertible. The result is an evolution in the model’s luxury motoring qualities, from its ride, handling and responsiveness to its comfort and multimedia functionality.

EVEN SHARPER, MORE REFINED DRIVING FEEL

Lexus pursues linear operation that is faithful to driver's intentions, such as in the seamless transition from deceleration to steering and acceleration during cornering, in all types of driving situations. In a further evolution of the “even sharper, more refined“ philosophy of the LC, the new "Lexus Driving Signature" was born. This will be the new development standard every Lexus model will reflect going forward. This aspect of driving performance was a particular focus in the rigorous vehicle testing programme, resulting in numerous, incremental dynamic improvements. It’s this uncompromising attention to detail that has given the new LC models the kind of special performance quality that drivers will enjoy, even in everyday driving situations.

THE NEW LC 500 CONVERTIBLE

“For the first Lexus soft top, my team was determined to create the world’s most seductive convertible,”

TADAO MORI

LC CONVERTIBLE CHIEF DESIGNER

• Preserving the design essence of the LC Coupe with ingenious solutions to accommodate the folding soft top
• Detailed management of aerodynamic elements and air conditioning performance to ensure comfort at all times – top up or down

The LC Convertible’s design preserves all the principal lines of the Coupe, while introducing an all-new retracting soft top. Lexus ingenuity has produced a folding mechanism that stows the roof within a very small space without intruding on the load compartment, or compromising the car’s elegant styling to the rear of the cabin.

Comfort is assured, roof up or down, with specific adjustment of the air conditioning system, aerodynamic details and the effective suppression of wind flow and noise. Strategic strengthening of the body structure preserves the car’s poise and agility, while also providing robust impact protection performance.

DESIGN

• LC Convertible carries forward the award-winning styling of the LC Coupe
• Exterior design is equally impressive, roof up or down
• Lexus’ first soft top, engineered for an elegant appearance, durable performance and compact stowage

The mission for the team designing the LC Convertible was simple: create the world’s most beautiful open-top car. The statement was straightforward, but the task was a considerable challenge, as Lexus was determined that the new model should preserve the essential styling motifs of the LC coupe, the winner of multiple international awards for its striking and advanced design. Moreover, the convertible had to look equally impressive with its roof up, or down.

In February 2019, their work was revealed in public for the first time with the unveiling of the LC Convertible Concept, a car created on the theme of “ultimate beauty.” Thanks to the determination and skill of the Lexus designers, the production car has kept faithful to the concept’s promise.

CREATING THE COUPE ROOF LINE

The line of the roof was key to the designers achieving their goal, as Chief Designer Tadao Mori explained: “Although there are many convertible models out there, few of them are stylish and elegant both when the roof is open and closed. Particularly when the roof is raised, ridge lines in the uneven surface tend to give an unrefined impression. That’s why for the LC Convertible, we put maximum effort into realising the same beautiful roof line as the coupe.”

To produce the desired silhouette, the point where the soft top meets the car’s rear quarters was moved as far towards the rear of the car as possible, to create a fastback look when the roof is raised. Particular attention was paid to the tensioning of the soft top to ensure a smooth surface, and the frame and other elements are perfectly concealed, so the roof has a clean and elegant, tapered form.

When viewed from the rear, the line of the soft top emphasises the compact proportions of the cabin, contrasting with the wide-flaring under-body and projecting a dynamic look.

PERFECTING THE TONNEAU COVER AND SILHOUETTE

The designers took advantage of the LC’s platform specifications and the soft top’s folding mechanism to set the tonneau cover as low as possible. They also avoided the familiar flat, platform look seen on many other convertibles by adding fairing-shaped accents that echo the curves of the rear headrests.

It is another common feature of convertibles that the design can seem stretched out from the tonneau cover to the boot lid, particularly when the roof is down. This was avoided on the LC by profiling the rear end so that it rises in a duck tail, producing a distinctive silhouette that is sleek and dynamic. The beltline also kicks up behind the doors to give a sense of the body wrapping around the cabin, creating a tight and clean profile.

SOFT TOP DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

The LC Convertible is Lexus’ first soft-top model, and every effort was made to ensure the roof meets its requirements for a sleek and smart appearance, quiet and quick operation and compact stowing that doesn’t diminish space in the load compartment.

One of the principal design challenges was to minimise bulkiness in the bodywork in the shoulder area immediately behind the rear seats. This was achieved by creating an extra fold in the soft top so that it can be stowed in the area behind the rear seats, between the left and right-hand rear suspension towers. The hydraulic motor system is also located in this space. As a result, the luggage compartment is similar in size to that of the Coupe – 149 litres.

This clever design also allowed for a sharp and fine character line to be created, running from the front to the rear of the car. To produce this line and achieve a high-quality finish, Lexus applied an incremental forming process, in addition to the conventional press used to mould the aluminium tonneau cover.

A folding roof mechanism is usually expected to last around 10 years before it needs mechanical attention. To meet Lexus’ exceptional quality and reliability requirements, the LC Convertible’s roof was tested to breaking point. It went through around 18,000 open and closing cycles before a problem occurred – even then only a minor one that was not hazardous. The test programme also verified that the system works just as well in freezing temperatures and snow.

The roof can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds. The task can be done even when the car is on the move, at speeds up to 50 km/h. Once again, thorough testing was undertaken, using a wind tunnel to ensure the system can cope with different speeds and driving conditions, including headwinds.

A quiet cabin free-from outside noise and vibration is an important part of Lexus’ omotenashi principles of ultimate customer care. The LC Convertible’s multi-layered canvas roof is effective in blocking out unwanted noise and its hydraulic motor works quietly and efficiently.

CONTINUITY BETWEEN EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

In a convertible the cabin is more open to view and closely connected to the car’s exterior design. Lexus sought to bring a perfect sense of continuity to the exterior and interior of the LC Convertible by using innovative colour co-ordination.

Three soft top colours are available: Marine Blue (Regatta Edition exclusive, Ochre and Black), the latter two suitable for use with any of the bodywork paint options. With these choices and further options for interior colours, owners have the freedom to specify a car that captures their personal style.

At launch, the LC Convertible is also presented in a Regatta Edition model with a colour scheme that matches Structural Blue bodywork with a white and blue interior and a Marine soft top – a combination inspired by the colours found at a luxury marina. White is used extensively in the cabin, including Lexus’ first all-white steering wheel and carpeting. This contrasts with the door trim which is finished with blue synthetic leather. Rather than a printed pattern, this material has a grain that gives a three-dimensional effect with texture and shading.

Co-ordinating the interior A-pillar trim with the colour of the roof lining is a rare quality design feature but one that Lexus applies throughout the LC range. The effect is all the more stylish in the LC Convertible, as the pillars are in clear view whenever the roof is lowered. The colour co-ordination catches the eye and accentuates the luxurious quality of the interior

Special attention has also been paid to the detailing on the seat upholstery, with a unique quilting pattern applied to the shoulder section of the front seats, adding both elegance and tactile quality. Perforations with three different hole diameters are organised in graduated pattern in which they appear to progressively fade away.

UNMISTAKEABLY AN LC

In other respects, the exterior design of the LC Convertible preserves all the powerful, muscular styling and detail that helped earn the Coupe two prestigious EyesOn Design awards.

This “avant-garde elegance” can be seen in the large spindle grille – a hallmark of Lexus design – which is finished in chrome and has a mesh design with a visual tension that changes as it spreads across the front of the car. A distinctive lighting signature is created by independent daytime running lights in an arrowhead configuration and ultra-compact triple LED headlamp units. Achieving this remarkably slim headlight design played an important role in helping the designers achieve a low bonnet line and short front overhang.

The prominent front and rear wings flare away from the centre of the car and house wide, large-diameter wheels. The effect is heightened by the door panels being pulled inwards, generating a strong, three-dimensional form that mirrors the spindle shape of the grille.

PERFORMANCE

• Body structure reinforced for impact protection and to minimise vibration and flexing
• Safety features include automatic roll-over bars and extra impact-absorbing material in the front pillars and windscreen header
• Performance from the naturally aspirated V8 engine matches that of the LC Coupe

STRENGTHENED BODY

The body structure of the LC Convertible has been strengthened to further improve safety performance in the event of a collision and to maintain a comfortable drive free from vibration or flexing.

In the upper body, reinforcements have been introduced to disperse impact forces and suppress body deformation around the cabin, using high-tensile and hot-stamped materials that are both strong and lightweight. Gussets have been added at the bottom of the front and centre pillars and the installation of an aluminium alloy torsion box, rear suspension tower brace and V-brace ensures a robust connection between the left and right upper body and the under body, with strong torsional rigidity.

Panel rigidity has been increased with more extensive use of body adhesive and additional spot weld points, minimising vibration and improving handling.

SAFETY PERFORMANCE

The LC Convertible is fitted with an active roll bar system comprising two individual bars that automatically deploy from beneath the rear parcel shelf if a high risk of a roll-over accident is detected.

Further protection in top-down driving is provided by the addition of an impact-absorbing structure in the garnish on the front pillars and the windscreen header trim, reducing impact force to the head in the event of a collision.

SPEED AND BALANCE

Lexus was determined that the Convertible should be every bit as fast as the LC 500 Coupe and used both a wind tunnel and test track to verify the same top speed could be achieved, roof up or roof down. The new body shape has not compromised the car’s speed. To verify performance was equal to that of the Coupe, the Convertible was tested both in the wind tunnel and on the test track.

The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine and 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission have the same specifications as in the LC 500 Coupe (details in the powertrain chapter below). In the Convertible they enable nought to 100 km/h acceleration in 5.0 seconds and a top speed (electronically limited) of 270 km/h.

When it comes to handling, the new roof actually makes a positive contribution to the car’s dynamics. With its lightweight structure, it weighs less than the hard top, which helps give the Convertible a lower centre of gravity than the Coupe. This, and the fact that all the roof’s components are located within the car’s wheelbase, is a key factor in in the Convertible’s dynamic balance and driving character. The roof’s frame is made from a rare combination of magnesium and aluminium to keep its weight to a minimum without compromising quality or performance.

COMFORT AND AERODYNAMICS

• Airflow management and air conditioning revised to ensure comfort when driving with roof raised or lowered
• Aerodynamic elements suppress wind buffeting, including a wind deflector and optional wind screen

A wind-in-the-hair feeling that gives you a closer connection to the world around you is one of the traditional pleasures of driving a convertible. Combine this with the stirring note of a powerful engine and you have an even more special experience.

Lexus has gone to exceptional lengths in creating the LC Convertible to ensure comfort and quality are never compromised when the roof is lowered. Its aim was to prevent cold air chilling the lower body, while managing temperature and airflow around the upper body so that occupants can enjoy a refreshing breeze without feeling cold or buffeted.

AIR CONDITIONING

The LC’s air conditioning system was reconfigured and recalibrated for the Convertible to take into account the change in cabin environment when the roof is stowed.

An open-air control uses a sensor in the roof to detect whether the top is up or down, and adjusts air conditioning performance accordingly. With the top down, the temperature and airflow volume are automatically regulated according to factors such as the amount of sunlight, the outside temperature and the vehicle’s speed.

Adjustable heaters built into the headrests direct air onto the occupant’s neck, so they feel warm straight away. It is designed to suit people of different heights and works automatically or with manual control, with three heat settings.

Lexus’ intelligent Climate Concierge has been adapted specifically for the convertible so that it still delivers optimum performance, co-ordinating control of the automatic air-conditioning, the seat and neck heaters and the heated steering wheel. It recognises when the front passenger seat is unoccupied, automatically switching off the neck and seat heaters to save power. Attention to detail includes a slight increase in the air conditioning’s airflow volume, to address issues such as helping keep the back of the driver’s hands warm.

AERODYNAMIC DETAILS

Lexus sought the perfect balance between the car’s aerodynamic styling and the performance of the cabin’s air conditioning. The engineering team took a human-centred approach, true to Lexus’ omotenashi principles of providing seamless comfort and hospitality.

Researching airflow over the car when the roof is down, they produced a belt line along the side of the car that kicks up at the rear edge of the doors to meet the surface of the boot lid – which itself was set at an optimum height. This detail makes for a smoother airflow that does not buffet the car’s occupants.

There is also a transparent wind deflector – fitted as standard – behind the rear seats which suppresses unwelcome airflow and keeps things quiet enough in the cabin to hold a conversation without the need to raise one’s voice when travelling at speeds up to around 60 km/h. Although small in size, it can reduce airflow around the occupants’ faces by about 20%.

For a comfortable ride when travelling at high speed, an optional wind screen is available, which can reduce airflow around the head by about 67% at 100 km/h. This mesh unit sits neatly behind the rear seats and can remain in place when the roof is raised.

Many different mesh patterns were tested before the best-performing option was selected, and attention was paid to the screen’s appearance as well as its performance, so that it blends perfectly with the convertible’s design.

NOISE MANAGEMENT

• Engine and exhaust notes tuned to heighten the pleasure of top-down driving
• Cabin quietness on a par with the hard-top LC Coupe

The powerful sound produced by the engine and exhaust is a key part of the driving experience in the new Lexus LC Convertible. Great aural quality was an important goal for the car’s development team, and one that required precise engineering techniques to achieve.

The ultra-exclusive LFA supercar marks the origin of Lexus’ focus on the importance of the engine sound and it was the specialists who worked on its V10 power unit who first identified the separate qualities that come together to create the ideal Lexus sound “atmosphere.”

Where the LC Convertible is concerned, the power of the V8 engine’s note had to be balanced by a level of cabin quietness that overturns preconceptions about driving in a convertible – an equation Lexus calls a “harmony of opposites.” To achieve the right effect, the sound of the engine changes in line with the rise and fall in its rpm, becoming more powerful and urgent in tune with the driver’s use of the accelerator and the sequence of shifts through the rapid-action 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. The exhaust note, too, heightens the sensation. By contrast, in gentle cruising, the sound is subdued, so conversation is easy when the roof is down.

CREATING THE IDEAL ENGINE NOTE

A continuous, pulsating sound is characteristic of a large-capacity, naturally aspirated V8 engine like the five-litre unit which powers the LC 500 Convertible. Lexus has applied acoustic technologies to combine this with spectral harmony (perfect sound intervals that are pleasing to the ear), stereophonic sound, to create a depth of sound, and formants – acoustic qualities that stir the senses and generate a feel-good factor.

Active Noise Control is used to “clean” the sound frequencies experienced in the car. This emits anti-pulse sounds through the audio speakers which counteract any unwelcome low frequency booming sound from the engine and drivetrain.

In the LC Coupe, noise inside the cabin is monitored by a microphone in the roof, but for the Convertible, this had to be relocated inside the driver’s headrest. Being closer to the driver’s ear means it can pick up a wider range of frequencies, but a complex algorithm had to be calculated to make sure it works accurately in any seat position.

CABIN QUIETNESS

Even though the LC Convertible has a soft top, Lexus wanted to secure the same kind of cabin quietness as in the Coupe when the roof is raised. Acoustic simulations were produced to determine where dominant noises were entering the space, so that the amount and location of soundproofing and sound-absorbing material could be calculated.

The storage area behind the rear seats for the folding roof presented a particular challenge as it was a route for tyre and exhaust noise to enter the cabin. There was not enough room for soundproofing material to be added, so the team looked instead at adapting the trim material itself. By allowing air to pass through the structure and using sound-absorbing material on the reverse, the entire surface of the storage space soaks up noise.

As the area is visible and part of the car’s interior, it also had to look good. Lexus assessed many different materials before choosing one usually used for lining the wings around the wheels. This meets safety standards and, being applied with extra density, has just the right appearance.

2021 UPDATES FOR THE LEXUS LC COUPE

“For me, the LC 500h luxury coupé is all about the emotions. It features some of the most advanced automotive technologies ever created, including Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System and Lexus Safety System +, yet it’s not the world-firsts that thrill me. It is watching people fall in love with the LC the first time they drive it.”

KOJI SATO

LC CHIEF ENGINEER

• Comfort, ride and handling improvements with suspension revisions, weight-saving measures and shock absorber adjustments
• Performance improved with changes to the LC 500h’s Multi Stage Hybrid System and high-voltage hybrid battery
• Improved shift pattern for the LC 500’s 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission
• Multimedia system gains smartphone integration functions with Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^®

The Lexus’ flagship coupe has always aimed to provide “even sharper, more refined” performance. Changes introduced for the 2021 model year (and shared with the new LC 500 Convertible) deliver greater responsiveness, handling stability and agility, strengthening the driver’s feeling of being directly connected to the car.

To achieve its goals, Lexus has revised the suspension system, saving weight and improving ride and handling quality. Changes to the high-voltage hybrid battery control have produced more useful power and torque in the LC 500h, and adjustments have improved performance of the LC 500’s 10-speed automatic transmission. The steering has also been revised and the brakes tuned to communicate a better feel to the driver.

DRIVING DYNAMICS

Changes to the LC Coupe’s suspension system deliver greater responsiveness, handling stability and agility, strengthening the driver’s feeling of being directly connected to the car and delivering an exhilarating driving experience.

A focus on weight saving has seen unsprung mass reduced by almost 10 kg. This has been accomplished principally with changes to the suspension, including the use of aluminium lower arms, lighter, hollow anti-roll bars with a revised diameter and a new high-strength material for the coil springs.

Once the weight savings were secured, attention turned to updating the suspension for a smooth, softer stroke, giving the driver a stronger feel of the road. The electronic front shock absorber controls have been adjusted to give a longer stroke, and bound stopper rigidity has been optimised to help create a smoother suspension stroke overall. Rear anti-roll bar rigidity has been increased to improve front turn-in performance and provide more linear steering input, again helping make the driver feel more connected to the road.

BRAKES AND STEERING

Larger brake pads with a higher friction coefficient have been adopted to gain more effective performance and stability at high temperatures and speeds. The system continues to use front and rear ventilated discs with opposed six-piston aluminium monobloc callipers at the front and four-piston units at the rear. The black callipers are decorated with the Lexus logo in white.

In a detailed touch, even the surface of the brake pedal has been revised to provide a larger contact area, giving a more natural feel for the driver.

Adding reinforcements and bracing has increased the steering support rigidity, helping achieve better handling stability. The measures include reinforcement of the instrument panel and a higher-rigidity surface for the upper and lower steering support joints, plus changes to the bracing for the driver’s seat and cowl. Software updates for the Variable Gear Ratio Steering, Dynamic Rear Steering and the electric power steering have further sharpened responsiveness.

ACTIVE CORNERING ASSIST

For better vehicle control in mid to high-speed ranges, the LC’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) has a new Active Cornering Assist (ACA) function. This helps control cornering by providing braking to the inner wheels in line with lateral vehicle acceleration experienced when higher G forces are generated in spirited driving (further details in the Chassis Dynamics section below).

POWERTRAINS

• LC 500h Coupe powered by 3.5-litre V6 self-charging full hybrid powertrain
• First model to benefit from Lexus’ Multi Stage Hybrid System
• LC 500 Coupe and Convertible feature 5.0-litre V8 engine, matched to Direct Shift 10-speed automatic transmission

LC 500h WITH MULTI STAGE HYBRID SYSTEM

The LC 500h Coupe’s self-charging full hybrid powertrain features a 299 DIN hp/220 kW 3.5-litre V6 engine and Lexus’ revolutionary Multi Stage Hybrid System. Total system output is 359 DIN hp/264 kW.

The Multi Stage Hybrid System, which debuted on the LC Coupe, is one of the most significant technical advances yet developed by Lexus. It overturns the traditional “eco” perception of hybrid powertrains to deliver authentic high performance, unlike anything seen before. In essence, the system uses a multi stage shift device to amplify engine and electric motor output in four stages, making use of the full range of engine speeds. This gives more direct response to driver inputs and a higher level of dynamic performance and driving pleasure.

Lexus has increased maximum engine speed from 6,000 to 6,500 rpm, while the nought to 100 km/h acceleration time remains at 5.0 seconds. Changes to the Multi Stage Hybrid System’s shift logic have produced smoother and more linear response, and also sharpened performance through bends with an automatic downshift to second gear when accelerating out of a turn.

PERFORMANCE BENEFITS FROM HYBRID BATTERY CONTROL

The LC 500h Coupe benefits from a new control programme in its high-voltage lithium-ion hybrid battery that increases its operating range and the degree of assistance provided to the electric motor. This helps provide more powerful acceleration, both when negotiating urban streets, or driving on winding roads. For example, extra power and torque are delivered sooner as the vehicle accelerates from 50 to 80 km/h, even with moderate, 30% pressure on the accelerator pedal.

LC 500 WITH 5.0-LITRE V8 ENGINE ^{(ALSO FEATURED IN LC 500 CONVERTIBLE)}

The performance heart of the LC 500 Coupe and Convertible is Lexus’ high-revving (maximum 7,300 rpm), naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine. This Atkinson cycle unit is supported by advanced D-4S fuel injection technology and its power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 10-speed close-ratio automatic transmission.

The V8 provides smooth, linear acceleration and generates a stirring engine note. Maximum power of 464 DIN hp/341 kW is delivered at 7,100 rpm, with maximum torque of 530 Nm available at 4,800 rpm. Acceleration from rest to 100 km/h can be accomplished in 4.7 seconds in the Coupe.

The engine is designed for durability and has a lightweight construction, with high-strength, forged connecting rods and titanium valves that allow it to flourish at high revs. A dual intake inlet enables efficient breathing and contributes to the engine’s distinctive sound. Noise and vibration have been reduced by the fitting a double torsional damper on the crank pulley, while fuel efficiency is supported by the use of D-4S direct fuel injection, Atkinson cycle operation, optimised VVT-i intelligent valve timing and a high (12.3:1) compression ratio. Extensive measures have also been taken to reduce friction and pumping losses.

V8 SOUND QUALITY

The sound generated by the LC 500’s V8 powertrain is all part of the quality of the driving experience. Lexus has changed the location of the valve that determines the route of the exhaust gases in the main silencer to achieve the ideal note. This makes its presence felt at start-up and at high engine revs (from around 4,000 rpm), while performance is quiet when cruising.

TRANSMISSION

Lexus has used big data to improve the drive force characteristics of the LC 500’s (Coupe and Convertible) 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, to achieve even more faithful responses to the driver’s intentions. With more drive force generated as engine speed increases, the driver feels a real sense of powerful torque and continuous acceleration.

The focus was the “active zone” – the 50 to 70% throttle range that accounts for most driving – with the transmission allowing revs to rise higher before shifting into the next gear. The effect is enhanced by the rising note of the V8 engine.

 In the LC 500h the Multi Stage Hybrid System’s shift logic has been adjusted to provide even smoother and more linear response. The changes improve performance when accelerating out of a bend, with an automatic downshift to second gear instead of third.

MULTIMEDIA

For the 2021 model year, all LC models are equipped as standard with Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^®, allowing for easy, wireless smartphone integration and access to popular apps for navigation, entertainment and messaging. With Android Auto, the Google Assistant can be used and tailored information can be sourced based on the user’s calendar, previous activity and established preferences.

Apple CarPlay allows users to access the familiar interface from their iPhone^® through the vehicle’s multimedia display. An iPhone can be connected to obtain journey directions, make calls, send and receive message via Siri^®, and gain access to apps such as Spotify, Audible and Apple podcasts.

LEXUS LC SERIES FAMILY FEATURES

The following sections cover the established features of the Lexus LC series, including design, powertrains, chassis dynamics, craftsmanship, safety and audio systems.

DESIGN

• Distinctive LC design based on award-winning LF-LC Concept car
• Fluid interpretation of Lexus’s “seduction and technology” design theme
• Luxury 2+2 coupe proportions, with authentic front engine/rear-wheel drive design characterised by low bonnet and roof lines and aerodynamically efficient surfacing

EXTERIOR DESIGN

Making the show car’s styling a practical proposition for a full production car required a new way of working at Lexus, bringing the engineering and design teams together with an unprecedented degree of co-operation to achieve the desired results. The success of this teamwork was rewarded when the LC won two further EyesOn Design honours when it in turn was revealed at the 2016 Detroit motor show.The LC Coupe’s exterior design is immediately recognisable as being a faithful reinterpretation of the styling of the LF-LC concept, winner of an EyesOn Design Award when first revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The LC has luxury coupe proportions with an exterior design that projects an avant-garde elegance, remaining faithful to many of the defining features of the LF-LC concept car that inspired it.

The car’s athletic profile is characterised by its sweeping roofline, which tapers rearwards from above the centrally positioned cabin to create a distinctive silhouette. Chrome-plated mouldings along the side of the glass roof amplify the elegant shape, their rear edges shaped to echo the lines of a traditional Japanese sword. The blacked-out finish to the roof and rear pillars creates a floating effect that visually separates the roof from the rear spoiler.

The sporting appearance can be heightened with an optional CFRP composite roof and an active rear spoiler.

The LC Coupe has a 2,870 mm wheelbase, very compact overhangs (930 mm front, 970 mm rear) and a notably low bonnet line. Overall length is 4,770 mm, width is 1,920 mm and the height 1,345 mm. The prominent front and rear wings flare away from the centre of the car, housing wide, large-diameter wheels, while the door panels are pulled inwards, creating a powerful three-dimensional form that mirrors the spindle shape of the Lexus grille.

The LC is available with a choice of 20-inch cast aluminium or optional 21-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels.

FRONTAL DESIGN

The spindle grille is finished in chrome and has a mesh design with a visual tension that changes as it spreads across the front of the car. The unique LC lighting signature is created by independent daytime running lights in an arrowhead configuration and ultra-compact triple LED headlamp units. Achieving this remarkably slim headlight design played an important role in helping the designers achieve the coupe’s low bonnet line and short front overhang.

REAR STYLING

At the rear the roof tapers down between muscular wheel arches, reinforcing the car’s wide and stable stance. The Lexus spindle shape is visible here in a three-dimensional form that is generated by lines flowing from the front of the car and along the sides, before cutting back around the inner edge of the rear combination lamps. The line of the spindle then moves outwards, following the shape of the licence plate mounting and outer edges of the tailpipes.

The rear combination lamps, set vertically at the outermost edge of the bumper, have a graphic that accentuates the flow along the sides of the body and emphasises the vehicle’s strong, planted look.

AERODYNAMICS

Lexus worked to introduce a high level of aerodynamic performance to improve the coupe’s handling stability and ride quality and to suppress wind noise. The aim was to achieve a smooth, unbroken front to rear airflow, both over and beneath the body. Design elements that help control and direct the airflow include small but critical aero stabilising fins on the front pillars, just forward of the door mirrors.

The optional active rear spoiler is automatically deployed when vehicle speed rises above 80 km/h. This suppresses lift at the rear to give a high degree of stability when driving at speed.

Aero ducts are featured just forward of the rear wheel arches. These feed air into the wheel arch, which then exits smoothly across the sidewall of the tyre. This contributes to the car’s high-speed straight-line stability and steering responsiveness. It also generates improved grip feel from the rear tyres.

The treatment of the underbody has been given equally close attention, with an almost completely smooth finish. Parts are aligned with the aero line, which kicks up towards the rear – notably the silencer is angled upwards, like a diffuser.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The LC’s 2+2 cabin combines elegance, superb comfort, sophistication and intricate attention to detail with a driver-focused cockpit. The area around the front passenger spreads outwards to create a comfortable and welcoming space. The line of the door trim is an extension of an exterior line that flows from the bonnet and through the windscreen, building a sense of continuity between the outside and inside of the car.

The driver’s cockpit is designed to instil confidence with intuitive layout of the controls and an excellent seating position. The driver’s hip point has been located as close as possible to the car’s centre of gravity, maximising direct feedback of the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour. The driver also has a clear view of the road, uncompromised by the seating position thanks to the low bonnet line, the low-profile instrument panel and the location and narrow width of the front pillars.

EASE OF ACCESS

Lexus has ensured getting in and out of the LC is easy and comfortable by providing generous legroom beneath the instrument panel, reducing the height difference between the rocker panel and the vehicle floor and enlarging the door aperture to provide comfortable head space.

STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROLS

Particular attention has been paid to the steering wheel design, with a change in the cross-section around its circumference to allow for variations in grip and twisting of the wrist. New, larger magnesium alloy paddle shifts have been profiled for easier hooking with the fingertips and have a positive and satisfying click action.

The information displays are arranged in order of importance, with the most critical positioned closest to the driver’s sightline, within the dashboard’s upper display zone. All are positioned at the same height, to reduce the degree of eye movement required for the driver to read them. The instrument binnacle features the latest development of the TFT (thin film transistor) meter technology introduced in the Lexus LFA supercar, including a moving central ring.

Driving-related switches and controls are arrayed in a control zone that is concentrated immediately around the steering wheel. These include the paddle shifts, steering wheel combination switches, Drive Mode Select switch, starter button and shift lever, each located for the best ergonomic performance, focusing on easy reach and operation that allow the driver to concentrate on the road ahead with least distraction.

Throughout the cabin, the quality and finish of the upholstery, trim materials and detailing reflect the takumi craftsmanship and fine attention to detail for which Lexus is renowned worldwide. These are witnessed in the hand-stitching of the leather gearshift lever, the draping treatment of the Alcantara door panel trims and the discreet use of the Lexus L motif.

SEAT DESIGN

Providing the driver with a seat with the best possible combination of support and comfort was a focus point in the development of the LC’s cabin. The aim was to deliver an advanced design with excellent holding performance and superb comfort. Lexus has achieved this with a new two-part construction technique in which the main part of the seatback drapes over the shoulder area of the seat and wraps around the back. To ensure superior lateral support, additional bolstering is provided for the driver’s shoulder blade area; resin inserts improve the holding performance of the side bolsters. On the Coupe’s optional sports seats, the bolsters are even more substantial, with a focus on keeping the driver’s back in place during high-speed cornering.

DIRECT SHIFT 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

The Direct Shift automatic transmission was designed for the LC 500, a 10-speed unit with close ratios and even spacing between each gear – a Lexus world-first for a passenger car.

An extra gear was added to eliminate the feel of second and third gears being drawn out for too long, and a 10th gear allows for efficient high-speed cruising at lower engine rpm. The system provides some of the world’s quickest shifts, giving a crisp feel, fast response, rhythmic shifting with no “shock” effect and a harmonised engine sound.

In another world-first for Lexus, the transmission uses an AI-SHIFT control with a drive mode switching function. This selects the optimum gear according to its estimation of the driver’s preferences and intentions, based not just on vehicle speed and use of the accelerator, but also from past driving history.

CHASSIS DYNAMICS

• LC Coupe and Convertible constructed on Lexus’ GA-L front engine/rear-wheel drive platform
• Low centre of gravity and superb body rigidity
• Multi-link front and rear suspension
• Lexus Dynamic Handling and limited-slip differential

GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE – LUXURY PLATFORM

The quality of the GA-L platform allowed Lexus to craft a highly rigid body with excellent noise and vibration characteristics. It plays a pivotal role in the LC’s dynamic performance, giving the car a low centre of gravity and enabling the design of a new driving position. Control of vehicle mass, ideal weight distribution and new multi-link suspension systems add to the platform’s essential qualities.

HIGH BODY RIGIDITY

Exceptional body rigidity and careful management of the car’s inertia specifications have delivered just the kind of engaging driving dynamics Lexus sought for its flagship coupe. To gain the best results, materials with different properties have been used in different areas, giving strength, rigidity and light weight in the appropriate measure and in the right place.

To create a strong frame, the non-deforming parts are made of ultra-high-tensile strength steel, while high-tensile steel with good elastic properties is adopted for elements that are designed to deform in an impact. The rigidity of the frame is supported by general steel with a high degree of stiffness, and aluminium is used strategically for its energy-absorbing performance and for external bodywork where its lightness and tensile rigidity are of value. Finally, strong yet lightweight Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) is featured inside and out.

INERTIA SPECIFICATIONS

Precise control of the LC’s inertia specifications played an important part in securing the essential “even sharper, more refined” quality. This included giving the car a low centre of gravity, balanced front-to-rear weight distribution and a good moment of inertia. The GA-L platform allowed the packaging to be reconsidered, to improve the inertia specifications and achieve the best combination of handling stability and ride comfort. Measures included moving the tyres outwards to the corners of the vehicle, reducing overall weight, lowering the driver’s hip point and moving the engine 50 mm rearwards. The removal of the spare tyre in favour of run-flat tyres and relocation of the battery to the luggage compartment further helped balance the car’s weight distribution

By achieving a low centre of gravity, Lexus was able to reduce the roll angle without stiffening the springs and detracting from ride comfort. Overall, the LC displays controlled body motion and precise, linear response, creating a rhythmical and smooth driving experience, notably when cornering and making lane changes.

MULTILINK SUSPENSION

The high-mount front suspension system has an optimal arm design to secure the required level of steering feedback. Conversely, the rear suspension has a low-mount configuration, with precisely defined arm locations to achieve high-stability steering characteristics.

Double ball joints are featured on each of the two upper and two lower control arms, allowing for control of the smallest movements from driver inputs and the road surface. This arrangement helps optimise the suspension geometry and create more precise steering response with better initial effort. The driver can appreciate the effectiveness of the LC’s suspension designs in the car’s immediate response at initial turn-in, with the tyres quickly developing lateral force, delivering stability, controllability and ride comfort.

The LC Coupe and Convertible use run-flat tyres as standard. Tyre sizes are 245/45RF20 front and 275/40RF20 rear with 20-inch wheels, and 245/40RF21 front and 275/35RF21 rear with 21-inch wheels.

LEXUS DYNAMIC HANDLING

The LC Coupe is available with the Lexus Dynamic Handling system (included In the Sport+ specification), which delivers a higher level of handling in all driving scenarios.  It provides four-wheel steering, integrating Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS) with the car’s Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), the Adaptive Variable Suspension and the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) to ensure controlled co-operation between the front and rear wheels at all times.

The system allows the rear wheels to turn slightly, in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds, giving increased agility, and in the same direction at high speed, for increased stability. The result is excellent steering response in everyday driving, true to the driver’s inputs, with a high feeling of rear tyre grip and instantaneous response in high-speed cornering that give a greater feeling of security.

TORSEN LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (LSD)

Torsen limited-slip differential is also included in the specification for both the LC 500 Coupe and Convertible. This allows the driver to enjoy secure acceleration while cornering. When used in conjunction with DRS, it will simultaneously control power to the wheels in co-operation with the vehicle stability control, while the DRS controls the steering angle. The LSD will counteract over or understeer and help keep the car to its intended line. At the same time, a natural driving feel is communicated to the driver, even at the limit of performance.

ACTIVE CORNERING ASSIST (ACA)

The standard (non-Sport+) LC 500h Coupe features Active Cornering Assist (ACA), which functions within the Vehicle Stability Control to help keep the car faithful to the driver’s intended line when cornering at higher speeds. The VSC applies brake control to the wheels on the inner side of the curve to help prevent the car from spinning out. The ACA suppresses the tendency to understeer that occurs when the accelerator is pressed in high-G cornering, to achieve superior performance.

The operation of the VSC is co-ordinated with other handling and stability systems through the LC’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) and Lexus Dynamic Handling. This allows control of rear-wheel torque and steering torque in addition to braking, in over and understeer conditions.

REAR PERFORMANCE DAMPER

The LC 500 Coupe and Convertible are fitted with a performance damper, located at the rear bumper reinforcement, optimising the attachment point structure and the damping force. This quickly absorbs twists and small vibrations, enhancing the car’s handling stability and ride comfort.

AVAILABILITY SUMMARY

TAKUMI CRAFTSMANSHIP

• LC quality and performance benefit from the precision skills of Lexus’ takumi master craftspeople
• Motomachi factory provides ideal environment for luxury coupe manufacturing
• High-quality interior materials benefit from hand-finishing and stitching
• Continuous, detailed refinement of driving dynamics

The skills of Lexus’ master craftspeople – the famous takumi – are central to the exceptional quality Lexus delivers in every car it builds.  The LC benefits from this precision approach, not just in the intricate details of its fittings and finishes, but also in the way the car rides and performs.

MOTOMACHI: HOME OF THE LEXUS LFA AND THE LC

The LC Coupe and Convertible are built at Lexus’ Motomachi plant, famously home to production of the hand-crafted LFA supercar. The factory’s lay-out and its facilities have been tailored to production of the LC, to ensure the highest quality levels.

Many of the takumi and skilled workers who built the LFA transferred to the LC project, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly in areas such as the handling of carbon fibre components and hand-finishing.

INTERIOR FINISHING

The skills of the takumi can be seen in precise stitching that maintains a flawless finish where leather spreads across complex surfaces. The draping effect of the Alcantara in the door panels and the arrangement of the perforations in the leather seat upholstery are further hallmarks of the attention to detail.

The shape and feel of the steering wheel – a critical link in communicating the quality of the LC’s performance to the driver – were defined through hours of testing and re-testing by a takumi master driver. His exhaustive analysis produced a highly complex cross-section design and the ideal shape to suit the driver’s changing grip and hand position as they steer. The same process was applied to developing the shape and action of the paddle shifters for manual gear selection, crafted in cool-to-the-touch magnesium alloy.

HIGH-SPEED RESIN TRANSFER MOULDING (RTM)

The finish of the LC’s Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) has a twill weave effect, made possible by a new, high-speed resin transfer moulding (RTM) process, developed at the Motomachi factory from a technique originally used in production of the Lexus LFA. Raw carbon fibre material is inserted into a mould and clamped in place before the insertion of the resin material. As a result, the process has been made suitable for volume production. The use of the CFRP roof makes a major contribution to the LC Coupe’s low centre of gravity and reduces overall weight.

SELF-PIERCING RIVETS

Lexus has adopted a new technique for combining aluminium with steel to help save weight in key areas, notably the construction of the front suspension towers. Using self-piercing rivets allows these different metals to be securely joined where traditional welding methods are unsuitable: in place of spot-welding, the material is pierced on its upper side only.

TESTING BY TAKUMI

The skills and experience of the takumi were further invested in securing excellent driving dynamics.

The sharpness and responsiveness of the steering, the strong, rhythmic progress of the transmission, the supportiveness and comfort of the seats and the position of the driver’s feet and the pedals – all these elements and more were scrutinised to produce the best possible combination, with the goal of not just a rewarding drive, but performance that actively makes you want to drive.

Prototypes were assessed on all kinds of roads, including in Europe and the USA, to ensure that ride and handling meet the different demands of drivers and driving conditions around the world. A takumi master driver worked exclusively on the LC to maintain a complete focus, making fine adjustments to achieve the best results, right up to the start of production.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM +

• All LC models equipped with Lexus Safety System +
• Package of active safety features includes Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane-Keep Assist with Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist
• Lexus Safety System+ helps reduce the risk of an accident, alerts the driver to potential hazards and can help reduce the consequences should an impact be unavoidable

All versions of the LC Coupe and Convertible are equipped as standard with Lexus Safety System +, a collection of active safety and driver assistance features that can help the driver avoid an accident, or help lessen the consequences of a collision.

PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM

The Pre-Collision System (PCS) detects the risk of an impact. Working in unison with warning and braking systems, it can help lessen the damage sustained in a collision. It can recognise both vehicles and pedestrians in the vehicle’s path, using data from a forward recognition camera and a millimetre-wave radar sensor.

If it determines that the possibility of a collision is high, pre-collision warning control and pre-collision brake assist control are initiated. If a collision is imminent, pre-collision braking control will be engaged help reduce the severity of the collision, or avoid it altogether. If the driver fails to react and the system judges a collision to be imminent, the brakes are automatically applied to reduce vehicle speed by up to 40 km/h, which could potentially bring the car to a stop, to help mitigate the force of an impact.

DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL

The same radar unit used by the PCS provides the LC with all-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). This helps the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, down to very low speeds, even to a standstill. Once the way ahead is clear, the LC automatically and smoothly accelerates to its pre-set cruising speed. If the car has been brought to a halt, the driver simply needs to press the accelerator briefly to reactivate the system.

LANE KEEP ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT AND VEHICLE SWAY WARNING

The LC’s Lexus Safety System + package includes Advanced Lane Keep Assist, which recognises when the vehicle is deviating from its lane on the highway. It helps the driver steer the vehicle safely back to its correct path, automatically providing steering inputs to keep the car within its lane. Working with the DRCC, it can operate even at very low vehicle speeds. The driver can also choose which alert they prefer (warning sound or vibrating steering wheel) and the sensitivity of the warning, via the multi-information display. The system can also be switched off, if desired.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA) uses a camera on the windscreen to track the vehicle’s course between lane markings painted on the road surface. If it judges that the vehicle is about to move out of its lane without the turn indicator being used, the system triggers a light on the multi-information display and sounds a warning buzzer. It will also apply appropriate steering control force to help bring the vehicle back on course.

A Sway Warning function monitors the car’s position in its lane and the driver’s steering inputs. If it detects degrees of vehicle swaying, it will sound an alert and display a warning on the multi-information display, recommending the driver takes a break.

AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM

Lexus Safety System + includes Automatic High Beam (AHB), which detects oncoming traffic and vehicles ahead and automatically switches the headlights between high and low beam. This helps maximise illumination and give the driver the best possible field of vision when the road ahead is clear, while minimising the risk of dazzling other road users.

ROAD SIGN ASSIST

With Road Sign Assist the driver gains a “second set of eyes” when it comes to important road signs on motorways and major routes. The system uses a front camera which recognises principal warning and command signs; these are then replicated on the multi-information display, reducing the risk of the driver not being aware of speed limits, lane closures and other important information.

If the system detects the driver is not respecting no overtaking, no entry and speed limit commands, it will give visual and audible alerts. The driver can customise the system’s operation via the multi-information display, using switches on the steering wheel.

AUDIO SYSTEMS

• Thirteen-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Product audio system option
• Twelve-speaker Pioneer premium audio surround system for real-life immersive soundscape

MARK LEVINSON

The LC Coupe and Convertible maintain Lexus’ auto-industry exclusive partnership with Mark Levinson, offering customers option equipment from the audio specialist’s top-of-the-range Reference Product.

The 13-speaker speaker system was designed specifically to achieve the best results within the LC’s cabin. Mark Levinson engineers also supported Lexus requirements for low vehicle weight, achieving an overall 30% reduction in speaker weight, without compromising performance.

The speakers use advanced materials and construction techniques to achieve the best results, including the first application of Direct Drive Unity, a speaker-within-a-speaker concept that allows sound quality and pressure level to be maximised in a compact design. The system also uses Clari-Fi music restoration that automatically analyses and improves the quality of all types of compressed, digital music sources.

PIONEER

The LC Coupe and Convertible are equipped as standard with a 12-speaker Pioneer premium audio surround system. Specifically designed for the LC, this system includes four 9 cm CST (Coherent Source Transducer) double speakers, combining tweeter and mid-range functions, located at the base of the front pillars and in the rear cabin side panels. The two 16 cm woofers in the front doors are contained in a special housing to reduce vibrations, resulting in excellent low-frequency sound generation. Other elements include a 9 cm midrange speaker in the centre of the instrument panel, a 25 cm subwoofer in the back of the rear seats, and an eight-channel Class-D amplifier under the luggage compartment floor.

For sure, the there’s no mistaking the strong family ties between the two amazing models, but it’s actually the details under the skin that count the most, according to the men who led the project.

Speaking to Chief Designer Tadao Mori and Chief Engineer Yasushi Muto, you soon learn just what a complex task they faced. Determined to find a way of stowing the roof while giving the car a super-sleek rear end was probably the toughest ask.

“Our biggest challenge was always how to keep the trunk line low, while still allowing room for load space and stowing the roof,” says Mori. “With other car makers, you’ll often see a high rear line, but we wanted to make this the most beautiful convertible, keeping the best lines whether the roof is up or down. We’re really proud of how we have kept the top of the rear wings so low, keeping the feeling of a low centre of gravity.”

Achieving this was no simple task. It meant the roof had to be folded into what seemed an impossibly small space behind the rear seats.

“To make this possible, every bend in the roof had to be a different size, so we had to engineer a complex and unique mechanism,” Muto explains. It is the first soft-top Lexus has made, and the team worked in close collaboration with specialist supplier Magna in Austria to achieve the perfect results.

The clever, compact structure isn’t the only special thing about the LC Convertible’s roof; the way it opens and closes is another expression of Lexus quality. “When you operate the roof, you’ll notice there is a pause each time, at the beginning and end of the sequence, with faster movement in between,” says Muto. “This is intentional, it’s a way of communicating elegance in moving parts that has been part of the Lexus DNA right from the start and the first generation LS sedan.”

There is no value in a car that looks great but is impossible to live with, so beauty had to be balanced with practicality. “The balance itself isn’t difficult to understand – we call it functional beauty – but achieving it was very difficult,” says Muto. “For example, we had to add bracing to keep the body rigid, but also needed to keep space to stow the roof. So we developed a new rear suspension brace made of aluminium that gives good rigidity but is also compact. It’s design also helped us keep the car’s beautiful silhouette.”

Both men profess a love of top-down driving – Mori drove a classic MG sports car for more than a decade – and they enthuse about the special sense of freedom and connection with the natural world around you. Asked about his favourite aspect of the new car, Muto responds: “When I’m on a winding road and I press the accelerator or the brake so the car downshifts, I love the sound of the engine – it’s direct and exciting and unique to a naturally aspirated V8. I also love the view from the rear of the car, you can see just how the interior design merges with the exterior to make a very beautiful thing.”

For Mori the joys are in the details: “For example, the button to open and close the roof is hidden in a palm rest like a little gem. It’s not on show, it’s a special control that nobody else can see. The seat, too, are sports-level quality, covered in a leather with a special perforation that’s not just functional, but also creates a beautiful pattern and high-quality feel.”

And will there be more Lexus convertibles in the future? “If you want one, just tell us!” says Muto.

To display the beautiful design of the new LC Convertible to its best effect, Lexus has created the Regatta Edition, an exclusive version of the model that features a unique colour combination. The use of deep blue for the bodywork and roof and white and blue for the interior evokes the ambience of a luxury marina, lined with ocean-going yachts – an image that was part of the original design inspiration for the car.

The exterior is finished in Structural Blue, a Lexus colour originally developed for the LC Coupe which uses advanced paint technology to replicate the intense depth of tone found in the natural world. Using micro-particles in the pigment, it reflects light in a way that highlights the curves in the bodywork and which changes the perception of light and shade when viewed from different angles.

This tones perfectly with a Marine Blue finish for the Regatta Edition’s folding soft top, emphasising how the designers have succeeded in retaining the LC’s distinctive coupe roofline in the context of the convertible.

Conscious of how the interior of a convertible is more often open to view, Lexus’ designers ensured there is a harmonious flow between the inside and outside of the car. This quality is perfectly captured in the Regatta Edition with its combination of dark blue and white. White is the dominant colour, used for the interior facings of the front pillars, the steering wheel (including the centre pad) and the headlining. The instrument panel and door panels have contrasting deep blue upper and white lower sections, while the front seats are upholstered white perforated semi-aniline leather with blue highlights on the head rests, upper shoulder area and grab handles.

The LC Convertible Regatta Edition has been produced in a very limited number. The LC Convertible’s launch timing is autumn 2020.

Lexus designers enjoy the freedom of developing new colours for their cars, working from scratch in a process that can take up to two years. An occasion such as the launch of the 2021 LC Coupe is the ideal opportunity to showcase a new colour, in this case Blazing Carnelian.

Blazing Carnelian has been created as an emotional colour that evokes the agile driving performance of the latest edition of the flagship coupe. With its high colour saturation and brilliance, it is unlike anything seen before on a Lexus. Its visual quality is thanks to the application of multiple coats, each of which contributes to the ultimate effect, including two different high saturation base coats and an additional mica base.

Its impact is heightened by being offered in combination with an equally striking colour-way for the interior. Manhattan Orange is a rich new tone for the LC’s cabin, inspired by the famous Manhattan Henge – a brilliant natural light effect that occurs twice a year when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the New York district’s famous grid pattern of streets. Used for the headlining, door panels and seat upholstery accents, it creates an exclusive and avant garde feeling.

It joins a Lexus palette of 30 different shades featured across its model ranges. The collection already includes the striking Flare Yellow, produced for the LC 500h, and advanced metallic finishes, such as Sonic Silver and Sonic Titanium.

There are no shortcuts to creating a new Lexus colour: a designer will make their choice only after assessing hundreds of different samples. “When developing a new colour, I see so many shades of paint that sometimes I can’t see straight at the end of the day,” said Megumi Suzuki, one of Lexus’ most experienced colour designers, who brings an essential grasp of chromogenics and a keen eye to her job.

“Every time I meet someone, or walk into a shop, or go into someone’s house, I check out the colours and materials. There are many people like me in our division,” she said.

There is still much to do once a colour has been chosen. Suzuki enlisted the help of a small army of experts at different stages in the development process: lab technicians who mix the paint; clay sculptors; engineers; and the assembly line paint shop crew who give each LC a flawless, uniform finish. Kansai Paint, one of Lexus’ paint suppliers, produces a new batch every few weeks and Lexus designers scrutinise the samples, bending the test panels to mimic the contours of a car’s bodywork. All are examined in different lighting environments, indoors and out, at different times of day and months of the year.

Final colour selection is not easy task, either. A colour that is dazzling on a summer morning can appear sickly in the shade or under showroom lights. Designers also have to deal with the vagaries of their own colour preferences. “The odd thing about colour Is that your perception of it can change depending on the season, how you feel that day, and the trends you’re seeing,” said Suzuki.

Step inside the Lexus LC 500 Convertible, lower the roof and blip the throttle. The deep note you provoke from the potent V8 engine tells you immediately that an exhilarating drive is in prospect.

It’s all part of the exceptional sensory quality that Lexus has brought to its first soft-top model: just as much as the powerfully elegant styling pleases the eye, the sound of the engine stirs the spirit. Generating just the right aural quality was an important goal for the car’s development team, and one that required precision engineering to achieve.

INSPIRED BY THE LFA SUPERCAR

Lexus’ focus on the importance of the engine sound can be traced back to the LFA, its ultra-exclusive, hand-built supercar. The specialists who worked on its V10 power unit identified the separate qualities that combine to create the ideal sound “atmosphere.”

Where the LC Convertible is concerned, the power of the V8’s engine note had to be balanced with a level of quietness in the cabin that overturns preconceptions about driving in a convertible – an equation Lexus calls a “harmony of opposites.”

To achieve the maximum effect, the sound of the engine changes in line with the rise and fall in rpm, becoming more powerful and urgent in tune with the driver’s use of the accelerator and the sequence of shifts through the rapid-action 10-speed automatic transmission. The exhaust note, too, heightens the effect. By contrast, in gentle cruising, the sound is subdued, so conversation is easy when the roof is down.

CRAFTING THE PERFECT ENGINE SOUND

A continuous, pulsating sound is characteristic of a large-capacity, naturally aspirated V8 engine like the five-litre unit which powers The LC 500 Convertible. Lexus has used acoustic technologies to combine this with spectral harmony (perfect sound intervals that are pleasing to the ear), stereophonic sound, to create a depth of sound, and formants – qualities that stir the senses and generate a feel-good factor.

Active Noise Control is used to “clean” the sound frequencies experienced in the car. This emits anti-pulse sounds through the audio speakers which counteract any unwelcome low frequency booming sound from the engine and drivetrain.

In the LC Coupe, noise inside the cabin is monitored by a microphone in the roof, but for the Convertible, it had to be relocated inside the driver’s headrest. Being closer to the driver’s ear means it can pick up a wider range of frequencies, but a complex algorithm had to be calculated to make sure it works accurately in any seat position.

COUPE-LEVEL QUIETNESS

Even though the LC Convertible has a soft top, Lexus wanted to secure the same kind of cabin quietness as in the LC Coupe. Acoustic simulations were created to find out where dominant noises were entering the space, so that the amount and location of soundproofing and sound-absorbing material could be calculated.

The storage area behind the rear seats for the folding roof presented a particular challenge, as it was a route for tyre and exhaust noise to enter the cabin. There was not enough room for soundproofing material to be added, so the team looked instead at adapting the trim material itself. By allowing air to pass through the structure and using sound-absorbing material on the reverse, the entire surface of the storage space soaks up noise.

As the area is visible and part of the car’s interior, it also had to look good. Lexus assessed many different materials before choosing one usually used for lining the wings around the wheels. This meets safety standards and, being applied with extra density, has just the right appearance.

It’s one of the great pleasures of driving a convertible, that wind-in-the-hair feeling that makes you feel closer to the world around you as you take to the open road.

It sounds like a simple concept, but with the new LC Convertible, Lexus has gone to exceptional lengths to make sure that when you drop the roof, there’s no loss of comfort. That’s true whether you’re enjoying a sun-soaked ocean-side drive, or the twists and turns of a snowy Alpine pass.

The goal was to prevent cold air chilling the lower body, while managing temperature and airflow around the head and shoulders, so that you can enjoy a refreshing breeze without feeling cold or buffeted.

IDEAL COMFORT WHETHER IT’S HOT OR COLD

The cabin is a completely different environment when the roof is stowed, so precise adjustments had to be made to the air conditioning system to maintain the right temperature.

The LC Convertible has an open-air control that automatically detects whether the top is up or down using a sensor in the roof and adjusts air conditioning performance accordingly. When the top is down, factors such as the amount of sunlight, the outside temperature and the speed of the car are all used to calculate the air-con temperature and airflow.

Adjustable heaters built into the headrests direct air onto your neck, so you feel warm straight away. It’s designed to suit people of different heights and works automatically, or you can use manual control, with three heat settings.

LEXUS CLIMATE CONCIERGE

Lexus’ intelligent Climate Concierge has been adapted for the Convertible, co-ordinating control of the automatic air-con, the seat and neck heaters and the heated steering wheel. It even recognises when the passenger seat is unoccupied, switching off the heaters to save power.

True to Lexus’ famous attention to detail and omotenashi seamless comfort and hospitality principles, the air conditioning’s airflow has been slightly increased to add warmth in key areas, such as the back of the driver’s hands on the wheel.

AERODYNAMIC DETAILS

Lexus also looked at how the car’s aerodynamics could play its part in keeping the cabin calm and comfortable, once again taking a human-centred, omotenashi approach.

After researching how air flows over the car when the roof is down, the engineers created a belt line along the side of the car that kicks up at the rear edge of the doors to meet the surface of the boot lid – which itself was set at an ideal height. This detail makes for a smoother airflow that doesn’t buffet the car’s occupants.

There is also a transparent wind deflector behind the rear seats – fitted as standard – which suppresses unwelcome airflow and keeps things quiet enough in the cabin to hold a conversation, when driving at speeds up to around 60 km/h. It may be a small feature, but it reduces airflow around the occupants’ faces by about 20%.

WIND SCREEN

For a more comfortable ride when travelling at higher speeds, you can lift up a wind screen. This again reduces airflow around the head (by about 67% at 100 km/h). The mesh unit sits neatly behind the rear seats and can remain in place when the roof is raised.

Many different mesh patterns were tested before the best-performing design was chosen. Special attention was also paid to the screen’s appearance, so that it blends perfectly with the convertible’s luxurious interior.

Lexus has never made a soft-top car before, but it has spared no efforts in coming up with the perfect roof for the new LC Convertible.

Not only does it give the car the same sleek and smart silhouette as the LC coupe, its clever engineering means it operates quietly and quickly, and doesn’t eat up valuable load space when it is stowed.

EXTREME TESTING

A folding roof mechanism is usually expected to last around 10 years before it needs mechanical attention, but a Lexus calls for the best quality and reliability. That’s why engineers tested the roof to breaking point, finding that it could last through around 18,000 open and closing cycles before a problem occurred – even then a minor one.

The rigorous programme also proved the system works just as well in freezing temperatures and snow.

PEACE AND QUIET

A quiet cabin free-from outside noise and vibration is an important part of Lexus’ omotenashi principles of ultimate customer care. The LC Convertible’s multi-layered canvas roof is effective in blocking out unwanted noise and its hydraulic motor works quietly and efficiently.

SAVING SPACE

It’s common for convertibles to sacrifice load space in order to make room for the roof when it’s lowered. The Lexus LC Convertible offers just as much room in the luggage compartment as the coupe model – 172 litres – as clever engineering and design have enabled the top to be folded in between the rear suspension towers and for its hydraulic motor unit to be fitted in the empty space behind the rear seats.

UP OR DOWN IN 15 SECONDS

Fifteen seconds is all it takes to raise or lower the roof, and the job can be done even when the car is on the move – at speeds up to 50 km/h. Once again testing was thorough, with the development team using a wind tunnel to ensure the system could cope with different speeds and driving conditions, including headwinds.

The goal was not to make the roof action as fast as possible, but to give it a suitably refined action. There is even a slight pause before the main part of the process happens, a detail that’s an echo of how traditional Japanese calligraphers produce a character on the page.

SPEED AND BALANCE

Lexus was determined that the convertible should be every bit as fast as the coupe and used both a wind tunnel and test track to ensure the top speed could be achieved, roof up or roof down.

When it comes to handling, the new roof actually makes a positive contribution to the car’s dynamics. That’s thanks to all its main parts being set within the car’s wheelbase, it actually has a lower centre of gravity than the coupe – key to its excellent balance and great driving character. Lexus even used a rare combination of magnesium and aluminium to keep the weight of the roof’s frame to a minimum without compromising quality of performance.

THE DESIGN CHALLENGE

The design mission for the team creating the Lexus LC Convertible was simple: create the world’s most beautiful open-top car. The statement was straightforward, but the task was considerable challenge, as Lexus was determined that the new model should preserve the essential styling motifs of the LC coupe, the winner of multiple international awards for its striking and advanced design.

CREATING THE COUPE ROOF LINE

The line of the roof was to be key to the designers achieving their goal, as Chief Designer Tadao Mori explained: “Although there are many convertible models out there, few of them are stylish and elegant both when the roof is open and closed. Particularly when the roof is raised, ridge lines in the uneven surface tend to give an unrefined impression. That’s why for the LC Convertible’s design, we put maximum effort into realising the same beautiful roof line as the coupe.”

To produce the desired silhouette, the point where the soft top meets the car’s rear quarters has been moved as far towards the rear of the car as possible to create a fastback look when the roof is raised. Particular attention has been paid to the tensioning of the soft top to ensure a smooth surface, and the frame and other elements are perfectly concealed, so the roof has a clean and elegant tapered form.

When viewed from the rear, the line of the soft top emphasises the compact proportions of the cabin, contrasting with the wide-flaring under-body and projecting a dynamic look.

THE PERFECT TONNEAU COVER

The designers were able to take advantage of the LC’s platform specifications and the soft top’s folding mechanism to set the tonneau cover as low as possible. They also avoided the familiar flat, platform look seen on many other convertibles by adding fairing-shaped accents that echo the curves of the rear headrests.

SLEEK AND DYNAMIC SILHOUETTE

It is another common feature of convertibles that the design can seem stretched out from the tonneau cover to the boot lid, particularly when the roof is down. This has been avoided on the LC by profiling the rear end so that it rises in a duck tail, producing a distinctive silhouette that is sleek and dynamic. The beltline also kicks up behind the doors to give the look of the body wrapping around the cabin, creating an overall tight and clean profile.

ENGINEERING INGENUITY

One of the principal challenges was to minimise bulkiness in the bodywork in the shoulder area immediately behind the rear seats. The design team was able to accommodate the folding roof in an extremely compact space by creating an extra fold in the soft top so that it can be stowed in the space between the left and right-hand rear suspension towers. This has also allowed for a sharp and fine character line to be created, running from the front to the rear of the car.

To produce this line and achieve a high-quality finish, Lexus has adopted an incremental forming process, in addition to the conventional press used to mould the aluminium tonneau cover.

PERFECT CONTINUITY BETWEEN EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

In a convertible the cabin is more open to view and more closely connected to the car’s exterior design. Lexus has sought to bring a perfect sense of continuity to the exterior and interior of the LC Convertible by using innovative colour co-ordination, enhancing the model’s special character and brave design.

Three soft top colours are available: Sand, Black and Marine, the latter two suitable for use with any of the bodywork paint options. With these choices and further options for interior colours, owners have the freedom to specify a car that captures their personal style.

SPECIAL EDITION COLOUR SCHEME

The LC Convertible will be launched with a Special Edition model with a colour scheme that matches Structural Blue bodywork with a white and blue interior and Marine soft top – a combination inspired by the colours found at a luxury marina. White is used extensively in the cabin, including Lexus’ first all-white steering wheel and the carpeting. This contrasts with the door trim which is finished with blue synthetic leather. Rather than a printed pattern, this material has a grain that gives a three-dimensional effect with texture and shading.

CO-ORDINATING A-PILLARS

Co-ordinating the interior A-pillar trim with the colour of the roof lining is a rare quality design feature but one that Lexus applies throughout the LC range. The effect is all the more stylish in the LC Convertible, as the pillars are in clear view whenever the roof is lowered. The colour co-ordination catches the eyes and accentuates the luxurious quality of the interior

UPHOLSTERY DETAILING

Special attention has also been paid to the detailing on the seat upholstery, with a unique quilting pattern applied to the shoulder section of the front seats, adding both elegance and tactile quality. Perforations with three different hole diameters are organised in graduated pattern in which they appear to progressively fade away.

The LC line-up is representative of Lexus’ evolution towards becoming a luxury lifestyle brand, providing driving pleasure and excitement to enrich customers’ lifestyles. The new LC 500 Convertible joins the coupe as aspirational halo models for the entire Lexus line-up, providing unique driving experiences that stimulate the senses, and express ultimate beauty.

The exterior of the new LC artfully blends the coupe’s unique roofline with the character of a convertible, achieving beauty with the top open or closed. The interior design considers how details such as the tonneau cover and seating materials become part of the design impression when viewed from the outside.

The new model follows the coupe’s ‘Exhilarating Performance’ driving signature, providing a sense of unity with nature and an exhilarating driving experience that can only be enjoyed with a convertible.

The interior body structure has optimal placement and shape of braces to yield high dynamic performance faithful to the driver’s intentions. And thanks to the car’s robust and sensual sounding V8, the LC 500 Convertible accelerates in a pleasantly linear manner. To further enhance the driving experience, the LC 500 Convertible comes equipped with neck heaters and a transparent wind deflector – supporting the leading comfort and quiet that is Lexus’ DNA.

The new LC 500 Convertible is scheduled to go on sale in summer 2020.

MAIN FEATURES OF THE LC 500 CONVERTIBLE

A stunning design with the top up or down, featuring Lexus’ signature attention to detail

• With the exterior styling based on that of the LC coupe, the convertible retains excellent aerodynamic performance and optimal weight distribution, incorporating functional beauty into the design. The soft-top roof provides a unique silhouette and sporty disposition befitting a convertible. The line of the rear trunk lid has been lifted and widened to create a dynamic side view and emphasize the low-and-wide stance.
• To ensure that the convertible version of the LC 500 retains a beautiful silhouette when the top is lowered, the automatic folding mechanism stores the top under an integrated tonneau cover. Because the designers incorporated a beltline that kicks up at the end of the doors, the vehicle’s profile is characterized by a body that wraps around the cabin, providing an overall tight and clean appearance.
• The 4-layer soft top has been designed to retain the flowing roofline of the coupe, without the supporting frame visible through the fabric. Furthermore, the fabric of the roof has been carefully selected and manufactured to ensure optimal tension and no wrinkling, with improved sound insulation.
• The colour palettes of the exterior and the soft top, as well as the elegant hues of the interior, were carefully selected and combined to cater to the LC customer’s high sense of style, taste and diverse lifestyles.
• The interior features details such as gradating quilting and perforation pattern on the upper portion of the seats, as well as the “L” logo embossed on the back of headrests.
• When opening and closing the soft top, the movement is carefully controlled especially at the beginning and end to yield a sense of quality and safety for the driver. The movement of the top and the tonneau cover have been precisely synched to achieve an elegant and natural movement, while ensuring class-leading opening and closing speeds.
• The roof can be opened or closed while the vehicle is traveling at up to 50 km/h, and an animation display within the instrument gauges allows the driver to easily monitor the top’s operation progress.

Fusion of the Lexus driving signature ‘Exhilarating Performance’ with a convertible driving experience

• The body structure of the LC 500 Convertible was newly designed to achieve a rigidity level supporting Lexus driving signature equal to the Coupe, while simultaneously offering both beautiful styling and sufficient luggage space.
• Thanks to the strategic placement and shape of the rear suspension tower brace, the car’s structural rigidity has been significantly enhanced. The brace is composed of lightweight die cast aluminium to minimize added weight, and a performance damper is adopted for high-quality ride comfort. Other braces are located under the body, and materials such as magnesium and aluminium are used to achieve both high rigidity and light weight. The result is dynamic performance faithful to the driver's intentions.
• The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, mated to the DirectShift-10 automatic transmission, gives the LC linear-yet-invigorating acceleration. Power output is tuned according to the driving scene, with smooth acceleration character during normal commuting, and acceleration at the limit when the driver desires.
• In order to make the LC 500 Convertible’s V8 more enjoyable when the top is down, a sound generator transmits sensual engine intake sounds through the dash panel, while an exhaust valve enhances the powerful engine sound.

Thoughtful in-cabin experience reflecting Lexus’ “Human Centered” philosophy

• In order to create a space to feel with excitement of open-air driving without hindering conversation in the car, we focused on aerodynamics such as the beltline and rear moulding. In combination with the transparent polycarbonate wind deflector, wind flow inside the car is suppressed and excellent quietness is achieved.
• Sound management is a key part of Lexus’ DNA, and the interior space of the LC 500 Convertible stimulates the senses with emotional engine sounds. Active Noise Control (ANC), combined with sound insulation and absorption techniques, suppresses unwanted noises and unpleasant sound frequencies.
• The audio system faithfully reproduces the original sounds of each instrument, vocals, and recording environment. Additionally, the acoustic design automatically changes with the top up or down, providing an acoustic space that can be enjoyed in every situation.
• The Lexus Climate Concierge is used to automatically control air conditioning, seat heaters, neck heaters, and steering wheel heater, all while considering whether the top is up or down - making the convertible version of the LC 500’s cabin comfortable for its passengers regardless of the temperature outside.

LC500 Convertible dimensions and specifications

• Overall length: 4,760 mm
• Overall width: 1,920 mm
• Overall height: 1,350 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,870 mm
• Roof operation: Open: 15 sec / close: 16 sec

# # #

Lexus is to extend its exquisite LC flagship coupe range, with confirmation today that a dramatically styled open-top version is to go into production in the near future.

Visitors to this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK will witness the world debut of an LC convertible prototype in action, when it appears on the famous hill course (July 4 to 7). The new model will take its place among some of the world’s most exclusive and prestigious new cars at the world-famous showcase for the finest modern and classic sports cars.

The future convertible sports coupe will broaden Lexus’ luxury lifestyle offerings, broadening the LC line-up and giving a sense of a completeness to the brand’s flagship models.

The LC has quickly become established as one of the most sought-after and internationally acclaimed models Lexus has ever created, thanks to its combination of striking design, fine craftsmanship and exhilarating performance. The potential evolution of the range to include a convertible was signposted at the North American International Auto Show in January, where Lexus revealed the LC Convertible Concept. The concept’s design goal was to express ‘Ultimate Beauty’, and it provoked an enthusiastic response from both industry experts and the public. Like the LC itself, the concept car was honoured on its debut with a prestigious EyesOn Design Award.

Long, low and lean, the LC convertible will share the coupe’s athletic proportions, but project its own, distinct identity. Its large wheels and short overhangs will signal its performance pedigree and rewarding driving experience. The prototype model will carry masking at Goodwood, teasing the design detail and dynamic capabilities of the full production version.

Professional race driver Nick Cassidy will drive LC convertible prototype up the hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed. Nick is currently with LEXUS TEAM KeePer TOM’S competing in the GT500 class of the Super GT series in Japan. Beginning at Goodwood, the prototype LC convertible will take to different venues, gathering feedback for the engineers.

Describing his deep feeling for this moment, Lexus International Executive Vice President Koji Sato said: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrates the history and culture of the automobile, and serves as a gathering place for some of history’s most notable cars and drivers. Lexus is honoured to join this festival, and I could not be happier to unveil this prototype model of the LC Convertible here at the same venue where the LC coupe made its debut in 2016.”

Detailed specifications and timings for the LC convertible’s market introduction will be announced at a later date.

The eye-catching creation proved hugely popular with thousands of visitors to the event, one of Europe’s leading festivals of luxury motoring, arts and lifestyles, held in the grounds of the historic Château de Chantilly, near Paris.. The guests were invited to cast a vote for their favourite submission among four finalists, each of whom created a distinctly different treatment of Lexus’ new UX compact crossover.

The results of the public vote were announced by French television broadcaster Denis Brogniart. Second place went to the French art collective Leitmotiv, who created their work live at Chantilly. As the overall winners, Antoñito and Manolín will be hosted as Lexus guests at the 2020 Milan Design Week, one of the world’s principal design showcases where Lexus has had a major presence since 2005.

Antoñito and Manolín – Trini Salamanca and Pablo Parraga – covered the UX with a red and blue organic mesh representing the skin of a fish – a motif that is frequently found in Japanese art and culture. The colourful wrap is a three-dimensional structure made from a bio-epoxy material, superimposed on the car’s bodywork like a canvas. The convergence of contrasting qualities is in the same spirit as the engawa concept the UX designers applied to create a seamless connection between the inside and outside of the vehicle.

Pascal Ruch, Head of Lexus Europe, said: “We are delighted that the UX proved such an inspiration to these talented artists and gave them the opportunity to express their responses to the car and to Lexus with such creative originality. Brave design is one of the pillars of Lexus and this competition is another example of how we are reaching beyond the world of motoring as a luxury brand to nurture emerging, vibrant creative talent.”

Arts & Elegance Richard Mille hosted an appearance of the svelte Lexus LC Convertible Concept, a study for a new open-top version of the LC coupe. Its elegant appearance was complemented by a model who accompanied the car, dressed in an outfit designed by the famous Paris couture house Rochas, famous for its “youth, elegance and simplicity” signature designs. Influenced by the 1960s, the pale pink creation from Rochas’ spring-summer 2019 collection evoked the style of heroines of classic Alfred Hitchcock movies.

Lexus also presented the European premiere of the new, revised RX luxury SUV at Chantilly, a model that will go on sale across Europe later this year.

• The Lexus LC Convertible Concept (European premiere) – assets here
• The Lexus RC F Track Edition (European premiere) – assets here

• The digital press conference can also be viewed digitally from March 5^th on https://newsroom.lexus.eu/geneva2019/

Texts and images for the models Lexus is presenting at the Geneva Motor Show are now available to view and download on the Lexus European media website.

The key models on display are:

• The Lexus LC Convertible Concept (European premiere) – assets here
• The Lexus RC F Track Edition (European premiere) – assets here

Lexus caused a sensation with the debut of the LC coupe at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit three years ago, a car that was a testament to the brand’s new sense of creative ambition. Since then, its design team has been exploring how the brand can evolve, leading to the creation of the new Lexus LC Convertible Concept, a powerful and dramatic rendition of an open-top roadster that makes its first European appearance at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show on 5 March.

The design goal for the concept, a skilful development of the LC coupe’s award-winning styling, was ‘ultimate beauty’. From the rake of the windscreen to the smooth contours of the rear deck lid that houses the retractable top, every line was drawn to evoke an emotional response. The result is an aspirational, halo vehicle for the entire Lexus brand.

“This concept takes the unmistakeable design of the LC coupe and reimagines it as a future convertible,” said Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the LC Convertible Concept. “It blends all the best aspects of the original coupe with the dynamic design of an open-air convertible.”

Long, low and lean, the LC Convertible Concept retains the LC coupe’s athletic proportions. The shape evolved naturally from the original LC design, yet it has its own, distinct identity. It combines Japanese aesthetics with the promise of the kind of driving experience that only a convertible can provide. More than just a grand tourer, the concept has a performance pedigree, its potential expressed in its short overhangs, 22-inch wheels and wide stance.

Beyond the visual appeal of the sheet metal, the cabin is an attractive space for driver and passengers alike. The tailored seats are upholstered in crisp white leather with yellow accents providing a splash of colour without disrupting the subtle elegance of the overall design.

The Lexus LC Convertible Concept measures 4,770mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,340mm high, and has a 2,870mm wheelbase.

Lexus will present the European premiere of two new models at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. One that represents its exciting future design thinking and the other - its growing track record in international motorsport.

The new Lexus LC Convertible Concept is a powerful expression of Lexus’ creative ambition, a vision of how an open-top version of the award-winning LC flagship coupe might look. Unveiled to wide acclaim at the North American International Auto Show in January, this concept model suggests an exciting new dimension of the LC, amplifying the brave design that has made the coupe a halo model for the Lexus brand.

The RC F Track Edition takes the dynamic performance of Lexus’ coupe to a higher level, with upgrades that have been developed with input from teams racing with Lexus in international GT competitions. This includes the IMSA series in North America, European Blancpain series and Japan’s Super GT championship. True to the performance ethos of Lexus’ F-series vehicles, the RC F Track Edition benefits from new carbon fibre elements that both save weight and improve aerodynamic performance and downforce. Powered by Lexus’ normally aspirated V8 engine, the RC F Track Edition also features ceramic brake discs, titanium tailpipes and a red leather interior that gives added visual emphasis to its performance character.

The Lexus booth is located in Hall 4, stand 4211. The digital press conference presentation will be available on-demand at any time during the show’s press days (5 and 6 March). Media representatives can call at the Lexus booth at a time that suits them and discover the Lexus brand and product messages on an individual screen.

DETROIT, MI – January 11, 2019 – Lexus shocked the automotive world in Detroit three years ago with the debut of the LC coupe. It was a testament to the brand’s new sense of creative ambition, but it was only just the beginning. Since then, the Lexus design team has been exploring the brand’s evolution and the latest result of those explorations will make its debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show with the world premiere of the Lexus LC Convertible Concept.

An open-air roadster that is an artful reflection of the LC coupe, the design goal of the Convertible Concept was the expression of “ultimate beauty”. From the rake of the windshield to the smooth contours of the rear decklid that houses the convertible top, every line on the LC Convertible concept was drawn to evoke an emotional response. A stunning design from every angle, the LC Convertible concept stands as an aspirational halo vehicle for the entire Lexus lineup.

“This concept takes the unmistakable design of the LC coupe and reimagines it as a future convertible,” said Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the LC Convertible concept. “It blends all the best aspects of the original coupe with the dynamic design of an open-air convertible.”

Long, low and lean, the LC Convertible concept retains the athletic proportions of the LC coupe. It’s a shape that evolved naturally from the original LC design, yet still manages to stand on its own with a unique identity. It blends uniquely Japanese aesthetics with the promise of sensory satisfaction that only a convertible can provide.

In addition to the visual appeal of the exterior sheetmetal, the LC Convertible concept attracts drivers and passengers alike with an allure of a cabin that caters to every need. From the comfort of its tailored seats to the feel of every switch and button, everything about this LC is designed to make even the most common trip feel like an occasion. Crisp white leather trim abounds while yellow accent stitching adds a pop of color without distracting from the subtle elegance of the overall design.

More than just a grand tourer, the strong exterior lines of the LC Convertible concept reinforce its performance pedigree. Its short overhangs, 22-inch wheels and wide stance are all reminders of this car’s performance potential.

“A production version of this concept would be exhilarating in many different ways. You would see its dynamic lines as you approach, hear its engine when you started it up and feel everything around you once on the road. It would engage the senses in a way that is unique and exciting every time you got behind the wheel,” said Mori-san.

Lexus LC Convertible concept specifications

# # #