Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
This review week lands me in the 2025 Lexus LC 500 Convertible. With a fun week ahead and good weather on the horizon, the fact that it was a convertible made the experience even better. The 2025 Lexus LC 500 is a naturally aspirated V8 luxury sports car that commands attention cruising on the road or sitting still at your local car meet.
The Lexus LC is a grand tourer manufactured by Lexus and based on the 2012 LF-LC Concept. Lexus revealed this beauty at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The name “LC” stands for “Luxury Coupe”. The LC is built at Toyota’s Motomachi facility, which also produced the highly acclaimed LFA. “Takumi” master craftsmen, who built the LFA, continued their work with the LC. The LC 500 Convertible was unveiled at the LA Auto Show on November 20, 2019.
At first look, you notice the sleek bodywork, long sloping hood, spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlamps. The LC 500 that I reviewed came in a Nori Green Pearl hue with the tan convertible top. The flush door handles extend out automatically when you approach the vehicle with the key. The model that I reviewed sits on 21” forged alloy wheels with polished finish and gloss black accents.
The interior of the LC 500 is just as stunning as the exterior. The driver’s instrument cluster includes a movable central speedometer. The cabin highlights the “Takumi craftsmanship,” with the hand-stitching on the leather-wrapped gear shifter and other high-quality materials throughout the vehicle. The LC 500 has a 4-seat setup but is truly comfortable for 2 people. I was able to move up the passenger seat and fit my youngest child in the back, while the oldest rode in the front. We dropped the top and enjoyed the ride to school in style. Comfort features in the LC 500 include dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel. The convertible model that I reviewed offers a Climate Concierge with upper-body heating.
Lexus’s infotainment system is in the LC 500, complete with navigation, voice commands a mobile hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity. . The dash has 12.3” touchscreen display which replaces the trackpad. This is a blessing because I did not like the trackpad at all. Having the top down did not affect the sounds as I grooved to the Mark Levinson 13-speaker, 915-watt Reference Surround Sound system. The LC 500 has convertible tuning that adjusts automatically when the soft top is up or down.
The LC 500 is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 471 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque, with a 10-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifters. When you fire up the V8 and hear the growling exhaust. Accelerating through the 10 gears is fun and exhilarating. I experienced minimal body roll while carving through corners which is a testament to Lexus’s handling. The LC is the first vehicle to use Lexus’ front-engine, rear-wheel drive platform, dubbed “Global Architecture – Luxury” (GA-L). The LC 500 has five driving modes that let you fully enjoy this naturally aspirated V8. The modes are Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport +. Largely due to the suspension setup, the LC 500 offers a smooth ride quality, even at high speeds.
Safety is important when it comes to Lexus. The 2025 Lexus LC 500 includes the standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 that includes a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Automatic Emergency Braking, Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Left Turn Oncoming Vehicle Detection/Braking, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Road Sign Assist. I really enjoyed the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) feature that provides a 360-degree view around the vehicle using cameras. This is a huge drivers assist.
Lexus’s warranty plan for the LC 500 includes a 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, and a 6-year/70,000-mile Powertrain Warranty for the engine and transmission. The LC 500 also includes a 72-month/unlimited distance corrosion perforation warranty and complimentary maintenance for 4 years/50,000 miles.
The Lexus LC 500 is in a competitive class going up against the BMW 8 Series, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, Mercedes-Benz SL, Porsche 911, Aston Martin Vantage, Jaguar F-Type, Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 or ZR1 and the BMW M4. Considering the fact that it is a sports car, the LC 500 gets 15 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined. The LC 500 is flashy and luxurious and priced well under its competition. The model that we tested comes in at $110,979.00. Overall, it is a great looking and handling vehicle sports car. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
