Not "vibrant" enough for a halo car yellow. Sort of a pale yellow-gold by those pictures.

 

 

First drives are out. Finally

 

From initial reviews looks like Lexus has a winner on its hands ! Very positive reviews by and large. Absolutely stunning car inside & out.

 

What's weird is that I usually love that color yellow- it's very similar to the Solar Beam yellow Mercedes uses. Maroon has been the most captivating color for this car I've seen yet. I can't wait to see these out on the streets regardless. Lexus needed a car with some valet appeal (yes, I know the LFA exists but I hate its looks).

 

the first drive video said its a modular chassis which is shared with the LS

 

The LC500 is supposed to be 4280 lbs though......at least they are praising it's handling, unlike the RCF.

 

I am a little bit surprised by the weight of the LC. The hybrid is quite the porker. But overall the reviews are good. Motor Trend predicts an $80K starting price. Interesting to read the little details here and there.

 

Yea for a brand new chassis with exotic materials, it is quite porky. I guess that's the price to pay for a structure that's even stiffer than the LFA without cf.

 

There's been a media trend as of late to praise most new cars on the first drives. Then after a few months, the initial excitement drops and critiques start popping up. I recall the same with most past Lexus's, including the RC. So I'll wait for the curve to play itself out before forming more of a consensus. I will continue however to remain firm on saying this car is priced $20k too high.

 

At first glance, very disappointed with the paint and interior color options. Theres only two new colors, blue and yellow and one new interior color; bespoke white (blue and orange).

There is no custom interior program and the Rioja red is boring, which we have seen over and over again on the IS, GS, RX.

 

I get what you are saying about the early reviews being favorable and then perhaps they become less than, however I respect reviews that post their thoughts on record on the day and date among their peers. I cannot and will not respect the reviews, or reviewers that wait a few months or weeks until the reviews can be analyzed and then their thoughts get published which carefully creates an impression based on all the other reviews (yes I am looking at you Consumer Reports). I respect publications like Motor Trend, Car & Driver, and Autoblog (even though they used to be good and are now crap) who get their reviews released right away. With that being said, the new Lexus LC is great achievement for the Lexus brand, I also like how Lexus is really designing and creating their own identity that is separate from their competition. While the exterior and interior of the LC is really not my cup of tea, Lexus has done a good job of evoking a response from those who view it. Vehicles like this new LC is what is going to help separate and further push Lexus towards the likes of the upper BMW, Mercedes, and Audi models while it distances the brand from Lincoln, Cadillac, and Acura. There are some criticisms that should be noted, such as the V8 that is something like 10 years old, the porky pig 4400lb weight of the hybrid model, the strange decision to make the LC a 2+2 car with just 5 cubic feet of trunk space (I am not sure if golf clubs for two will fit in the trunk). But the criticisms aside, this new model is a very good achievement. Where the LC fits in and compares with is difficult, the S5 comparison is a little strange as the S5 would compete with the RC more than anything. Reading through some of the reviews this afternoon, its pretty clear that the 6 series, S550 (still priced out of the LC league) and Jaguar F type is where it compares (even Lexus mentioned these three models in their press information for the journalists that attended the launch). Pricing is even more difficult to predict, $80-$85K seems to be where many of the reviews are mentioning. Starting at $100k does not make much sense as there are four trim levels which should be able to cover $80-$120K price range. I highly doubt Lexus will hit their ambitious 4800 unit goal, but each and every sale should bring a new buyer into the Lexus brand as Lexus has claimed they are targeting men in their 50s with an income level of $250,000.

 

If magazines like Motor Trend, Car & Driver and Autoblog are prompt with their reviews, but are now crap, and CR is late to the party with theirs why bother with their reviews?

 

What also has to be remembered is that, unlike the auto-enthusiast magazines, Consumer Reports, except for the annual or semi-annual Car-Buying issues, simply does not have the time or space for doing unlimited car-reviews on a moment's notice. They have to devote their monthly-issues (and web-site) to virtually all kinds of goods that consumers buy....and the government policies that affect those goods. The average CR issue, each month, may cover a dozen major buying-issues and even more smaller ones along the sidebars. So there simply may not be the space to publish a review of the latest new hot-selling vehicle for a few months.

 

Supposedly international versions will have more interior choices.