Daily Slideshow: Automobile Mag Traverses Across California in LC500
Two Days, a $100,000 Luxury Coupe, and the Perfect Backdrop
A Run Up the Coast
Automobile Magazine's Conner Golden recently found himself with some spare time and the keys to a Liquid Platinum 2018 Lexus LC500. Naturally, the only thing left to do was to traverse California in this striking Japanese Grand Tourer. Luckily for us, he took some amazing pictures to chronicle the journey.
Simple Motivation
The LC500 doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to the engine. There's no twin-turbo V6 or supercharged V10. Instead, the LC500 is powered by an honest-to-goodness 5.0L V8, producing 471 horsepower and 398 lbs-ft of torque. Peak horsepower comes on way up top at 7100 RPM while maximum torque arrives at 4800 RPM. The dual overhead cam V8 features an aluminum block and heads, as well as port and direct injection. Lexus offers a 354 horsepower hybrid drivetrain in the LC500h model featuring a 3.5L V6 and two electric motors. However, once you hear the V8 of the LC500, the LC500h becomes irrelevant.
Substantial but Adequate
The LC500's engine displaces power through a 10-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive. 0-60 is dispatched in around 4.4 seconds which is respectable when keeping in mind the LC500's 4,280 lb curb weight. Should you feel obligated, the LC500 will click off a quarter mile in 13.0 seconds at a trap speed of 112 mph.
All the Right Noises
Golden describes the LC500 as being quiet and refined on the inside. Outside, the soundtrack of the naturally-aspirated Lexus V8 is better characterized on raucous.
Living Large in Malibu
Golden's journey started with Los Angeles area freeways before he took a detour to the canyons above Malibu. He noted the Lexus felt a bit too portly in the tight confines of the Malibu canyons. He also mentioned the LC500's traction control system was finicky when matched up against the bumpy roads.
At Home on Angeles Crest Highway
Golden found the LC500 far more at home on Angeles Crest Highway. With its sweeping canyon roads, Angles Crest was better suited to the LC500's high-revving V8 and softer suspension settings. Golden added the LC500's engine also requires long, heavy doses of the accelerator pedal. And occasionally, the 10-speed transmission will find itself in a state of confusion.
A Japanese Supermodel
Lexus has dealt with more than its share of flack for their recent design choices. The spindle grille has long been a topic of debate, especially on other models such as the IS, GS, and RX. Giving credit where it's due, Lexus has found a way to make the design language work. Over the years the look has matured and the spindle grille looks appropriate as the face of Lexus' flagship coupe. Even when surrounded by Italian supercars of old, the Japanese grand tourer turns heads.
Hidden Oasis
The LC500 may be substantial when it hits the scales, but the interior is more than enough to reconcile the Lexus' heft. The interior is wrapped in leather with beautiful stitching throughout. The gauge cluster is borrowed from the LFA supercar and is configurable. A heads-up display is optional. The 10.3-inch split screen sits atop the dash and projects stereo and navigation functions. Just to the left of the center screen is the LC500's drive mode selector. Drivers can choose between Comfort/Eco mode, Normal/Custom, or Sport and Sport +.
Luxury Everywhere You Touch
The door panels sweep towards the dash and invite you to brush your forearm against the Alcantara inserts on a long road trip. A 12 speaker sound system is standard and includes a front-center speaker and a woofer in the rear. A 13 speaker 915 watt Mark Levinson sound system is optional.
Worthy of Desire
The weekend getaway in the LC500 carried Golden up the 101, through Santa Barbara, and onto the coast near Cambria. Thereafter, Golden found himself in wine country and the backroads of Paso Robles. No doubt, California has some of the most impressive backdrops for car photography. The LC500 proved to be a worthy subject of the camera's affection.
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