2018 World Car Performance & Design Finalist: The Lexus LC 500

Posted by Kevin on March 12th, 2018

The Lexus LC 500 is now a top-three 2018 World Car of the Year finalist in both the Performance Car and Car Design categories.

The coupe will go up against the BMW M5 and Honda Civic Type R for the Performance award, and will compete against the Range Rover Velar and Volvo XC60 in Car Design.

The winners will be announced at the New York Auto Show at the end of March.

AwardsLexus LC: First Generation
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Comments
Alexander Li
An athlete dressed in a tuxedo? The Lexus should win hands down.
Joaquin Ruhi
Alexander Li
An athlete dressed in a tuxedo? The Lexus should win hands down.
The Car Design trophy? Definitely. The Performance Car award will be a tougher battle, but the odds are decent that it'll win that as well.
Gecko
I feel like the Civic Type R is a bigger threat than the M5, personally. But I can see LC winning both.
Joaquin Ruhi
Gecko
I feel like the Civic Type R is a bigger threat than the M5, personally. But I can see LC winning both.
I totally agree.
D
  • D
    DDas
  • March 13, 2018
I don't mean to bring down other cars, but the M5 is BLAND and the Civic is OVERSTYLED. Let's be real: the XC60 looks like EVERY OTHER VOLVO nowadays - no originality. So, why should it win? The Velar is the only threat, and it's quite beautiful if I have to be honest. I still see the LC winning!
Gecko
This is sort of unrelated, but thinking back on it... it's surprising to me how little excitement the new M5 and E63 generated. I saw the test drives when they were released, a few facts about the AWD systems, and then they fell off the radar. Did nobody really care or have I just missed the follow up coverage?
mikeavelli
After a year I can't get tired looking at the LC. It is simply a beautiful car.

Gecko
This is sort of unrelated, but thinking back on it... it's surprising to me how little excitement the new M5 and E63 generated. I saw the test drives when they were released, a few facts about the AWD systems, and then they fell off the radar. Did nobody really care or have I just missed the follow up coverage?
I'm sure we both grew up in a time when these two cars not just mag darlings but the want of all enthusiasts. The E39 M5 might be the standard for a sports sedan. Then came the E60 V-10 and the W211 E55/E63.

I think its a couple of things. One being 20 even 15 years ago they were darlings and kind of had things to themselves so to speak. Fast forward to today and we have stupid fast Teslas, Hellcats, Panamera's etc etc. So I think we are accustomed to fast when in the past, the E63 and M5 were really anomaly's. in a slow world lol.

Also I just think both miss on styling, both are handsome at best and quite meh, particularly the E63. The specs for both are absolutely insane as are the interiors and tech. To me though I don't desire either :( which is a crazy thought. Also the prices are astronomical now. 105k base for a E63 and 130k loaded. I felt in the past they used to be a bit of a bargain compared to now.
Gecko
^Agree with all of that!
mikeavelli
Gecko
^Agree with all of that!
And I low key love the Type-R and I think for 35k its nice that you can have something JDM that performs that is cool. Though the styling is not for everyone but I love it.
L
mikeavelli
After a year I can't get tired looking at the LC. It is simply a beautiful car.



I'm sure we both grew up in a time when these two cars not just mag darlings but the want of all enthusiasts. The E39 M5 might be the standard for a sports sedan. Then came the E60 V-10 and the W211 E55/E63.

I think its a couple of things. One being 20 even 15 years ago they were darlings and kind of had things to themselves so to speak. Fast forward to today and we have stupid fast Teslas, Hellcats, Panamera's etc etc. So I think we are accustomed to fast when in the past, the E63 and M5 were really anomaly's. in a slow world lol.

Also I just think both miss on styling, both are handsome at best and quite meh, particularly the E63. The specs for both are absolutely insane as are the interiors and tech. To me though I don't desire either :( which is a crazy thought. Also the prices are astronomical now. 105k base for a E63 and 130k loaded. I felt in the past they used to be a bit of a bargain compared to now.

At some point, car prices become irrational. When the car prices are irrational, it is not enough to have a rationally good car. That is where the LC is completely irrational, and for that reason so desirable.
krew
I would bet on the Type R winning in Performance and the LC getting the Design award.

K