CAR Magazine Review: The Lexus LC 500h

Posted by Kevin on April 16th, 2018

The CAR Magazine review of the Lexus LC 500h coupe includes this important perspective on the hybrid’s virtual 10-speed transmission:

On initial evaluation we found the LC 500h’s driveline erratic and at times disappointingly still afflicted with the dreaded CVT elasticity we’ve grown to dislike so much, made worse by the V6’s less-than-inspiring engine note. The V8 LC 500 is streets ahead here.

It takes two to tango, and the car needs to familiarise itself with the way you drive, taking into account driver inputs such as the severity of throttle and steering movements to adjust the way the ‘gears’ are served up.

Given more time to gel, things started to improve dramatically.

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Comments
Tragic Bronson
https://www.autoblog.com/photos/best-drivers-cars-2017

The LC500 is a favorite vehicle for two of the AB staff; ironically, one of them did also vote the GX as his worst of 2017 :yum
bogglo
This LC looks menacing
PeterF
their conclusion is not apparently based on any logic or clear rationale. The LC beats the DB11 even though the DB11 have more than 100 ft lbs more of torque. Entertaining video though, but give me some sound logic. @ $100k less!!! HA!
T
it was a stupid review. It's a shame that lexus (and Toyota) is forever battling the moving goal posts and bland stereotype. All their reviews start with the same boring overused clichés. X has always been bland/boring/reliable transport...but now X has bla bla bla...
LDeleuran
Now here's a review worth including:

Tragic Bronson
The majority of the LC reviews have been very positive, more so than the LS IMO. Just a few outliers.
krew
Robert Cumberford Critiques Lexus LC 500 Design

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Cautious optimism.
View the original article post
Tragic Bronson
krew
Robert Cumberford Critiques Lexus LC 500 Design

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View the original article post
http://www.automobilemag.com/news/2018-design-honorable-mention-lexus-lc-500/
LDeleuran
Autobild Germany has pitted the new Audi RS5 against the LC500.

You can read the article here. The title is "Geld oder Liebe" (yellow or love) where the LC500 is the one that is yellow:

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-rs-5-lexus-lc-500-test-13304493.html

The article starts out by telling that the Audi RS5 had just lost a comparison review against the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63. Luckily they have an LC500 on hand so that the Audi can save some face.

The article continues with by describing the fancy new details of the Audi while sprinkling in some complaints about the LC (weight, you have to control seat heating using the touchpad, how a V8 is old school technology, that the door handles Jaguar, etc.)

Read a translated version if you can stomach it. I was surprised by seeing not one, but two points raised against the Audi: High price and uncomfortable ride. Autobild has become quite adventurous lately!

The conclusion is (apart from the obvious win by anything German over anything non-German) that Lexus has spent too much focus on design, and too little on weight... in their large Grand Tourer... so that it is outperformed by a lighter and more powerful car on track.

Autobild is just being its usual self.
F1 Silver Arrows
LDeleuran
Autobild Germany has pitted the new Audi RS5 against the LC500.

You can read the article here. The title is "Geld oder Liebe" (yellow or love) where the LC500 is the one that is yellow:

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-rs-5-lexus-lc-500-test-13304493.html

The article starts out by telling that the Audi RS5 had just lost a comparison review against the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63. Luckily they have an LC500 on hand so that the Audi can save some face.

The article continues with by describing the fancy new details of the Audi while sprinkling in some complaints about the LC (weight, you have to control seat heating using the touchpad, how a V8 is old school technology, that the door handles Jaguar, etc.)

Read a translated version if you can stomach it. I was surprised by seeing not one, but two points raised against the Audi: High price and uncomfortable ride. Autobild has become quite adventurous lately!

The conclusion is (apart from the obvious win by anything German over anything non-German) that Lexus has spent too much focus on design, and too little on weight... in their large Grand Tourer... so that it is outperformed by a lighter and more powerful car on track.

Autobild is just being its usual self.

These idiots don't realize that the LC doesn't even compete in the same class of car. So if I compare a RCF vs a BMW 8-Series then it would win because it is faster, lighter and more performance oriented? They don't compete in the same class. Why don't you compare the LC vs the S-Class Coupe? The 8-Series? Or what about a flagship Audi coupe? Oh wait, they don't have one. Trash review. End of story.
S
LDeleuran
The conclusion is (apart from the obvious win by anything German over anything non-German) that Lexus has spent too much focus on design, and too little on weight... in their large Grand Tourer... so that it is outperformed by a lighter and more powerful car on track.

Autobild is just being its usual self.
If you said this is an article from 1930s Germany, I would have believed it. That first paragraph reads "oh, so some slacker built a disappointing auto for the Vaterland, but at least it should still be superior to a chunk of low-tech Asian metal", very insulting indeed.
F1 Silver Arrows
That is f****** disgusting. Shame on those pieces of sh**s. I thought they were much more mature than that. I'm sorry for such profanity, but that is honestly so low. This article goes for show how shallow most European media are. It makes me more want to shove a Japanese product in their face because they cannot produce anything with soul, beautiful and damn reliable anymore. Shame on you Europeans. I know not all Europeans are like this, and no European car companies have this behavior (hopefully not, but I am aware some are sh***y like that). The only thing I can say is...... shame.
S
Note in the overtake test, they lock the car in gear so the LC500 had comically slow acceleration. The LC500 did 60-100 km/h (45-62mph) in a jokingly slow 4.2s in 4th gear. But Motor Trend tested number is 2.5s. And these 7th and 8th gear results: that Aisin 10spd had four freaking overdrive gears. This is plain stupidness, no manual nor computer controlled transmission overtake that way. This test is conducted specifically in a way to make naturally aspirated engines with tall gearing (which the LC500 has) look pathetically slow, and it's irrelevant in real world in any way, shape, or form. What kind of conclusion can one draw from this kind of test? That overtaking in overdrive is a bad idea?
The Aisin 10spd is designed for the turbocharged V6, which benefits from tall gearing and unfortunately degrades the experience on the NA V8.
krew
Husband & Wife Reviews the 2018 Lexus LC 500

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Funny review from the NY Daily News.
View the original article post
C
The difference between a Lexus owner and a Lexus "ENTHUSIAST"...:dizzy:

Stop Teasing us and roll out the REAL "LC-F"...:imp:
R
  • R
    RAL
  • March 9, 2018
Calvin Montero
The difference between a Lexus owner and a Lexus "ENTHUSIAST"...:dizzy:

Stop Teasing us and roll out the REAL "LC-F"...:imp:
Though I see you joined our group last November, I don't remember offering you a word of welcome ... so ... Welcome new member Calvin Montero!
Joaquin Ruhi
krew
Husband & Wife Reviews the 2018 Lexus LC 500

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View the original article post
I really enjoyed this review. It took me back to Paul and Anita Lienert's He Drove, She Drove reviews for the Detroit News, which sadly ended just over a decade ago. But this one is longer, more detailed, and a bit more irreverent in some aspects. All fine by me.
PeterF
Automobile magazine has the LC 500 as an All Star! Here is a link to the entire list of All Stars.

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/2018-all-stars-winners/
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
I really enjoyed this review. It took me back to Paul and Anita Lienert's He Drove, She Drove reviews for the Detroit News, which sadly ended just over a decade ago. But this one is longer, more detailed, and a bit more irreverent in some aspects. All fine by me.
Agree -- despite being from a daily newspaper, I found this review to be well done. Weird thing though, it was published in the NY Daily News but the reviewers both live in LA. BIG difference in driving conditions.
krew
Automobile Magazine Review: The 2018 Lexus LC 500

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California road trip in the Lexus coupe.
View the original article post
PeterF
My LC continues to excite whenever I see it; I also love to see all of the renderings and mods that people are doing with this car (like Mikeavelli's). The LC is a "Lexus Masterpiece" that has had such a huge impact across the spectrum of reviewers and prizes/ awards. This is such a HIT! Lexus. You have really done well in listening to the responses to the original LF-LC concept. I see many many good things in the future (hell! the present is fantastic and I'm very fortunate to own one of these cars). Love my LC! Love Lexus!
Tragic Bronson
2018 Lexus LC 500h Review – Good Design, Bad Design
Tragic Bronson
SaabKyle04's review
Gecko
F1 Silver Arrows
That is f****** disgusting. Shame on those pieces of sh**s. I thought they were much more mature than that. I'm sorry for such profanity, but that is honestly so low. This article goes for show how shallow most European media are. It makes me more want to shove a Japanese product in their face because they cannot produce anything with soul, beautiful and damn reliable anymore. Shame on you Europeans. I know not all Europeans are like this, and no European car companies have this behavior (hopefully not, but I am aware some are sh***y like that). The only thing I can say is...... shame.
I'm late seeing this, but let's cut down on the use of expletives, please. You're articulate and well written... the periodic bleeped out words detracts from that! :)
krew
Top Gear: Lexus LC 500 vs Maserati GranTurismo Sport vs Corvette Grand Sport

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This is a great read.
View the original article post
Ian Schmidt
Great article! And the GranTurismo genuinely looks old next to the LC and the Vette.
F1 Silver Arrows
Gecko
I'm late seeing this, but let's cut down on the use of expletives, please. You're articulate and well written... the periodic bleeped out words detracts from that! :)
Yes sir! It's just my passion that's seeping through the keyboard. LOL.

EDIT: I just realized that you complimented me, which I forgot to recognize before. Thanks man! I appreciate it, and I am really glad you understand my point of view. :)

Really though, that's shameful thing to say (referring to the article).
L
Ian Schmidt
Great article! And the GranTurismo genuinely looks old next to the LC and the Vette.
It still is the best perfectly proportioned 4 seat coupe. It has real useful back seats. Still more desirable than any other GT, and only now upped by the LC.
PeterF
really great article! Of course, I agree with their conclusions; nonetheless, the article is a great read, you get a feel for each car and their respective sound, and feel, and it's well-written. BTW: I have not driven the Grand Turismo, but I can say that the Vette is not nearly as comfortable as the LC. However, the vette is King of the track of these 3 cars. However, one only drives a car at a track now and again.
Faisal Sheikh
I feel very happy for the LC500 that it is getting the appreciation it deserves.

On the flip side, I am an RCF owner as well, which makes me bitter because it was so incredibly underrated by the media. Considering, it put down lap times that were barely 1 second or less slower than the M4 (and in some cases matched them), yet it was dismissed as "too heavy" by reviews. Well, it is close to 350 lbs lighter than the LC500 so experience wise weight should be even less of an issue (does not seem to be an issue with the LC500) and driving dynamics wise, it is the most incredible driving experience I have had. It shrinks around the driver, the harder it is pushed. I feel lucky to own this car (I have driven many other sports cars over the years like E90 M3, AMGs, G37 coupe).

My rant notwithstanding, LC500 is an incredible car and glad it is getting all the recognition it should.​

F