First Impressions: The Lexus LC Convertible Concept


Let’s start off with complete honesty — the Lexus LC Convertible that debuted at last week’s Detroit Auto Show looks nothing like a concept. Using the existing coupe as a starting point, every element and detail is polished to a production finish, leaving almost nothing to imagination. The Lexus LC Convertible Concept could (and should) be on the road immediately.

If only.

Instead, the Lexus LC Convertible Concept enters the market at a time when the prospects of selling any car is a difficult proposition, never mind a drop-top coupe likely to cost well above $100k USD. Even at the high-end of the market, it’s a numbers game and the math is tough.

This ambiguity ends up detracting from what should have been a celebratory event, as chopping the roof off the LC is a natural progression for the coupe and the direction of the brand itself. Lexus LC chief engineer Koji Sato tells me this was by design — a convertible variant was developed side-by-side with the production model coupe, a fact that should surprise no one.

Let’s take a brief aside about the technical aspects of the roof. In short, it did not exist, the trunk was essentially empty save for some batteries and switches to make the car move. This may be the only way the LC convertible could be considered a concept, even if it’s what I would consider a minor detail — Sato said the design hinges on a soft top roof that folds into the available space.

What will it take to get the LC Convertible into production? Lexus executives were cagey about the whole thing, saying only that it would depend on the level of interest shown by the media/consumer/dealership triangle. New USA general manager David Christ said there was no magic number, no set show of hands that will push the LCC into production.

Provided there is enough interest and the market turns in a favorable direction, it seems unlikely that a convertible would arrive before the LC gets its mid-cycle refresh — the combination of fresh looks and a new variant would maximize the sales impact, and the audience for flagship vehicles is fickle enough without antagonizing consumers.

(As for my personal view, I don’t really understand convertibles. There’s an obvious beauty to the LC Convertible Concept, but the core idea collides with my sensibilities. I believe it will be built eventually, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the release of the crossovers Lexus so desperately needs.)

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Comments
Build it please!!!!!
This is every bit as stunning as I'd hoped, and it looks very production-ready; no weird holographic center console or anything.
In case some hadn't seen pictures of it with the roof up.View attachment 3142 View attachment 3143
Thanks - I was wondering the look especially with the rear side windows.
F1 Silver Arrows
I did see renderings in Car&Driver that was a soft top but the angle of the roof was so odd it felt like a Ford Model T.
Joaquin Ruhi
Sounds like the Car and Driver rendering was photoshopped by an artist they hired, as opposed to being anything official from Lexus.
Infrared LC
In case some hadn't seen pictures of it with the roof up.View attachment 3142 View attachment 3143
I was very intrigued as to where in Car and Driver those top-up renderings appeared. I searched both their website and their latest print issue, but didn't turn up anything. Then Infrared LC located those NetCarShow.com images you see above (which he posted in a separate thread that I merged into this one).

To be clear, Lexus only released a dozen official images of the LC Convertible Concept, each and every one of them top-down. They are the only ones to appear in the USA, Global and Japan Newsrooms, and in the Lexus Enthusiast news article. Those top-up renderings are obviously photoshopped versions of Images 07 and 08, and not official. It is unclear whether they were created by the folks at NetCarShow.com or aggregated by them and created by someone else.
Joaquin Ruhi
I was very intrigued as to where in Car and Driver those top-up renderings appeared. I searched both their website and their latest print issue, but didn't turn up anything. Then Infrared LC located those NetCarShow.com images you see above (which he posted in a separate thread that I merged into this one).

To be clear, Lexus only released a dozen official images of the LC Convertible Concept, each and every one of them top-down. They are the only ones to appear in the USA, Global and Japan Newsrooms, and in the Lexus Enthusiast news article. Those top-up renderings are obviously photoshopped versions of Images 07 and 08, and not official. It is unclear whether they were created by the folks at NetCarShow.com or aggregated by them and created by someone else.
Very interesting observation, I was also pondering about this as well since Lexus has never made a soft top convertible before.

Although I think a navy blue top would be pretty amazing.

This car is so desirable if they could somehow maintain the original top shape.

Also has anyone else realized that the interior metal trims and handles are now dark as opposed to the current light metallic trim?
zeusus
Also has anyone else realized that the interior metal trims and handles are now dark as opposed to the current light metallic trim?
Yes, just like the outside trims that have gone from gunmetal grey to black.
^^ Those were the images I was talking about from C&D.
F1 Silver Arrows
^^ Those were the images I was talking about from C&D.
Where in C&D did you find them? Link from website? Print edition? Which month?
L
Please forgive me as I am about to be extremely politically incorrect: I want this more than world peace!!!
Joaquin Ruhi
Where in C&D did you find them? Link from website? Print edition? Which month?
My apologies for being super vague. I found it in the comments section in the LC Convertible article that they released. Someone posted what a top-up photo of the LC convertible. Now I am not sure if it was legitimate or just an artist's rendering.
Lasse J. Nordvik
Please forgive me as I am about to be extremely politically incorrect: I want this more than world peace!!!
I concur!
L
F1 Silver Arrows
My apologies for being super vague. I found it in the comments section in the LC Convertible article that they released. Someone posted what a top-up photo of the LC convertible. Now I am not sure if it was legitimate or just an artist's rendering.
There are photos of the car with the top up on www.netcarshow.com
Lasse J. Nordvik
There are photos of the car with the top up on www.netcarshow.com
Yes, those are the ones that I saw and posted earlier in this thread. The mystery remains: were they the originators of the photoshopped renderings? Or did they simply aggregate them from somewhere else? Who created them in the first place?
Piece of Art !!!

M