Automobile Magazine Reviews the Lexus LC 500: “Feel Quick While Looking Good”

Posted by Kevin on July 24th, 2017

Automobile Magazine spent a week with the Lexus LC 500, and here’s what they had to say:

“Love the LED taillights, headlight signature and for once, the grille,” says Road Test Editor Eric Weiner.

While the spindle grille looks like it’s off a ’61 Plymouth on Lexus SUVs and sedans (or like it’s off a ’58 Buick on the new LS), the big, bold, toothy hunk of chrome somehow fits this sport coupe, leading its sinewy, LFA-derived, Coke-bottle shape. The spindle is bent more severely in the middle, of course, because of the LC’s low hood.

“Good Lord, does the engine sound glorious,” Weiner adds. “Beefy and purposeful at low rpm and positively unchained and alive at higher rpm. The 10-speed is up to the task, always downshifting into the correct gear as I braked hard – great brakes – into corners. But gears one through seven feel too tall, while eight, nine and 10 are all highway gears with overdrive. I usually just manually shifted with the expensive-feeling magnesium paddles, for the best experience.”

Along with the review is a beautiful gallery, here’s just a small selection:

Lexus LC: First GenerationReviews
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Comments
Gecko
There are consistent complaints about the transmission in this car... I hope they have a plan to fix it. Why bother with a 10AT when its geared like a 5AT with 5 more gears for overdrive? 1-6 should be very short, IMO.
PeterF
IDK about the complaints about the transmission. I just took mine to the track at the National Motorsports Museum. no issues with that at all, and driving that 3.2 mile track with many many corners involves a lot of decelleration, braking, and acceleration. Maybe there is something that could be improved with the AT, but this LC driver / owner has not noticed anything issues and has no complaints. Now, I am clearly biased, but these are my 2 cents worth
mmcartalk
Gecko
There are consistent complaints about the transmission in this car... I hope they have a plan to fix it. Why bother with a 10AT when its geared like a 5AT with 5 more gears for overdrive? 1-6 should be very short, IMO.
From what I can see, two basic reasons. First, the tall Overdrive gears help in the cruise-MPG department for the EPA, and, Second, too many gears bunched up at the bottom would probably mean too much shifting and wear on the transmission in stop and go driving.* Lexus drivetrain warranties are generally 6/70, and the factory doesn't want to be dealing with prematurely replacing a bunch of worn-out gearboxes.

* GM, in its new 9-speed FWD transverse-engine gearbox, gets around at least part of that problem by programming the tranny to by-pass certain gears on the shift if engine/throttle loads permit it.

M