Updated Safety Recall Announced for 2002-2003 Lexus SC 430

Lexus USA has issued a voluntary safety recall for the 2002-2003 Lexus SC 430 due to an issue with the front passenger airbag — here’s a description of the problem: The involved vehicles are equipped with front passenger airbag inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers.  Improperly manufactured propellant wafers could …

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Kevin · June 12th, 2014

Lexus SC to Return in 2017?

According to Peter Lyon of Japanese magazine Holiday Auto, the Lexus SC nameplate will return with the production model based on the LF-LC concept car: The new Lexus SC seems to have it all: Styling to take on Europe’s best, two powerful engine choices, the world’s first 10-speed automatic, and a price tag hovering around …

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Kevin · June 11th, 2014

Petronas Lexus SC 430 Team Wins Super GT Round 7

The Petronas racing team of Kazuki Nakajima & James Rossiter have won the Super GT Round 6 GT500 class in the #36 Lexus SC 430, coming from behind to win the race in the final laps. The ZENT CERUMO #38 SC 430, winners of the Round 6 at the Fuji Speedway, finished second and are …

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Kevin · October 7th, 2013

Lexus SC to Return in 2016?

In its latest issue, Japanese magazine Mag-X suggests Lexus will be resurrecting the SC nameplate in 2016 with a production model based on the LF-LC concept.
Kevin · August 2nd, 2013

Lexus to Bring Back the SC Nameplate?

In their latest issue, Japanese magazine BEST CAR suggests that Lexus may bring back the SC nameplate, and have created a new rendering to illustrate the possibilities.
Kevin · July 1st, 2013

2015 Lexus SC Convertible?

Just one day after posting a Best Car rendering of the rumored Lexus LFA II, we now have this Mag-X photochop of a possible SC convertible based on the LF-LC concept.
Kevin · May 12th, 2012

New Lexus GS Coupe Rumors

According to AutoGuide, Lexus is planning to replace the dearly departed SC 430 with a new GS coupe.
Kevin · November 14th, 2011

Classic Lexus SC 430 Commercial

In keeping with the spirit of this weekend’s Super Bowl and its commercial breaks, here’s a classic SC 430 commercial that’s always good for a laugh: (After a week of heavy snow here in the North East, I could really go for some summer with a convertible, even if it meant putting up with these …

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Kevin · February 7th, 2011

Lexus LC 600h to Replace SC?

According to Motor Trend, Lexus is planning to replace the dearly-departed SC 430 with a brand new coupe based on the next-generation LS. Called the LC 600h, this flagship coupe would be AWD and powered by an updated version of the same 5.0L V8 Lexus Hybrid Drive found in the current LS 600hL, and is …

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Kevin · October 11th, 2010

Lexus SC 430 Drift

Although it ends production this month, the Lexus SC 430 is the platform for a new Lexus-sponsored drifting program: Built by A’PEXi USA & VIP Auto Salon and driven by Ryuji Miki, the Lexus SC430 Drift debuted last month at a Formula D event in Wall, NJ, and will be competing throughout this racing season. …

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Kevin · July 12th, 2010

Lexus Takes Top Three Spots in Super GT GT500 Class

Missed this story last week, but Lexus took the top three spots in Round 3 of the 2010 Super GT series — from Road & Track: The GT500 class winner was the pole-starting MJ Kraft SC430 driven by Hiroaki Ishiura and Kazuya Oshima, who never lost the lead throughout the race. Joining them on the podium …

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Kevin · May 10th, 2010

More Lexus SC 600h Rumors

Included as part of Motor Trend‘s Lexus GS-F rumor coverage was this Holiday Auto Magazine rendering of a possible look for the next generation SC: This sketch manages borrows all the right elements from the existing lineup and puts together with some real potential, and the windshield-to-IS-F-air-vents is just brilliant, but I can’t imagine for …

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Kevin · March 5th, 2010

Lexus GS-F in 2013?

Autocar is reporting that the Lexus GS-F is on deck for 2013 and will be powered by the LFA’s V10: Lexus engineers are working on reducing the engine’s capacity by around 200cc to 4.6 litres and power to 450bhp. The idea is to improve low-range torque, although even with the reduced power output the GS-F …

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Kevin · February 24th, 2010

Ode to the Lexus SC 430

Here’s a fantastic article on Automobiles De Luxe praising the Lexus SC 430 and its “clean beauty”—author Gunnar Heinrich manages to capture the very thing that made the sports convertible special, no matter what its critics may say. Read this story
Kevin · January 25th, 2010

Lexus SC 430 to End Production, Japanese Special Edition Revealed

Lexus has announced that the SC 430 will cease production in July, ending the nine-year run of the second generation sports coupe. To mark the occasion, Lexus Japan will be offering a special, limited edition dubbed The Eternal Jewel, which will bring an extreme level of customization to both the interior & exterior color choices, …

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Kevin · January 20th, 2010

1992 Lexus SC 400 Dealership Video

After look at the present & future of the Lexus SC, I thought it might be interesting to look back at the model’s history—the following video is a dealership introduction for the first-generation SC 400, and is an important look back at what Lexus was trying to achieve with their first sports coupe: Amazing when …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2009

Next-Gen Lexus SC Photochop

With the release of the 2010 Lexus SC 430, we’ve likely seen the end of the second generation Sports Coupe—so what’s next? Could it look something like this? Found in a thread on Club Lexus, this unsourced Photochop shows the potential of the third-generation SC. Sure, there’s some awkward creases in the hood & side …

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Kevin · August 18th, 2009

2010 Lexus SC 430 Changes

The second generation Lexus SC 430 will live for another year—Lexus USA has confirmed that the convertible coupe will be produced for a ninth year with some minor changes: New 18-Inch Six-Spoke Wheels (shown above) iPod/USB Connectivity 6th Generation HDD-based navigation with Voice Control, Lexus Enform and Bluetooth connectivity New side mirrors with integrated puddle …

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Kevin · August 17th, 2009

Pebble Beach Editions for the Lexus ES, RX and LS Models

Once solely reserved for the SC 430, Lexus announced today at the Chicago Auto Show that three more models will be available in the Pebble Beach Edition. It starts with the release of a PBE RX 350 in mid-February, followed by an ES 350 in March and a LS 600hL sometime in the fall. Here’s …

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Kevin · February 6th, 2008

Flickr Find: Custom Lexus SC 430 with Sevas Wheels

William Stern, the in-house photographer for Sevas, has posted up some shots of a custom Lexus SC 430 on Flickr: The custom work, including some subtle fender vents and not-so-subtle LED side-step lighting, was done by Cartel Customs in Miami. There’s quite a collection of photos in William’s Flickr stream, be sure to check them …

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Kevin · December 3rd, 2007

Two Tuned Lexus Models from the Upcoming SEMA 2007

As previously mentioned, this year’s SEMA event will showcase nine Lexus models tuned up by aftermarket companies. Most of these companies make little or no mention of this fact on their websites, but two of the tuners have put up some teaser images: Blitz Tuned Lexus GS 430 The Blitz GS hasn’t gone over the …

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Kevin · September 25th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: SC 430

The next part of my Lexus Body Kit Series is up, this time for the SC 430. For a car closing in on seven years of production, and a purported sports coupe at that, there’s surprisingly few body kits to choose from, and the kits that are available are low in options, with most consisting …

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Kevin · August 24th, 2007

Lexus SC 430 Commercial with Andy Roddick for the U.S. Open

This SC 430 commercial featuring Andy Roddick and Christopher Fairbanks defies the usual Lexus formula of heightened drama and takes an altogether different route: This went completely over my head, with such a strange combination of elements. A famous tennis player, a comedian, a tree frog story and a sixties era green-screen, how could these …

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Kevin · August 16th, 2007

Top Gear Comparison: Lexus SC 430 vs. Hyundai Tiburon

I can’t say that the SC 430 is my favorite car in Lexus’ lineup, but Top Gear took it one step further, declaring it “the worst car on sale today”. When comparing it to the Hyundai Tiburon, it was hardly even a contest: “Dreadful”. “Horrible”. “Charmless”. I’m honestly surprised the host didn’t drive the SC …

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Kevin · June 23rd, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus @ Salón del Automóvil de Barcelona 2007

Flickr user j0rdi has been taking some great shots at Salón del Automóvil happening right now in Barcelona. Not content to take photos of full cars, all the shots are beautifully cropped, leaving only the finer details. One of these photos was of a Lexus SC 430, and it takes headlights to an entirely abstract …

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Kevin · June 10th, 2007