During the week I spent with this drop top, Mother Nature decided to put a damper (emphasis on damp) on my open-air driving. Rain was prominent throughout the week, but I found time to open it up (both the roof and the V8).
The exterior paint color is called Copper Crest and it was stunning and really suited this car, especially as a convertible. The chiseled lines almost looked like it was still sculpted in clay with that color. And the fit and finish was so polished and streamlined that the exterior was flawless. The grille was aggressive, but not obnoxiously so. The back end had just enough of a spoiler to show off but wasn’t too garish. All in all, aesthetically the LC500 is everything you want from convertible sports car.
From a performance standpoint it checks all the boxes too. As mentioned, the 2024 Lexus LC500 continues to come standard with a V8. The 5.0-liter V8 cranks out 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque with a throaty exhaust tune. With rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a 10-speed automatic transmission the entire powertrain is outstanding.
Sometimes with hard-top convertibles, the complicated mechanism can eat into the cabin space and storage. But the soft-top design not only looks sharp but ensures there’s no significant intrusions to the trunk and cabin space.
The LC500 is rated as a four-passenger car and while that’s technically true, as is the case with most vehicles like this the back seat lacks leg room. Because I had friends who wanted to go for a ride when the weather finally cooperated, they still climbed in the back seat (knees be damned) and enjoyed the open air excitement.
Note, anyone much over six feet tall will feel claustrophobic and will most certainly want the top dropped without having to tilt their head. Yes the cabin is small, but that’s really the only flaw within the refined, high-quality cabin.
The 5.4-cubic foot trunk is only good for a couple of bags, but again, that’s not the purpose of this car.
The Lexus infotainment system is noticeably improved this model year. A 12.3-inch touchscreen runs the Lexus Interface system. The touchpad that used to be part of the previous system is greatly improved and the entire infotainment system is far more intuitive and driver friendly. Lexus Interface also allows for dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, with support for standard wireless Apple CarPlay integration and Android Auto compatibility.
Fuel economy rating for this powerful sports car is 15 mpg/city and 25 mpg/highway. In a week’s worth of heavy-footed driving, including a road trip (mostly highway) and a long drive in the country, I averaged nearly 22 mpg.
MSRP for my tester was $105,200. New for the 2024 model year is a consumer-friendly option known as Bespoke Build. The Bespoke Build option allows customers to configure their vehicle with a mix of performance and styling components like the wheels, roof and exterior/interior trim and colors. My tester, with the Bespoke Build Package and several other options had a final price of $117,755.
Despite Mother Nature literally trying to rain on my parade, I found time to enjoy the 2024 Lexus LC500 convertible. With both the top and throttle down, this is a sleek, exhilarating convertible sports car. There was never not a moment it wasn’t fun behind the wheel of the LC500.
Jimmy Dinsmore is a freelance automotive journalist. Email him at jimmydinsmore73@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @driversside.
2024 Lexus LC500 Convertible
Price/As tested price................................................ $105,200/$117,755
Mileage.......................................... 15 mpg/city; 25 mpg/hwy
Engine............................................. 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower................................. 471 hp/398 lbs./ft.
Transmission................................. 10-speed automatic
Drive Wheels................ Rear-wheel drive
Final Assembly Point................ Aichi, Japan
Submit events to us
We are always looking for information on cruise-ins or other auto-related events in the Southwest Ohio region. Send information by email to wheels@coxinc.com.
About the Author