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2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Interior Driveway Test | Lexus at its best

The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible is a blessing in the form of a car. Its 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 makes one of the best sounds in automobiledom, and one look will have anybody’s jaws on the ground. Climb inside, and the hits donÂ’t stop coming. In our specific test car, the first thing we notice are the miles of Toasted Caramel leather. ItÂ’s everywhere, and its expensive feel and quality are second to none at this price point. You can get black or red leather, but the Toasted Caramel tan is the classiest option available for the Convertible. Shades of tan on the doors, seats and headrests give it a mild two-tone look, making the color combo even more pleasing. And once you start to look closer at the intricate stitching, quilted seat bolsters, perforations and delicate piping throughout, the LC 500Â’s interior will begin to truly wow with its design. Take the door panel, for example. Rarely would we wax poetically about a door panelÂ’s design, but this one is too damn elegant to not call out. The slender and curved metal door handle looks like a sculpture, and its action is satisfyingly upscale. The checked pattern of leather in a different tone splitting the main swaths of leather is another nice touch. Little things like this can delight and bring a carÂ’s interior from above average to excellence. The LC 500 Convertible is full of these tiny delights. 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible View 34 Photos One rather entertaining bit is the trap door ahead of the center console that hides your roof operation switch. It makes you feel like James Bond fiddling around for a secret “eject” button each time you go to raise or lower the roof. But then you remember youÂ’re in a Japanese grand tourer, not a British sports car. Your passenger has two grab handles to hold onto should the road turn twisty, both incorporated into the carÂ’s design in a natural and classy way. The most delightful aspect of all is overall design itself. The flat plane of a dash is interrupted by a long overhanging piece that begins at the widescreen infotainment display. This leads into a physical clock and decorative trim piece, then runs all the way to the passenger side door. Below this is a second flat expanse, giving the dash a plateau look from door-to-door. Utility and usefulness is not top of mind in a convertible grand tourer, but the LC 500 is not devoid of road trip conveniences. The center armrest opens up to a decent amount of space.

Lexus takes to Pikes Peak in RC F GT Concept

Lexus is gearing up to take on Pikes Peak with the RC F GT Concept you see here, developing the new racing prototype for the venerable hillclimb event. Different from the more extreme GT3 and GT500 racing concepts we've seen to date, the new GT concept is more closely based the road-going RC F. Only it's leaner and meaner and ready to take on the grueling 12.4-mile race to the clouds and all its 156 turns. The RC F GT packs the same 5.0-liter V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission as the production model. The major difference is that it weighs some 800 pounds less, thanks largely to the widespread use of carbon fiber body panels and polycarbonate windows. It also incorporates a more aggressive aero kit and rolling stock, and allows the technicians to tune the engine for competition applications. To tackle the Peak, Lexus is handing the keys over to none other than Justin Bell, the former GT2 class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA GT Championship. He'll be fielding the RC F GT in the Time Attack class for production-based vehicles, while providing Lexus engineers with valuable performance data and the chance to develop components for future applications. Two years ago, the IS F CCS-R prototype competed in the same event, and served as a test bed to develop the powertrain that went into the RC F that followed. Related Video: LEXUS TO COMPETE IN 2015 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB WITH ALL-NEW RC F GT CONCEPT - V8 Powered, Production Car-based Coupe to be Driven by Justin Bell - RC F GT Program to Serve as Key Developmental Tool for F brand Engineering June 22, 2015 TORRANCE, Calif. (June 22, 2015) – On June 28th, Lexus will compete in the Time Attack class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The luxury automaker will be campaigning the all-new RC F GT Concept, a vehicle that builds upon the legacy of the IS F CCS-R vehicles that last competed at Pikes Peak in 2013. This historic event, now in its 93rd running, is a race against the clock that tests man and machine with the changing elements, altitude, and a treacherous 12.42 mile, 156 turn course that winds up the peak from 9,390 feet up to the 14,115 foot summit. The new Lexus will be piloted up the mountain by British driving ace, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, and automotive media personality Justin Bell. "With very little time behind the wheel, the RC F GT Concept has already proven fast and easy to drive, very much like the production models, actually.

Lexus GXOR is a conceptual offering to the overlanding crowd

To the surprise of just about everyone, large numbers of overlanders have adopted the Lexus GX. The reasons for that are apparent after looking under the surface: Toyota reskinned the Land Cruiser Prado — a slightly smaller version of the venerable Land Cruiser, sold in overseas markets — to create the GX. The result is an intensely capable off-road platform decked out with a bouquet of luxury trimmings. In tribute to the GX's following, and as a way to celebrate the Toyota FJ Summit happening in Ouray, Colorado, right now, Lexus commissioned the GXOR concept. The initialism comes from the overlanding community, the "OR" standing for "offroad" on web sites and in photos and as a Twitter hashtag. This truck's so well equipped for trekking continents, however, that Lexus might have expanded the full meaning of GXOR to "Gone eXtremely Off Road."  The first move to up the rugged quotient is always wheels and tires. Lexus swapped the stock suspension for Icon Vehicle Dynamics shocks with remote reservoirs and a 2.5-inch lift, reinforcing the setup with billet control arms and delta joints. The wheels are 18-inch F-Sport units wrapped in 275/70 (33-inch) General Grabber X3s. When the inevitable hits come, CBI frame sliders and full underbody armor protect the chassis. When situations go all the way south, a Warn 9.5 XPS winch hides behind a custom CBI front bumper, Maxtrax recovery boards stand by on the Eezi-Awn K9 roof rack, and an Icom HAM radio is ready to call for recovery from locals or advice from an operator in Argentina. Other conveniences include a Safari snorkel, 50-inch Rigid light bar, and an Overland Solar 160-watt panel. The cargo area's been turned into a larder and closet thanks to the National Luna fridge/freezer combo sitting atop the Goose Gear custom drawers. Since it appears the GXOR driver might never wish to return, there's more storage in Alu-boxes up top, and a Patriot Campers X1H trailer provides close gear support. The Patriot's a home on wheels, starting at about $52,000 U.S., packed with features like a remote-controlled, electronically-deployed tent, a twin-burner stove, gas hot water system and 40-gallon tank, and more drawers. But because even that's not enough, Lexus fitted the trailer with matching F-Sport wheels and a Redarc Tow-Pro brake controller. If you're near Ouray, the GXOR will be on display and on the trails from now until Sunday, July 21.