A Magical Evening at the Wheel of the 2018 Lexus LC 500

Lexus’ flagship coupe is sexy, luxurious, and a major head-turner. All-in-all, a perfect companion on a very special evening.

The Lexus LC 500 is a V8-powered stunner that manages to command attention wherever it goes thanks to its beautiful lines and the stunning aura that surrounds it. Practically a prototype or “show car” that made it to production, the LC 500 part Lexus’ answer to Europe’s sleek coupes, and part its own self-absorbed creation. A beautiful one, of course.

The LC’s weeklong stay at our home coincided with our wedding anniversary, so we knew we had to do something special. Then again, what is there to do with such a powerful and beautiful ride? Go to the grocery store, speed down the highway, or maybe even take a road trip? Well, the first two were a definite no, and the last one not feasible. So, we simply planned a family date night! After all, it does have four seats, you know?

Design

The design of the LC 500 we had the chance to drive is nearly identical to the prototype that Lexus brought to the Detroit Auto Show in 2016. The gorgeous design was made possible thanks to nearly perfect proportions and some very clever engineering. In case you’re wondering what the heck this all means, I’m simply trying to say that a car this beautiful didn’t happen by accident.

This machine was once the dream of Akio Toyoda, the President of the Toyota Motor Corporation, and now its a reality. Toyoda set out to revolutionize the brand with a flagship coupe, and he did it.

Date Night

The interior of the Lexus LC 500 is just as stunning as the exterior. In the case of our lovely red test model, the cabin was surrounded by brown suede, otherwise called Alcantara, and brown leather throughout. Even the smallest details were catered to, such as the glovebox compartment being fully lined, the suede headliner, and several details being milled out of real metal.

Both kids slipped into the narrow back seats, which although not the greatest for a long trip, they’re most definitely useful for trips around the city and maybe even a short skip outside of town. Our six- and fourteen-year-old daughters enjoyed the LC 500 as much as we did, loving the attention that they got at school and pretty much everywhere else we went.

Ahead of celebrating our wedding anniversary with a lovely dinner at the Melting Pot, we decided to immortalize the beauty of the LC (and the ladies) by doing a photoshoot. Of course, there was a lot of red involved.

The curvaceous cues of the Lexus are both hidden and exposed for the world to see. Small details like the cooling ducts for the brakes make both a visual statement and help the car’s performance. Others, such as the retractable carbon fiber spoiler, are simply cool and a bit show-boaty. However, the biggest attribute of them all is the exhaust note produced by its 471-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 engine, which as I found out, drew the affection or hatred of my neighbors. Especially in the mornings.

All Good Things Come to an End

Of course, our date night eventually came to an end, and so did our time behind the wheel of the LC 500. It’s such a well-built and exquisite machine that we truly had withdrawals after driving it for one week. The way it accelerates so smoothly, brakes so firmly, and handles so sharply, it’s like it the driver becomes one with the car. Driver engagement isn’t typically one of Lexus’ fortes, but they’ve actually nailed it with this one.

In the end, we enjoyed an evening of lovely food, lovely drinks, and very lovely companion; in more ways than one.

2018 Lexus LC 500