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Mean, green executive machine: Lexus LC 500 2020 Inspiration Series limited edition

If you are a big fan of luxe coupes and want something rare and refined, Lexus has a pretty great option for you. The LC 500 2020 Inspiration Series car comes in only one color -- Nori Green Pearl -- and it looks money. The limited edition is a batch of 100 cars, and with its good looks and 471 hp, it will be gone before you know it.

Last year Lexus had a limited-edition LC 500 too, but that one was done in bright Flare Yellow, and it gave the two-seater a super-sport feel. This time around the color and matching trim is much more sophisticated and mature. That's the power of new paint on an already good design.

At 187 in. long, the car looks stretched out and lean set on its highly rigid chassis and 21-in., two-tone wheels. It is powered by a naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V8 that delivers 471 hp and 398 lb-ft. of peak torque. It does a 0-to-60 mph time in 4.4 sec and gets up to an estimated 26 mpg on the highway.

The engine also has a very healthy rumble. It lets you know it's alive.

It has a 10-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission designed to provide smoother shifts at part throttle while still offering more forceful gear changes at wider throttle openings. The LC 500 also boasts Adaptive Variable Suspension and Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) tuning, among a host of high-end features. Nice touches include magnesium paddle shifters and high-performance brakes.

Sport S mode alters the powertrain for a more dynamic throttle response. For a higher level of responsiveness, Sport S+ mode modifies the next-generation Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), featuring dampers that are continuously variable through 650 levels. A Custom mode enables you to create a unique profile of a combination of drive mode settings for a more personalized driving experience. ECO mode moderates multiple settings for enhanced fuel efficiency.

The eye-catching coupe displays a unique mesh grille that spreads across the front of the car. It has a large glass panel and blacked-out rear pillars that create a floating roof appearance. Chrome-plated moldings along the edges are meant to echo the lines of a traditional Japanese sword.

A neat aspect of the LC 500 is its unique light signature at night. The taillamps were inspired by the glow of a jet's afterburners, while the ultra-compact, triple-projector LED headlamps are not only striking, they're half the size of conventional headlamps.

Safety systems include a 10-airbag system, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Intuitive Parking Assist so you don't bash into a curb, backup camera with dynamic gridlines, Pre-collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Lane Assist, All-Speed Dynamic Cruise Control, and Intelligent High Beams.

The interior of the LC Inspiration Series is also striking, thanks to a two-tone color scheme that highlights the exceptional design and craftsmanship. The 10-way power adjustable seats are trimmed in aniline leather, the softest, highest-grade leather available in the Lexus lineup. The rich Bespoke Saddle Tan color is unique to the Inspiration Series and is complemented by a slightly darker shade of Alcantara trim on the door panels, which adds a soft, inviting feel to the cabin.

In contrast with the tan seats, dark Black Amber leather trim is used on the steering wheel, dashboard, center console, and doors. Brown stitching ties the darker leather trim together with the seats in addition to highlighting the fanatical precision of each stitch.

The low instrument panel position, hood line, and narrow pillars give the driver a commanding view of the road. To build a sense of continuity, the flowing lines of the door panels serve as an extension of the exterior that flows from the hood and through the windshield.

There are also nice welcoming touches. As you approach, exterior lights illuminate to help prevent you from stepping in puddles or other potential hazards. There's nothing like your vehicle looking out for you!

The finishing touch for each 2020 LC 500 Inspiration Series is a custom sill plate that marks the limited-edition nature of each car. Drawing from the geometric shapes found in the rear brake lights, the laser cut plates function as a subtle reminder of this car's rarity every time you open the door.

Although there are no mechanical changes to distinguish the limited edition from the all-options main-line LC, it does hold up as something special when you look at it.

Pricing for this latest Inspiration Series has not been released yet. Last year's LC limited edition, the one in screaming yellow, was $106,210, so expect around the same price for this green one.

The 2019 LC 500 Inspiration Series car in Flare Yellow (for comparison).

 

 

Check out other Lexus LC models at lexus.com/models/LC, including a hybrid version. Good stuff.

Source: Lexus, Toyota USA

Published October 2019

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