(engine revs)
(upbeat electronic music)
- [Narrator] The big coupe from Lexus is large and lovely,
on the inside at least.
The polarizing sheet metal causes joy in some,
consternation and confusion in others.
However, the LC 500 comes with
what you crave in a driver's car,
a free-revving naturally aspirated V8
that's good for 471 horsepower.
All that power is routed to the rear wheels
through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Also, those rear wheels can steer.
If there's a knock on the large Lexus, it's exactly that.
At 4,364 pounds, the LC 500
is the heaviest car in the group.
Let's see what Randy makes of it.
(engine revs)
- [Randy] Nice little predictable drift
out of turn one there, turn 11.
There we go.
Not quite so aggressive on the initial attack
of the brake pedal, entry understeer.
(engine revs)
Putting down power pretty well.
Entry understeer, see the angle of that wheel.
(engine revs)
Nice balance on the exit, though, entry understeer.
Wow, it does not like to turn.
(engine revs)
I've got all this stability controls turned off.
(engine revs)
It's certainly a very easy car to drive fast.
(engine revs)
It's not a threatening car, you know what I mean?
It's stopping really well for just plain old street tires.
(engine revs)
Plain old street tires.
They're missing the (mumbles) sports, supersports.
This is a really great tire.
(tires screeching)
Come on, turn in baby.
(engine revs)
Interesting.
(tires screeching)
Does not like turning in.
(engine revs)
A little more aggressive on the throttle there.
Got a little bit of power oversteer, actually a lot.
That's a beautiful car, the Lexus LC 500.
It's a luxury coupe.
This car is not in the same category
as a lot of the other cars we've driven,
yet on track, it was really a delightful experience
except it had one sore thumb sticking out.
In corner entry, it had a lot of understeer.
I was impressed with the braking performance on the Lexus,
especially on a street tire.
Really a good performer on track
except for that corner entry understeer.
- [Narrator] While not the quickest car of the competition,
the LC 500 did nothing to embarrass itself.
It's time of 143.40 lands it right between
a BMW 1M Coupe and an AMG C63 507.
That's great company to be in.
At times, there was too much understeer,
especially on the track.
Also, while the transmission changed gears
quickly and assertively enough, none of the 10 speeds
seem to be the ideal gear for a given situation.
But of course, the LC 500's largest problem
is itself, it's weight.
Could Lexus chop 500 pounds out of it?
Until then, eighth place.
(engine revs)