The Lexus LC 500 finally makes its official launch debut here in Malaysia. The RM 940,000 price tag (on-the-road without insurance) will net you the brand’s flagship luxury coupe, along with a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty and five-year/100,000 km free scheduled service package.

First unveiled at last year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the LC 500 is a faithful recreation of the stunning LF-LC concept that previewed it more than five years ago.


Underpinned by the new Lexus Global Architecture – Luxury (GA-L), the LC 500’s platform employs a mix of materials – high-strength steel, aluminium and carbon fibre – in its construction. The bodyshell which features plenty high-tensile steel, provides higher torsional rigidity than even the LFA‘s carbon structure.

A combination of dramatic lines and aggressive angles, the attention-grabbing design of the low-slung coupe is not complete without Lexus’ trademark spindle grille as part of its visual bag of treats. Joining it are the car’s triangular headlights with three LED projectors within them, along with arrow-shaped taillights at the rear.


Under that sculpted bonnet is a 5.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle V8 petrol engine that comes with VVT-i and D-4S direct injection. Rated at 470 hp at 7,100 rpm and 540 Nm at 4,800 rpm, the mill directs drive to the rear wheels via a Direct Shift 10-speed automatic gearbox and Torsen limited-slip rear differential (optional in certain markets). The powertrain allows for a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds, and if you keep your foot planted on the accelerator, you’ll arrive at the car’s rated top speed of 270 km/h.

Moving inside, the driver-centric cabin is awash with leather, which covers a wide number of surfaces including the dashboard, seats, steering wheel, gear knob and other pieces of trim. As you’d expect, the interior is meticulously put together by Lexus’ famous Takumi master craftsmen.


The LC 500 also comes with rotating dials beside the instrument cluster, something that was found on the LFA before it. Another throwback to the high-revving V10-powered car is the movable ring embedded in the fully-digital instrument cluster, which changes its appearance depending on the selected driving mode.

Elsewhere, there’s the latest Lexus Multimedia infotainment system linked to a dash-mounted, 10.3-inch touchscreen display and Remote Touch controller, along with heated and ventilated power seats, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system (also optional in other markets).


The Malaysian-spec LC 500 also comes with the Performance Package and Convenience Package, the latter featuring Parking Assist and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Meanwhile, the Performance Package equips the LC 500 with active rear steering, variable gear-ratio steering and speed-activated rear wing (raises when travelling more than 80 km/h). The seat inserts and headliner also receive an Alcantara layer, while there is now a carbon-fibre roof and door sill plates.

Customers will get to choose from up to 11 exterior colours as well as several interior colours themes – black, dark rose or ochre (shown here) – depending on the exterior colour chosen. A set of 21-inch aluminium wheels come as standard here, wrapped with Bridgestone Potenza S001L tyres (245/40 front and 275/35 rear). The LC 500 is produced at Lexus’ Motomachi factory in Japan, which was where the 500 units of the LFA were manufactured.