► New Lexus LC Convertible
► Production cabrio shown in LA
► Drops its top in 15 seconds
You’re looking at the new 2020 Lexus LC Convertible, the chop-top open-air version of the slinky full-sized coupe at the top of Lexus’s range.
Unsurprisingly, it remains remarkably faithful to the Detroit show concept car – and it’s an entirely predictable, if elegant, decapitation job. The alfresco skills should really suit the LC’s demeanour, and we’d say it’s a good way of doubling the LC’s footprint and expanding sales in what remains a niche sector.
The LC Convertible was unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, where it was displayed alongside the striking coupe (below).
Proving that the luxury world is turning against the theatrics of a folding metal roof, there’s a soft-top hood that’s electrically powered, dropping under a tonneau cover in 15 seconds or rising to keep out the elements in 16sec. Lexus says it’s added copious bracing to maintain the rigidity of the coupe.
Neck heaters and a transparent wind deflector should keep the worst of the slipstream at bay, so you don’t put your coiffure under too much strain.
Great! When can I buy a Lexus LC Convertible?
Pre-orders in the UK open in December 2019, and first right-hand drive deliveries are due here in September 2020 – just in time for the new 70-plate registration.
The LC is one of our favourite Lexuses on sale today, with a great swagger, bellowing V8 and comfy interior. The quilting on the cabriolet’s seats looks winningly plump and the roof can be operated at speeds of up to 31mph.
The V8 is matched to the familiar 10-speed automatic transmission; no performance figures have been issued yet, but we expect the Convertible will be a tad slower than the lighter coupe.
Compare the production car above with the concept car from the 2019 Detroit motor show below; not much has changed, has it?
