Texas Winter Fun with Lexus LC 500 Convertible

Every Christmas season for the past eight years, we will get a convertible or two from the local media press fleet and either drive around the North Texas neighborhoods looking at all the twinkling lights or head to the country for some of the top drive-through Christmas light presentations. I had someone once tell me that owning a convertible in Texas is like having a retractable roof on your stadium. It's a waste of money because you only use it 2-3 times a year. I say Humbug, Mr. Scrooge!

For the week of Christmas, we were able to secure the Lexus LC 500 convertible soft-top with the touring package. The LC is a head-turner for sure with its slick lines and athletic stance; and at night, it really pops with its aggressive LED headlamp configuration. For the past few years, we have driven the convertible LC in Santa-themed red; but this year, the convertible came in a beautiful dark blue—officially Nightfall Mica for you keeping score at home. It really made the 21-inch, 10-spoke, polished cast alloy wheels pop.

Over the years, we have learned that you need to be strategic about your days and time for your light tours, so that you don't get caught in huge traffic backups that zap the Christmas cheer right out of the night. So we scheduled the LC for drives in Highland Park in Dallas and Interlochen in Arlington. Interlochen has been such a big deal for decades; so in order to control traffic, the city maintains an official start date and finish date to their light viewing season. Their tight window for seeing lights at is not normally an issue; but on the night we scheduled Interlochen this year, the temperature in Dallas was a balmy 14 degrees that officially felt like 6. As someone who went to high school in the upper Midwest and spent many 30-degree or below weekend nights driving around the town square with my windows down, I feel I know a thing or two about a thing or two when it comes to a successful evening of Christmas light gazing while driving a convertible in similar temperatures.

The LC convertible comes with the Lexus Climate Concierge system with Upper Body Heating that automatically manages the HVAC system, seat heaters, neck heaters and steering-wheel heater to ensure the cabin is comfortable, so we were as warm as a bug in a 'heated' rug. We also ordered large cups of hot chocolate instead of medium. Now because it's Texas, and the weather can be 'interesting' this time of year, we were able to get one more ride in the LC with the top down. The final day we had it, the temperature was 77 degrees with a perfectly beautiful bluebird sky. We jumped in the LC, dropped the top, and headed out on an adventure and get some much-needed sun and wind therapy which included a stop at Lake Texhoma. It was a perfect way to end our time with the convertible. >And the final thing you need for night time fun is a convertible top that goes up or down quick and easy in the dark or while you are waiting at a stop light, which from personal experience the LC can absolutely do. Below is information on how the engineers developed the elegant and seamless motion of opening or closing the LC convertible top. It will take you longer to read about it than to actually put it up or down. Enjoy!

The LC features an innovative folding mechanism that includes a tonneau cover for when it is stored. The movement of the folding mechanism is inspired by the three-step movement of Japanese calligraphy: ink brush to paper, movement to the right, the stopping of the ink brush. A hydraulic system is responsible for opening and closing the convertible's roof in an elegant, seamless motion. The system features an electromagnetic valve to control the hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic pump to extend or contract cylinders for the tension bow, main roof and the tonneau cover. Three times the number of typical durability tests were conducted to ensure reliability and quietness of operation. Premium magnesium and aluminum components are adopted for the roof links and support structure to provide both a reduction in weight and a design with a low center of gravity. The roof material itself was carefully selected and manufactured to help ensure optimal tension, to minimize wrinkling and improve sound insulation. The four-layer soft top, which includes three layers of fabric and one layer of sound-absorbing material, is designed to retain the flowing roofline of the coupe without the supporting frame visible through the fabric. An animated display on the multi-information display shows the top's progress and provides warning messages to confirm the status of the soft top roof. One of the most impressive aspects is the time it takes to open or close: approximately 15 seconds to open and approximately 16 seconds to close, depending upon environmental factors. The power window controls have been linked to the movement of the roof as well, allowing the ability to switch to open air freedom with the single push of a button.

Specifications

Engine: 471 horsepower 5.0L V-8
Transmission: 10-Speed Direct Shift Automatic
Sound: Mark Levinson 13-Speaker Surround Sound Audio System
Color: Nightfall Mica
Fuel: 15/25/18 (mpg city/highway/combined)
(I actually saw highway mileage at 28 mpg)
MSRP (shown): $$112,075

Features:
Active Sport Exhaust
Head Up Display
Lexus Navigation w/10.3” Display

For more information, visit:
Lexus | LC 500 | Convertible

About Lexus

Lexus launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world's first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 1.5 million hybrid vehicles. A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries worldwide. Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.