► New 2021 Lexus LC coupe
► Mild mid-life facelift
► Fresh tech, suspension tweaks
The stylish Lexus LC range-topper has come in for a round of tweaks and modest improvements by way of a mid-life pep-up. The big coupe sells in modest numbers and is still a pretty stunning design, so Lexus hasn’t messed with the wardrobe too much.
Instead, the 2021 model year LC range benefits from a round of detailed technical upgrades to keep it fresh in the face of renewed competition from top-end Mercedes-Benzes, Porsches and Aston Martins.
See the latest Lexus LC Convertible
So what’s new on the 2021 Lexus LC?
It’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stuff. They’ve fettled the damper settings and made the rear anti-roll bar stiffer to help provide a ‘smoother, softer performance.’ That’s good news: we like it when Lexus concentrates on comfort and lounging, and the LC remains a grand tourer, not a sports car.
They’ve saved 10 kilogrammes from the unsprung weight by using aluminium lower arms, hollow anti-roll bars and lighter 21-inch alloy wheels, which should also improve ride and handling. The addition of Active Cornering Assist to the car’s stability control means it can now brake both inside wheels in a sharp bend to tug the car into the corner.
The 10-speed automatic transmission on the LC 500 V8 has remapped software to help slur those gearchanges while buyers plumping for the LC 500h’s Multi Stage Hybrid System will benefit from revised shift timing, encouraging a lower gear when pulling out of low-speed junctions and corners.
The 5.0-litre V8 is unchanged; with 464bhp, it can scuttle to 62mph from rest in ‘less than 4.7 seconds,’ according to Lexus.
Anything new in the buttonfest cabin?
Only minor changes inside the new 2021 Lexus LC: there are some fresh interior (and one exterior: Blazing Carnelian) colours available and the multimedia system – often the Achilles’ heel in modern Lexus models – should be improved by the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are now both standard-fit.
Lexus will start selling the upgraded LC in July 2020, coronavirus lockdown notwithstanding. UK prices will be confirmed in early May.
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