2026 Lexus LC

One of the few constants in life is, ironically, the fact that nothing remains constant. That applies to the automotive world as much as anything else. Even so, we’re glad to see the Lexus LC luxury coupe and convertible cars remain in production for another year.

Based on the same platform as the LS large luxury sedan, the LC embodies refinement and exquisite taste. It’s not the ultimate driver’s car, but that’s hardly the LC’s mission. Instead, it excels as a glorious way of driving to wonderful locations. Or maybe just the mall. It also has those typical Lexus attributes that somehow seem to be other constants in this uncertain world — like reliability, build quality, and a more-than-bearable dealer experience.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury coupes and convertibles, including the Lexus LC.

Lexus has a limited run of Inspiration Series LC 500 cars for North America, with 200 coupes and 350 convertibles. The coupe comes in Smoke Matte Gray, while the soft-top has a light gray Wind finish. Both hues are new to the LC lineup. The hybrid version of the coupe (the LC 500h) has been discontinued, and we aren’t expecting the LC in general to last much longer.

A couple of alternatives are the Mercedes-AMG SL, starting higher than the priciest LC. Or the BMW 8 Series, which comes in below the LC — although with less power. Of course, the opportunity is there to spend much more on these German rivals to acquire higher levels of equipment and muscle.

Before buying a new LC luxury coupe or convertible, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values may not be a major consideration at this level, but the LC performs respectably here. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The LC 500 is energized by a 471-horsepower V8. Sprinting from standstill to 60 mph happens in an impressive 4.4 seconds, and the engine sounds glorious in the process — yet never obnoxious. To compare, the BMW 840i Coupe with a 335-hp 6-cylinder engine is 0.3 of a second slower.

As a grand tourer rather than a true driver’s machine (like a Porsche 911), we’ve found that the LC definitely has its own fine qualities. It’s based on the same platform as the LS flagship luxury sedan, after all. The LC is reassuringly stable at high speeds. And the standard brake-based torque vectoring, where the inside rear wheel goes around a corner slower than its outside counterpart, helps the car stay tidy in the curves.

We think the car’s heft (both variants weigh over 4,000 pounds) tends to discourage more aggressive driving. For journeys through scenic areas, however, the LC can be a perfect companion. The comprehensive array of standard safety features, meanwhile, is both confidence-inspiring and helpful on freeways and in cities alike.

Fuel Economy

Regardless of body style, the LC 500 achieves 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving. There isn’t a direct BMW 8 Series rival to compare. For example, the 840i is rated at 24 mpg combined, but is less powerful than the LC 500. The BMW M850i xDrive gets 19 mpg combined, yet has 523 horses and all-wheel drive as standard.

It’s a Lexus, so the 2026 LC is predictably brimful of quality materials put together with wonderful attention to detail and a high degree of craftsmanship. The dashboard houses an analog clock, the driver’s footwell has aluminum pedals, and the passenger side of the center console morphs into a grab handle.

Space is plentiful up front, although the two rear seats are better for weekend bags than they are for humans, especially since the trunk’s volume is only 5.4 cubic feet at best. The LC 500 convertible has only 3.4 cubic feet — barely enough for one set of golf clubs.

A Bespoke Build program applies to both coupe and convertible models, with a blue/white color scheme exclusive to the convertible. This year’s Inspiration Series brings center console badges, plus white/black decor for the coupe’s cabin, or Saddle Tan/White semi-aniline leather in the convertible.

It might just be that 2-door cars invariably look a bit special. Or perhaps the Lexus design philosophy has found its perfect vehicle of expression in the 2026 LC. It’s available as a coupe with a fixed metal roof or a convertible with a power-operated soft top (which takes only about 15 seconds to open or close, and can do so at speeds of up to 31 mph). The coupe’s roof doesn’t have to be all metal. The alternatives are glass or carbon fiber.

The Inspiration Series introduces Smoke Gray Matte for the coupe and the light gray Wind finish for the convertible. There’s also some blacked-out exterior accents.

Panoramic View Monitor

One of many standard features, this provides a bird’s-eye view of the LC and its surroundings — invaluable when maneuvering.

Intuitive Park Assist

Another standard feature, this rather flashy term means parking sensors at both ends.

Connected Services

The 2026 LC offers several remote functions, such as locking/unlocking, starting, stolen vehicle location, fuel tank levels, and guest driver alerts.

Mark Levinson audio

One of a few options, but worth having, in our opinion. This 13-speaker, 915-watt surround-sound system was developed especially for the LC. It even knows when the convertible’s roof is down and recalibrates its settings accordingly.

Dynamic Handling package

Even though the LC is not a precision sports machine like some Porsches, we would still say this options bundle is worth considering. As well as a limited-slip differential and a sportier rear suspension, it also includes rear-wheel steering and variable-ratio steering — both of which enhance the driving experience at high speed and maneuverability at low speed.

Head-up display

Projecting information onto the windshield means the driver’s eyes don’t have to stray from the road ahead to pick up crucial information. We also think this optional feature seems fighter-pilot cool.

The LC 500 coupe and convertible employ a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 developing 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. This goes solely to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Lexus new-vehicle warranty of four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first, is usual for the luxury sector. The 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty is a little better than most. The first two scheduled services (six months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles) are also free.

Safety

The LC hasn’t been crash-tested by any independent agencies in the United States, but in light of the usual Lexus build quality and safety features, we don’t think this should deter any potential buyers. Standard equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, intersection assistance, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.