Should you buy one?

Flagship cars tend to showcase the best attributes of their manufacturers – and by extension, their country of origin. In keeping with that, the Lexus LC is uniquely Japanese – and uniquely Lexus – with a way of doing things that the more staid German opposition can’t hope to compete with.

In terms of dynamics, a Porsche 911 Cabriolet is more polished, but the LC Convertible has a sense of occasion it can’t match. Those looks help, too – this is a real head-turner, and looks absolutely stunning in one of its brighter colour choices.

Of course, it’s not just looks and occasion where the Lexus excels. The engine is a gem, a welcome reminder of the days before everything was turbocharged. It’s powerful, sounds fantastic and responds in a way a turbo engine really struggles to.

It handles well, and is comfortable for long cruises – we can’t think of too many vehicles we’d rather undertake a grand tour of the continent in.

Naturally, there are niggles. The V8’s high running costs could have been tempered by a hybrid option, but it’s not available. Practicality is limited, with only a small boot and almost useless back seats.

Lexus’ infotainment, too, is far below the polish we’d like from a car that costs nearly £100,000. Though the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are welcome, it’s a shame that the underlying interface isn’t as polished as the one you’d find on a Porsche, Audi, or Mercedes.

Despite this, we can’t help falling in love with the LC Convertible. Sales will be limited, but we expect the owners will enjoy their new cars very much.

Further reading:

> Lexus LC Coupe review
> Porsche 911 Cabriolet review
> Best sports cars 2020