Connected Car
Tech and safety upgrade for 2023 Lexus LC 500 But the extra gear brings higher prices for the flagship luxury coupe, and they now all start north of $200KThe Lexus LC 500 has been given yet another model year update, this time including the full Lexus Connected Services suite, a new 12.3-inch infotainment system and an upgraded safety arsenal for the Japanese luxury brand’s flagship grand touring coupe. Owners of the latest Lexus LC 500, which is available to order as of this month, will be able to monitor and interact with their vehicles via the Lexus Connected smartphone app, but the extra connectivity and tech upgrade has also pushed the starting price beyond the $200,000 barrier for the first time. Once the mid-range variant of the three-pronged coupe line-up, the V8-powered LC 500 Coupe now starts from $204,635 plus on-road costs (+$4704), while the V6 hybrid LC 500h Coupe – once the entry point to the range – has had almost $20,000 slapped onto its asking price and now starts at $212,727 plus ORCs. Meantime, the flagship LC 500 Convertible starts at $218,242 plus ORCs – up the same $4704 as the coupe version. It’s a puzzling move given the LC 500 V8 drastically outstrips the now-pricier LC 500h V6 hybrid for both power (351kW versus 264kW) and performance, but it does align with Lexus’ and Toyota’s trend of championing hybrid technology.