As per the latest leaks and reports, the 2022 Lexus LC 500 convertible will be a carryover model hence the existing features are likely to be retained along with the introduction of some new features. The price of the upcoming model will also be more or less the same with a slight increase. The 2021 model has a starting price of $101,000 and gets a handsome list of standard features both in terms of interior and safety. Apart from the standard features, there are three optional packages to better equip the car. The packages are the Touring package which adds a heated steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery, and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The second one is the Sport package which adds carbon-fiber/glass roof panel, Torsen limited-slip differential, and sport seats with microsuede inserts. The last one is the Dynamic Handling package which includes all the features of the Sports package and further adds rear-axle steering with variable-ratio steering, speed-activated rear wing, and bigger 21-inch wheels.

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Since the car is available only in a single trim level we would suggest the Touring package for better comfort inside the cabin. You can also opt for the Dynamic Handling package for a sportier experience with the car.

Release Date

The 2022 Lexus LC 500 convertible is touted to release in October 2021.

The 2022 Lexus LC 500 convertible will retain the existing powertrain hence the performance and power levels will be similar as well. The current powertrain is a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V8 motor and is an enhanced version of the powerplants found in the older RC F and the GS F vehicles. The engine is one of the best sounding units from the brand after the legendary LFA’s V10 motor which apparently sounds better than a Formula 1 car.

The engine whips out a maximum of 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of maximum torque. The power delivery is instantaneous and the motor responds to the slightest of the throttle inputs but the 10-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission handles all the power brilliantly and the different drive modes also allow for sane driving within the city limits.

On an average day, the car can sprint from 0-60mph within 4.6 seconds and the quarter-mile time comes up at a rather impressive 14 seconds. The braking performance of the car is quite impressive too and posts a 60-0mph distance of 105 ft. 

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 cabriolet is another brilliant offering in the segment and a great competitor to the LC 500. The AMG E 53 comes with a unique powertrain comprising a naturally aspirated Inline-6 motor paired to an electric motor. When working in tandem, the hybrid powertrain dishes out a maximum of 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of maximum torque. The acceleration times are truly impressive with the 0-60mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 13.4 seconds. The braking performance of the AMG E 53 is impressive too but not as good as the LC 500 with a stopping distance of 115 ft. The Jaguar F-Type R Dynamic is a truly dynamic convertible in the segment with a brilliant package on offer. It gets a rather small 3.0-liter V6 fed with a supercharger. The result is a power rating of 380 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of maximum torque. Surely, the F-Type’s power and torque figures are not as punchy as the AMG E 53’s or the LC 500’s, but its lower curb weight results in agile handling and quite competent acceleration times. 

Previously, powerful sportscars with V8 or V6 powertrains under their hood were pure gas guzzlers to offer some hefty performance figures. Today, V8s capable of producing close to 500 horsepower possess the capability to return a 15-16 mpg of city mileage which is nothing short of impressive. The 2022 LC 500’s mileage ratings are expected to be similar to the outgoing model’s since the powertrain will be the same. The current car returns a city mileage of 16mpg and a highway mileage of 25mpg. The combined mileage is rated at 19mpg. The car gets a huge 21.7 gallons gas tank hence has some impressive driving range numbers as well.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53, with its hybrid powertrain, returns an overwhelming 21mpg of city mileage and 28mpg of highway mileage. The combined mileage of the car is rated at 23mpg. Despite all those commendable mileage numbers, the E 53 fails to deliver comparable driving range numbers to the LC 500 owing to its rather small 17.4 gallons. The Jaguar F-Type R Dynamic convertible takes good advantage of its small powertrain and returns better mpg ratings than the LC 500 with an 18mpg of city mileage and 26mpg of highway mileage. It gets a slightly bigger gas tank of 18.5 gallons but disappoints with its low driving mileage numbers when compared to the LC 500 and the AMG E 53.

The Lexus LC 500 interior is an excellent and comfortable place to be in. The overall visibility is superb considering the windswept design of the windscreen and a low seating position. The overall design of the cabin looks appealing with a driver-focused cockpit design. The steering wheel size is just about perfect for dynamic driving and the tilt-and-telescoping adjustable function makes it even more convenient to use. The doors are frameless and the opening lever looks premium with a matte finish silver color and a vintage-style design. The center stack is thick and acts as a handrest for the driver. It also houses the gear selector stick along with the buttons for opening and closing the roof nicely concealed tinder a flip cover that gets the same color treatment as the interior.

The convertible roof opens and closes rather quickly and offers superior sound insulation when it is covering the cabin. The controls are easily accessible from the driver’s seat but the infotainment display’s awkward placement makes it distracting and hard to use while driving.

The display gels in with the right side of the dashboard giving an invisible screen look and there’s a clock placed beside the screen giving a classy appeal. The front seats are well contoured and offer excellent support during all driving scenarios and deliver superb comfort levels as well. The rear seats are dramatically small and best suited to keep handbags or extra luggage items. The cargo capacity is relatively poor at a mere 5.4 cu-ft. 

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53’s cabin is one of the plushest and opulent ones in the segment and all for the right reasons too. With the brand’s latest design theme, the cabin gets similar styling to the top-end S Class sedan and the vintage yet elegant-looking steering wheel design is one of the attention-grabbers inside the cabin. The seats offer supreme comfort and everything inside the cabin feels premium and is made of top-notch materials. The headroom and legroom are adequate for the front passengers while the rear seats are mildly practical with a decent amount of headroom and legroom for kids and adults over a short distance. The cargo capacity is praiseworthy at 10 cu-ft. The Jaguar F-Type Convertible gets a minimalistic yet driver-focused cabin design like the LC 500 but lacks the plush and opulence you’d find on the latter and the AMG E 53. It comes in a 2 seater configuration hence there is no extra space for keeping that extra luggage. The trunk space is decent at the most with 7 cu-ft of space on offer.

Some interior features are:

• Power-adjustable and heated and ventilated front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Microsuede headliner(optional)
• port seats with microsuede inserts(optional)

The 2021 Lexus LC 500 is perhaps one of the best-looking convertibles in the segment with its bold and aggressive design. The 2022 LC 500 is expected to remain the same hence we will get to see more of this awesomeness once again. The hood is longer than usual and makes parking in tight city areas a bit tougher than usual. The front end gets the latest version of Lexus’ spindle grille design and the all-LED headlights that looks like a single-piece, integrated within the front bumper, makes the front end look even more unique.

The side profile is neat and there is an air-intake-like design at the bottom of the rear fenders for aerodynamic purposes. The rear end looks as appealing and unique as the front end with sharp styling cues and a special taillight design that completely gels in with the rear bumpers. The ground clearance on offer is decent at 5.2-inches but with the overall swooping design theme, the car looks more low-slung than it actually is.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 has an aggressive design too with the brand’s new design language and the front grille along with the wide air-dams make for a sporty appeal. The sharp styling cues are way lesser than the LC 500’s design and it doesn’t truly stand out in the crowd like the LC 500 either. The Jaguar F-Type’s design has evolved to a great extent and now looks more appealing and sporty than the previous model. The front end looks more like a supercar with a drooping nose and wide front grille accompanied by the sleek and stretched LED headlamp units. The side profile is neat while the rear end looks sportier than before with sleeker and more stretched taillights. Also, the hood of the F-Type opens in a reverse mechanism just like the one found in the famous Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Some exterior features are:

• Speed-activated rear wing
• Carbon-fiber/glass roof panel
• 20-inch wheels
• All-LED headlights
• Electrically adjustable ORVMs

The Lexus LC 500 boasts superior build quality and superb reliability, all thanks to Toyota. Owing to its exotic price tag and low sales volume the car never went through any crash tests but regardless of that, it offers a plethora of safety techs and a well laid-out design to keep the occupants safe from a majority of the hazards that might come the car’s way. The standard safety techs include Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring system, Forward collision mitigation system, and parking sensors. 

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Pre-Collision Safety System
• Engine Immobilizer
• Post-Collision Safety System

Lexus LC 500 Convertible Vs Jaguar F-Type Convertible

The Jaguar F-Type R Dynamic convertible is a sensible and cheaper alternative to the LC 500 when it comes to the price to performance ratio. The F-Type also takes advantage of its smaller powertrain and lighter curb weight to deliver excellent fuel economy numbers and performance stats regardless of its low on-paper power and torque figures. It falls short in front of the LC 500 when it comes to design and interior comfort. The LC 500 is way more feature-rich and has a luxurious cabin with an appealing design that makes the F-Type’s cabin look bland.

Lexus LC 500 Convertible Vs Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Convertible

The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 convertible is a truly unique performance machine in the segment owing to its hybrid powertrain despite being a performance-focused vehicle. The power and torque figures are superb and the performance it puts down on the tarmac is impressive. With such great capabilities, the car is surprisingly fuel-efficient too courtesy of the hybrid powertrain. The overall design is nowhere near as appealing or standout as the LC 500’s but from a practical standpoint, the AMG E 53 is a better choice.

Being a comparatively new player in the segment, the LC 500 has garnered a huge reputation and is loved by a majority of sports car lovers owing to its cutting-edge design, performance, and that melodious naturally aspirated V8 motor. On the inside, the car offers almost everything you’d expect in a car costing north of a hundred grand and its dashboard design attracts the most after stepping inside. On the outside, the car looks like nothing else in the market and looks fast even when it’s not moving. Overall, if you want a reliable, fast, and trustworthy performance machine which can also double-up as your daily driver, the 2022 Lexus LC 500 convertible is worth the wait.