The Lexus LC500 was supposed to be the pinnacle of performance for Lexus when it first made its debut several years ago. The elegant two-door combined gorgeous show car styling with raw performance and uplevel luxury. While the slow-selling hybrid version was swiftly axed, Lexus confirmed that 2025 will be the end of the road for the original V8 version.

With the LC making room for a new Toyota badged V8 supercar, what can the LC contribute to this new model and what will customers be losing when the LC leaves.

Aging canvas is still drop dead gorgeous

The exterior styling of the LC has not changed too much since it made its debut and while this has caused it to age somewhat over the years, it’s still a very stylish canvas to look at. The front end gets a large chrome spindle grille with the sleek headlights flowing into the front fenders. The classic Grand Touring proportions are also present and accounted for with the long flowing front end being balanced by a stubby rear end.

Our particular tester was the latest in Lexus’s long-lineup of Bespoke Edition builds and while it did not have as much visual pop as others we have seen or experienced, Lexus says the Bespoke Series mission is to give customers something unique and we’re confident that even the more mundane themed of these builds will find a buyer. The exterior styling of our roadster also makes folks pay a price in terms of practicality with the folding top eating a large slice of trunk room to fully accommodate it though the coupe is not that much better in that regard either so it’s a figurative wash in that department.

LC500 interior still delivers the core experience

Slip inside the LC500’s interior and you’ll find that the cabin still delivers a world class GT experience. The backseats are still just as cramped as we remembered but the front seats continue to provide high levels of comfort and serenity. A big change is Lexus’s woefully inadequate trackpad setup has been axed and the LC finally gets a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the faster software now featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability as well as Amazon Alexa services.

Our tester arrived just as fall was rapidly transitioning to winter cold and while this reduced the amount of time we had to experience it with the top down, the few precious moments we did fold its lid revealed a convertible that’s still one of the most underrated in its segment with minimal wind noise and buffeting entering the cabin with the roof down. Build quality was top notch as always and the control layout (with the exception of a few oddly placed buttons) was ergonomically sound.

LC V8 will leave foundation for upcoming supercar

While there are aspects of the LC500 that we won;t miss, the one thing that we will miss about it is the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. This V8 is the sole engine in the LC500 now but it still makes 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic continues to be the lone transmission available but while the gearbox still has occasions where it stumbles through abrupt gear changes, the transmission and the engine produce symphonic harmony when they ae on the same page with our tester being a blast to drive long straights and winding roads.

In addition to being a potent powerplant the 5.0-liter is also serving as a stepping stone for Toyota’s newest V8 powered supercar. Dubbed the GR GT, this particular model is based on 2022’s GR GT3 concept and will arrive with a twin-turbocharged V8. While the GR is certainly much more feral than the outgoing LC, look for the company to use real world data from the 5.0-liter to help develop the new model since it wants to use some of the lessons learned from this V8 to help mold and shape the new eight-cylinder into perfection.

How much?

With the hybrid engine gone, the pricing ladder for the LC is simpler with a base convertible starting at $109,200. The Inspiration is the flagship with these models starting at $120,150 but customers are limited to only one color option (Wind.)

Buyers that go for a Bespoke Edition like our example will be greeted with a slightly lower base sum of $114,700. They get more color choices though and this version of the LC is the one to go for if you’re looking for maximum configurability. Look for the GR GT to embrace a similar level of personalization as it attempts to maximize its curb appeal with wealthy customers.

Toyota recently teased the GR GT and is poised to unveil it on December 5th. We look forward to perhaps getting our chance to spend time with it in the future to see if it can pick up where models like the Lexus LFA and the LC left off.