Lexus SC430
Tough soft top; The new luxury convertible from Lexus will help them ditch their ‘boring’ tag.
Luxury car maker Lexus is hoping finally to crack the UK market with its magnificent Sports Coupe.
Toyota’s upmarket offshoot has previously shied away from the fickle UK car market, only giving us a glimpse of the full range of its talents.
British drivers have missed out on a variety of models which are widely available in Japan and the US purely because the Lexus badge is better established there.
Lexus are praying that the Sports Coupe will form the common link between all these models and open the floodgates of the discerning British market.
Since its first appearance as a concept car at last year’s Tokyo Motorshow, the sports coupe has been given the slightly less endearing serial number Lexus SC430.
Apart from the name, everything about the Japanese firm’s first venture into the convertible market exudes elegance.
The Lexus SC430 takes Lexus into new territory. The avant-garde styling is along way from their safe, predictable ‘Japanese Volvo’ image. And its retractable hardtop can be transformed from a coupe into a convertible at the push of a button.
The production model will be powered by a new 4.3-litre engine that made its debut at the Paris Motor Show a fortnight ago in the new LS430 and GS430 saloons.
The sports coupe was designed after some intensive field research on its target market.
Chief exterior designer, Sotoris Kovos spent several weeks on the French Riviera researching the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
He said: “I noticed many aspects of the lifestyle I encountered – the products and services used – were marked by a high degree of simplicity and sophistication.
“Quality combined with purity are what this car is all about, and these have been incorporated into the styling.”
The coupe certainly has an opulent feel. From the Rolls-Royce-inspired hindquarters to the single, curved line that runs the entire length of the body, it oozes class.
The exceptional symmetry, the bulging lip on the boot lid, and the flowing lines of the car have been designed to mimic those of a luxury yacht, according to Lexus.
The big bumpers and in-your-face headlamps give the front a chunky, larger than life outlook. Distinctive, 18-inch alloy wheels and pronounced wheel arches convey a powerful sense of forward propulsion.
For the stylish interior, the design team decided to stick with the natural qualities of wood and leather over complex plastic mouldings – even visiting the Yamaha music factory to learn about wood-moulding techniques.
It offers a multitude of convenience features, including easy-to-read analogue gauges, an upgraded navigation system, a premium audio system, advanced climate control and sporty, power-adjustable leather seats with memory functions for driver and passenger.
Lexus have teamed up with prestige audio manufacturers, Mark Levinson to produce a phenomenal 440-watt sound system featuring nine custom-designed speakers linked to a radio, cassette and CD player.
The Lexus SC430 also has one of the world’s most advanced climate control systems that allows more top-down driving time. The system adjusts airflow and temperature automatically, differentiating between the needs of top-up and top-down driving.
On hot days, it takes into account the exterior temperature to ensure occupants stay cool at slower speeds, without overriding the cooling effect of the wind during top-down cruising.
In cooler weather with the top down, the system targets the foot and lap areas, to form pockets of heat to warm the body and legs.
Jos De Boes, General Manager of vehicle engineering, said: “European driving involves higher sustained speeds, harder acceleration and later braking than driving in Japan or the USA, so we aimed to develop the Lexus SC430 to respond better in those conditions.
“We have combined world leading levels of structural integrity and refinement with genuinely rewarding driving responses.”
