Now, obviously, Lexus has made convertibles since its formation in 1989, though none have appealed to quite the same level of the new LC Convertible. And that's putting it very, very politely: the SC430 and IS250C are a long from being remembered as great Lexuses. The LC looks like being a very different proposition, however, with its stunning looks and 5.0-litre V8. Now its attractiveness is hopefully being upped, to a certain clientele at least, with a 10-car Regatta Edition designed to “evoke the ambience of a luxury marina”. No prizes for guessing what Lexus’s LC 500 target market is. Clue: linen trousers.
The Regatta Edition is finished in a blue and white theme, with a body-coloured fabric roof to retain a coupe-like silhouette when it’s up. The 478hp convertible is in Marine Blue (obvs), which goes rather nicely with the chrome of those 21-inch rims and white leather interior. The cabin gets blue details, too, like the seats that wear white perforated semi-aniline leather with blue highlights on the head rests and upper shoulder area. It’s all a bit lovely.
That being said, other than the theme and exclusivity, the Regatta Edition is no different to the series production LC 500 Convertible. Not that we’re complaining; the LC 500 drop-top remains as pretty as its coupe sibling, a model that’s never been perfect, but always wonderfully characterful. Now, with less headlining between its occupants and that brooding eight-pot motor up front, the enchantment might go up a notch or two – although it remains to be seen how lopping the lid off Lexus’s two-door will affect its on-road performance. That’s one for later.
Or October, more specifically, which is when a Lexus spokesperson told PH that cars will be arriving in the UK, at which time pricing is set to be confirmed. We’re expecting the regular version of the drop-top to start just shy of £80k (or at least that’s our best guess given the £75k coupe), with each of the 10 Regatta Editions building on that by a fair amount as per special edition tradition. Of the series run LC drop-tops, it'll be the Sport+ trim arriving first, meaning Lexus is officially returning to convertibles in the plushest way possible.
1 / 8