Late last summer, I tested out the 2022 Lexus LC500 Convertible which compared to the 2023 Lexus LC500h had one big difference, it had a 5.0 liter V8 engine under the hood. There is also the coupe versus convertible going on, but for the most part, much of what I said about the LC500 last year works for the LC500h this year, so I am going to focus on if I would opt for the hybrid option.
No V8
Full disclosure, I have owned two cars in my life. A V8-powered Gen 5 Chevrolet Camaro SS and my current daily driver weekend car – an S65 V8-powered BMW E92 M3. I just wanted you to know upfront that you probably aren’t going to get a V8 guy to tell you to go switch to a Hybrid V6 when the V8 is still an option, but I will go into detail on why.
So should you opt for a V8-powered LC500 it will come with a 5.0-liter powerplant that will kick out 471 horsepower and 398 lb-feet of torque. The LC500h as the title of this article will allude to ditches that V8 for a hybrid V6 powerplant. It gives you a lower 354 horsepower and the torque is not officially measured by Lexus, but it is there trust me.
Performance Differences
On the performance front, you lose some time with the LC500h. Both the coupe and convertible V8 versions are capable of achieving 168 miles per hour, while the LC500h maxes out at 155 mph. Fastest to 60 are the V8s, with the V8 coupe getting there in 4.4 seconds, the V8 convertible in 4.6 seconds, and the LC500h at 4.7 seconds.
The V8 LC500s get a 10-speed electronically controlled Direct-Shift transmission with some fancy magnesium paddle shifters should you wish to shift your own gears. The LC500h has a likely over-engineered electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) combined with a four-speed automatic transmission and the same fancy magnesium paddle shifters. You heard that right, basically two transmissions in one car to simply go to the rear wheels.
Coupe Gets Active Aero
Previously I tested that convertible, so it has a lot going on in the rear already. Space is a luxury, with no extra space for say a rear wing to go up and down and you get that with the coupe versions, both the V8 and the hybrid coupes feature a speed-activated rear wing (or if you just want to press the button). The wing extends at speeds above 50 mph and retracts at 25 mph.
Final Thoughts
The V8 LC500 gets this, the Hybrid V6 LC500 gets that, but really it comes down to which one I would buy. The V8 one as I said, but I promised I would tell you why.
If you tallied everything above in some sort of car enthusiast math equation, it will tell you the V8 is the one to get as well. For what I think, the V8 LC500 is an experience and that experience is so much stronger due to that V8. The V8 barks out the back, you are as close to a Lexus LF-A you can get in 2023, it is all just a great experience…that I want a V8 under the hood for.
For more of his automotive exploits, you can follow Danny on Instagram @DKorecki and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
