Lexus LC 2024MY Lands in Europe with Minor Updates & Special ‘Ultimate Edition’

The Lexus LC is one of the few dying breeds of luxury sports car that has somehow stood both the test of time and impending electromobility movement. Now entering the 2024 model year (2024MY) in Europe, this latest edition of the LC is primed with minor updates, with a special ‘Ultimate Edition’ to sweeten the pot.

Though nothing much has changed for the standard 2024MY LC, the special LC Ultimate Edition boasts some minor changes for its exterior. For instance, its front bumper now comes with special racing canards that are “incrementally formed” instead of being attached directly to the bumper. These additional aero bits provide the LC with better airflow by reducing lift at the front part of the car, resulting in better handling and stability.

Available in both Convertible and Coupe versions, the LC Ultimate Edition comes standard with a matte Hakugin White exterior hue that takes its nomenclature after a fine Japanese porcelain. This exclusive paintjob is said to be inspired by the marque’s legendary sportscar, the LFA, featuring a satin lacquer topcoat that blends well with the car’s black accents.

Additionally, all 2024MY LC models including the Ultimate Edition now come with three forged wheel designs to choose from, all in 20- and 21-inch sizes.

On board, the 2024MY LC features a slew of updates, with the biggest one being the exclusion of Lexus’s finicky central touchpad control. The infotainment display has been updated to a 12.3-inch one with voice recognition, mobile connectivity (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), as well as a cloud-based sat-nav system built-in.

Elsewhere, the LC is primed with safety features like the updated Lexus Safety System Plus, as well as new panoramic view monitor camera.

For the Ultimate Edition model, its cabin is finished in a special Kachi-Blue colourway derived from the threads used for samurai armour. On top of that, Lexus has also embossed the car’s serial number on an aluminium plate that sits above the gear, while the scuff plates are decorated with “Limited Edition” lettering embossment.

For the pure ICE variants, both the LC 500 Coupe and Convertible still employ the same 5.0-litre nat-asp V8 mill that delivers 470 HP and 540 NM to boot. Meanwhile its hybridised twins – the LC 500h Coupe and Convertible – are powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 mill as before, which works in-tandem with the dual-motor hybrid system to deliver a total system output of 354 HP and 500 NM.

On the other hand, the LC Ultimate Edition harnesses the same V8 mill as the LC 500 model, with an improved engine response and smoothness, as well as a better sound. Notably, the Ultimate Edition model also gets a rear differential recalibration for more agile handling performance.

Other mechanical upgrades include the return of the brake-by-wire system, the tweaked 10-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 models will get an extra Expert model that deactivates the traction control for better tail-wagging and hooning experience.

The 2024MY Lexus LC will commence its production in Europe in May this year, while the Ultimate Edition is poised to hit the assembly line much later this year. For the rest of the world, including the Asian markets, Lexus has yet to announce the plan to update the LC for 2024MY, but we’d expect the changes to be pretty much the same, should it ever take place.