shafee

auto spies is reporting that Lexus is working on a proper coupe, the SC500, in the tradition of the much beloved SC400. The new 5li engine will find duty in the LS500 first and then appear shortly thereafter in the SC500 in 2005. It is do to battle with the upcoming BMW 6 coupe.

tfischer

I have never considered the SC430 a "replacement" for the SC400 (which I sold to my brother). If I wanted a swell coupe, I would have just kept the 400, which is still a beautiful car.

Having, therefore, both a real coupe (designed from the ground up as such, like the 400) and a convertible in the line-up sounds like a good deal to me, as I think the target audience for these cars is different.

We can buy one of each.

1NICESC430

fischer ...

I agree that the 400 is a beautiful car - whenever I see one, it captures my total attention. Some say that it's an old-fashioned design. What a myopic outlook! Beautiful designs are timeless.

Import_Boy

Does this mean the prices of the older sc's will drop? If so, good thing for me Bad thing for you owners. Sorry

shafee

The SC430 and the SC400 are totally different cars. I was surpriesed that Lexus would discontinue the proper coupe which was widely looked up to. Lexus has realized, hopefully, that no matter how fine a car the convertible is, that it has not received the same accolades nor enjoyed the same sales as the coupe.
Furthermore, as great a car as the SC coupe is, it unfortunately draws inevitable comparisons with one of the finest and greatest cars of all time, the Mercedes SL.

The SC coupe will be compared to the BMW 6 coupe, no easy comparison either, yet it will be on familiar grounds (after all the SC coupe had almost a decade of success).

The 5li Lexus should easily produce 350 hp. If the car is as balanced as the SC400 was, it should be a very fine GT indeed.

shafee

DO NOT DOUBLE POST

SC_Speed

Ill believe it when I see it...

Phoenix88

I agree, I will believe it when I see it, anyways, most likely the SC330 will be a non convertable... and maybe the new SC500 will be in both forms, but I don't think this quote 'Lexus has learned that it was a mistake to have replaced the coupe with the convertible.' is entirely, true, I think the convertable was a good step for the company. I know a lot of people don't like it, but dam I certainly love it, and even more after driving around in one all night long, rolling car. Def. makes our car outdated in comparison. What would be an idea is dropping a V8 5L when they come out... numbers should be guessing 340 hp 360 ft lbs. Not something I would do, but... a good oportunity for a die hard SC400 fan to get some power.

APLUS

Actually I believe the "SC500" thats under development is probaly acuarate and should be made. It probaly will have SC430 styling but would be bigger and competition for the CL500 which has no real competition. I believe the SC500 isn't suppossed to be an hard top SC430 or a coupe made because of the success of the SC400. I believe it would be a whole new car that is much needed. A true GT that can be bought for $80,000-$95,000.00 and carry Lexus even further up the success ladder.
Just think CLK and CL. The CL isn't a hardtop CLK nor is it really a two door S. The SC500 (lets hope there will be one) will carry SC430 lines but have LS430 genetics,

pbm317

I personally don't find Auto Spies to be an accurate source of information. They might have some nice pics every so often, but it's usually from other websites.

young

never again will i buy another mercedes... (well, the sl55 amg - that i'd get). have you seen the current issue of consumer reports? almost every model of mb now gets a black dot or 1/2 black dot. compare that w/ the lexus models.

LexFather

Well, Lexus wanted BADLY to make a convertible version of the SC 400/300. Prototypes and everything. But they could not get rid of the bad cowl shake and they felt it was not up to Lexus standards. But they WANTED a SC 300/400 convertible. That is why the SC 430 was built as a hardtop convertible from the ground up.

Toyota engines will increase in displacement, as well as the 4.7 liter in the GX/LX/Tundra. That will grow to 5+ liters or may be the same engine.

The Supra may use this same engine as well.

vraa

iTrader: (2)

SC500, I sure hope this is the real deal, i know for sure that we'd get one to sit next to the SL. I hope its not as puny as the SL either. Gotta wait for the V12 to come out

LS500, will that have the same specs as the SC500 or will it be tuned differently because the audience mind set isn't the same?

Faraaz23

Speaking of, does anyone have any info on the next Supra and Toyota's new supercar or when they'll be comin out??????

vraa

iTrader: (2)

I hope they take their time on it because following up to a car like the Supra's gonna be a tough act.