An Amazing Automotive Accomplishment
Lexus gained a higher level of respect with executive class buyers when it introduced the elegant 1992 SC 400. The curvaceous two-door not only looked the part, but offered spirited performance along with an unprecedented level of refinement in the luxury coupe class, exotic brands aside.
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| The SC 430's improved performance, enhanced refinement and luxurious features make it stand out in the luxury coupe class. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
As good as it was all things must come to an end, and the SC 430 that followed has hardly been a letdown. Its improved performance, enhanced refinement and luxurious features put it in a class of few.
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| A specialized feature of the SC is it's ultra-slick power retractable hardtop, which only requires the push of a dash-mounted button to engage. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Of these specialized features the most intriguing is its ultra-slick power retractable hardtop. The redesigned 2001 SC was the first full-size luxury model in recent years to offer the convenience of a hardtop and wind-in-the-hair convertible combination. Since then, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 has improved on the concept and Cadillac followed suit contracting the same supplier to manufacture its retractable hardtop for the 2004 XLR.
The SC's top only requires the push of a dash-mounted button to engage, a process that opens the trunk in reverse and retracts the two-piece aluminum roof underneath before closing completely. It's pretty impressive overall, taking little time to execute and not requiring attachment of an awkward fabric tonneau cover. A press of the same button closes the top in exactly the same pattern, but in reverse, sealing the car entirely after automatically powering up the side windows.