The same level of composure is present under hard braking, partly due to a small dose of understeer dialed into the front suspension, much appreciated when hitting the pedal hard in the midst of a corner, but mostly confidence is raised due to the brakes themselves. Without fuss the SC just goes about its business, all four dual piston calipers clamping down on its 4-channel ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and BA (Brake Assist) equipped ventilated front and solid rear discs, slowing from highway speeds to standstill with rapid deceleration, all the while boasting a nonchalant attitude not dissimilar of Travis Best going in for a layup. But that's what Lexus is all about, complete composure, and once again, refinement.
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| The word gorgeous doesn't do the SC 430's interior justice, with its beautifully finished wood veneers, enchanting metal brightwork and the highest quality plastics available. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
And that characteristic carries through to the car's stunning interior. The word gorgeous doesn't do it justice, with beautifully finished wood veneers, enchanting metal brightwork and the highest quality plastics available. I almost never comment on cupholders, but the SC's deserve special attention. Nestled in the center console just ahead of the armrest, a twin set is hidden under a high-gloss wood finished soft-touch lid. A simple press on top starts the process, opening the cover and flipping out the cupholders in an intricate two-stage process. It's an automotive fouetté, the mechanical equivalent of Asafiev's Fontain of Bakhchisaray danced by the Russian Ballet. Obviously I don't get out enough.
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| The optional navigational system boasts a touch-sensitive screen and can display points of interest and the location of refueling stations - most handy when traveling. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
The automatic climate control is easy to operate, and also ingenious in design. Not only does it provide separate temperature control for driver and front passenger when the hardtop is in place, but the clever use of dual stream ventilation allows the interior to remain warm despite exterior temperatures when the top is down. While the idea of cranking on the heat to warm up a roadster's foot wells is nothing new, the way the Lexus goes about doing it, keeping even face and shoulders warm, is something entirely different. In a slightly less efficient but still appreciated manner, air conditioning can reverse the process during hotter weather.
The SC 430's electroluminescent gauges also deserve mention, lighting up in a soft multi-colored spectacle at night or becoming brighter in the day when gauges can be harder to read. The steering wheel that frames them is an example of ergonomic perfection, complete with buttons for audio and cruise, while secondary controls are an easy reach away on the central stack.