Watching the roof retract is graceful: the trunk-lid pops up on
 |
| Swiveling xenon headlamps are one of the new minor changes to the SC430. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
struts while the two-piece roof lifts up, crisply folds in two, then graceful sinks into the SC 430's elegant, boat-tail speedster-like rear flanks. All of this takes place in just twenty-five seconds, a time frame not significantly longer than that of traditional fabric roof convertibles.
For model year 2006, the SC 430 has been mildly updated, an act that should buy Lexus enough time to come up with a new range-topping sports car - our fingers are crossed for the supercar-like LF-A Concept that debuted last January in Detroit. The changes are mostly aesthetical, with a mild tweak around the front end, including a slightly larger grille with more pronounced chrome accents, adaptive xenon headlamps that have the ability to 'see' around corners, plus restyled LED tail lamps in the rear. Like the soon to be replaced LS, the SC's soft curves are a distinct contrast to the new square-jawed L-Finesse design language Lexus is purveying now.
 |
| At its tail, the SC gets new LED tail lamps. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
But even after five years, the SC is still an attention-grabbing package, garnering more glances on the highway than any other car I've had in recent times.
Out of all the tweaks and changes the new SC features, the biggest, and most noticeable are the new 18-inch wheels. These dark silver and gunmetal star-shaped rims look infinitely better than the Mechano-style ones that the car was originally launched on, and function to compliment the luxurious exterior as well as the rich interior colour and tones.
