The new Lexus SC and the Lexus UX Concept may be getting headlines in Detroit, but in the shadows of those two significant debuts is an equally important news about the impressive 2018 Lexus LC, specifically the cost of owning one. Yep, the 2018 LC 500 now has a price tag and it doesn’t come cheap, thanks in part to a starting price of $92,975 for the LC 500 V8 and $97,485 for the LC 500h V6 hybrid.

The good news is that both LC 500 variants didn’t break $100,000 in price after there were strong indications that they would. The bad news is that interested customers who are looking at the LC 500 as a possible purchase may have no choice but to go past that six-figure total if they avail of any extra options or packages.

As it stands now, Lexus is offering four unique packages for the LC 500: the Touring Package, Sport Package with Glass, Sport Package with Carbon, and Performance Package with Carbon. While there are some overlapping features in some of the packages, each one largely varies from the other. For instance, the Touring Package gets heated and ventilated front seats, a Mark Levinson audio system, a glass roof, and a new set of 20-inch forged wheels. Meanwhile, the Sport Package with Glass gets Alcantara sport seats, a Lexus Premium Audio system, and its own set of 20-inch forged wheels. Both packages are priced at $4,000 for the LC 500 and $2,790 for the LC 500h.

Then there’s the Sport Package with carbon, which adds a carbon fiber reinforced plastic composite roof and a new set of 21-inch forged wheels that replace the standard wheels of the Sport Package. The fourth, last, and the most expensive package is the Performance Package with Carbon. It doesn’t come with any wheel upgrades, but it does include a few aerodynamic bits in the form of an Active rear spoiler, Alcantara headliner, and carbon fiber scuff plates. Tech and safety features are also included in this particular program, which like explains why it’s the most expensive package among the four that Toyota’s premium brand is offering. The cost for this particular kit can go up to $10,000 for the LC 500 and $8,790 for the LC 500h V-6 hybrid.

Obviously, LC 500 owners aren’t obligated to get any of the packages in the event they don’t want them. But if some are prepared to pay more than $100,000 for the LC 500, then these packages are certainly worth a good look.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Go all-in on the Lexus LC 500

The new packages for the LC 500 by themselves don’t move the needle, but if they can in any way contribute into making the LC 500 look and perform better, then I would say they’re worth looking into. The Performance Package, for instance, is the most appealing package to get, not because it’s the most expensive of the four, but because it’s the only that actually offers aerodynamic upgrades for the LC 500. Considering the sports car already features a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that produces 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque, the extra benefit of having an active rear spoiler and a variable steering ratio system could help improve the car’s performance times.

That is, after all, one of the biggest reasons in buying an LC 500, right? Owners may be attracted to its looks, but at the end of the day, it’s how the car performs that’s really going to determine whether the car can live up to its hype.

At the end of the day, it’s also important to remember that while the for the car is steep, it’s actually cheaper than a lot of its competitors. Take the Porsche 911, for instance. The variant that comes closest to the LC 500’s performance capabilities is the 911 Carrera S, and it’s actually more expensive (starting price at $103,400) while also producing less power (420 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque) than the LC 500. There’s also the newly updated 911 GTS, which is closer in power to the LC 500 (450 ponies and 406 pound-feet of torque) but is also going to be a lot more expensive than the Lexus. Porsche hasn’t released a price on the GTS yet, but past GTS models typically starts at $120,000.

By that comparison, the Lexus LC 500 counts as a “bargain,” and when you have a bargain on your hands, dressing it up further is actually a good way to get more bang for your buck.

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