The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration is a special edition sports coupé that doesn’t give you much of a choice in terms of available colors. It’s only available in black, and it’s dripping in black from nose to tail. We didn’t know Lexus was capable of making the LC 500 look cooler than it already is, but here we are. The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration is the embodiment of stealthy aggression, and we’re all for it.

2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 471
  • Torque: 398
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

What's so cool about the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration?

From afar, the first thing you’ll notice about this stealthy sports coupé is its color. Hardly a surprise considering that it’s only available in one exterior color: Obsidian. This isn’t just about the body of the LC500, though. In keeping with the all-black theme, Lexus also equipped the LC 500 Inspiration with a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, a set of 21-inch black forged-alloy wheels, and a carbon fiber rear air wing spoiler that we’ll get back to in a minute.

Step inside this raunchy sports coupé and you’ll be treated to black Alcantara-trimmed sports seats. The steering wheel and the gear shift lever are also dressed in black Alcantara and over at the doors are carbon fiber scuff plate accents that look about as black as you’d imagine carbon fiber scuff plate accents to look. There is a break from the all-black look in the interior with the Saddle Tan accents and seat belts saving us from imagining this ride as a four-wheeled instrument of darkness. Lexus did add a serialized badge on the center console, identifying the production sequence of a specific 2021 LC 500 Inspiration relative to the 100 units that Lexus plans to produce of the special edition sports coupé.

What’s so interesting about the Lexus LC 500 Inspiration’s carbon fiber rear wing spoiler?

To the extent that carbon fiber rear wing spoilers are deemed “normal,” the one that Lexus used on the new LC 500 Inspiration is far from your typical carbon fiber rear wing spoiler.

More to that, the spoiler is the byproduct of Lexus’ collaboration with air race pilot and 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Champion Yoshihide Muroya.

Because of this partnership, Lexus managed to create a specialized rear wing spoiler after discovering that an upside-down airplane wing creates vortices that not only add efficiency at the wingtips but also improve the plane’s overall maneuverability.

Needless to say, Lexus tried to translate this discovery for the LC 500, and the result of that is this six-foot-wide CFRP rear spoiler with two downturned winglets on opposite ends. The winglets, in particular, are responsible for creating a vertical vortex that wipes out any turbulence generated from the airflow that travels along the coupe’s flanks.

Should we expect any performance improvements from the Lexus LC 500 Inspiration?

Yes, there are performance improvements, but not coming from the places you’d normally think of.

The engine is still paired with a quick-shifting but nonetheless smooth 10-automatic transmission.

2021 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration specifications

Engine

naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8

Horsepower

471 HP

Torque

398 LB-FT

Transmission

10-speed automatic

0 to 60 mph

4.4 seconds

Quarter mile

13 seconds

Top Speed

168 mph


Since all these figures and pieces come stock to the Lexus, you’re going to have to look elsewhere to see where the improvements are. Some pieces that are normally attributed as added options come standard on the LC 500 Inspiration. That includes a Torsen limited-slip differential, which helps distribute power to the rear axle in an efficient manner. That’s going to come in handy when you’re driving your special edition LC 500 in a variety of road conditions. The Yamaha-sourced rear performance rod, which comes with a damper, also comes standard on the LC 500 Inspiration. It’s not a glamorous addition to the sports coupé, but you’re going to thank your lucky stars that it’s equipped in this model since it provides extra rigidity to the LC 500’s overall suspension setup.

How much is the Lexus LC 500 Inspiration?

Lexus has not released pricing details for the special edition LC 500 Inspiration, in large part because there's no specific timetable for the SE's launch. According to Lexus, the LC 500 Inspiration will arrive later this winter. That could be next week or next month.

In any case, we do know that the "standard" LC 500 starts at around $92,000 so you can expect the LC 500 Inspiration to cost somewhere in the six digits. Lexus is only building 100 units, too, so if you are interested in this super black and super cool special edition LC 500, you need to be on your tippy-toes so you'll be first in line once Lexus starts taking orders for the SE LC 500 Inspiration.

Final Thoughts

We can talk about the Lexus LC 500 until the cows come home, but when it comes to the LC 500 Inspiration, you're not getting anything from me other than a declaration of love for this special edition sports coupe. I didn't realize an all-black Lexus LC 500 could look this good. But now that it's here -- or it's coming soon -- I'm more convinced than ever that the LC 500 wears the sinister shade of darkness really well.