Before reaching the market, any new model undergoes rigorous durability tests in places with the most extreme conditions on the planet. But to demonstrate how the LC 500 Convertible behaves in extreme cold conditions, the lexus chose a slightly different approach.
To prove that its convertible can stand up to anything, Lexus froze an LC 500 Convertible for 12 hours and then took it out on the road. Yes, that's exactly what happened!
It all started with the car getting wet and entering a climate chamber — industrial size — at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, UK.
Always with the canvas hood up, this Japanese convertible was exposed to a temperature of -18º for 12 hours, an “exercise” that left it covered by a thin layer of ice.
The objective was to understand how the cold affected the HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), the heating of the seats and steering wheel and, of course, the V8 engine, which “woke up” on the first attempt.
With the help of pilot Paul Swift, this LC 500 Convertible was removed from the climate chamber, still frozen, and taken to the road to do what it does best: devour kilometers.
Paul Swift, pilot specializing in stunts and precision drivingI'm asked to do a lot of crazy things in my job and this was one of them. I wasn't nervous until I got here and saw the car inside the chamber. It felt really cold and I was like 'do I really have to sit on that?' Luckily it was fantastic, I was really impressed.
In addition to the 5.0 l atmospheric V8 engine (477 hp and 530 Nm) running without any problems, the HVAC system also did its job as if nothing had happened.
“I could feel the steering wheel and the seat in the back getting warm. And the air vents behind my neck too”, added Swift, who was given over to this experience: “It was quite pleasant, considering that the car was at -18º. I felt comfortable in the car from the start.”
Another person who felt very comfortable behind the wheel of this Japanese convertible with a V8 engine was Diogo Teixeira, who in September of last year embarked on an adventure of more than 2000 km — fortunately with a milder climate… — that took him to Seville and Marbella. Watch (or review) the video: