Lexus SC: 2nd Generation (2002-Present)

To promote the launch of their Crystallized collection in Taiwan, Swarovski partnered up with Lexus and designer Zheng Zhiren to create this one-of-a-kind crystal SC430:

All told, there’s over 300,000 Swarovski crystals covering the SC, pushing its total value up to NT 10,000,000 ($306,045USD). Now that’s a lot of bedazzle!

[Source: YAM | Via: Born Rich]

The 2009 versions of the Lexus SC 430, GX 470 and LX 570 will remain unchanged save for some minor changes (all prices USD):

The 2009 model year SC 430 luxury hardtop convertible receives new side mirrors with incorporated turn signals and will have a base MSRP $66,805, an increase of 0.7 percent or $450.

The 2009 LX 570 will be available in an all-new Costa Azul Mica exterior color and will feature an available Luxury Package that includes semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats, Bubinga wood-trim, cool box, smart card key and 20-inch alloy wheels with a unique finish. The LX 570 base MSRP will be $75,705, an increase of 1.3 percent or $1,005.

The GX 470 carries over unchanged for the 2009 model year and will have a base MSRP of $47,615, an increase of 0.6 percent or $300.

This would seem to contradict the Edmunds report that the SC would be cancelled, though sales are bound to be even less than this year. Too bad about the GX, though, I was hoping for an update of some sort.

(Also announced was a $500 price increase to the 2008 RX 400h, bringing the FWD/AWD totals to $42,080 and $43,480 respectively.)

[Source: Lexus]

Toyota has responded to an Edmunds article that suggested the Lexus SC will be discontinued:

Mike Michels, the corporate manager of External Communications for Toyota Motor Sales USA, has told AutomotiveWorld.com that reports by a US-based automotive website which claim the Lexus SC and Toyota Avalon will not be replaced due to slow sales are “unfounded speculation”.

“We [TMS] do not comment on future product plans or timetables, for obvious competitive reasons,” Michels states, stating that Inside Line did not contact the OEM’s US division’s media department before publishing its story.

Not really a denial, not really a confirmation, which makes me feel the news may be true. If that’s the case, I doubt the company is very happy to have someone leaking out business details.

[Source: Automotive World]

According to Edmund’s Inside Line, the next generation Lexus SC has been cancelled:

Toyota had been developing a successor to the SC, based on the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the LF-A. Originally slated for production in early 2009, the next-generation SC was pushed back to mid-2011 and now has been canceled, according to Toyota insiders.

Of course, this is speculative and unconfirmed. Even should the rumor turn out correct, it can only be one half of the story, because there’s no way Lexus pulls out of the coupe/convertible market entirely. More likely, this is a temporary hiatus, which also happened in 2001 between the phasing out of the first-gen SC and the SC 430.

My current theory is this: The SC will be be shelved during the 2009 model year, which will be offset by the introduction of the IS coupe/convertible. Then, when 2010 hits, the LF-A will be released as the SC, and will be offered in a sub-$100,000 variation. This seems to be hinted at by Edmunds, and looks to me to be the most likely scenario.

More than anything, I can’t picture Lexus letting the SC name die.

It’s with much amusement that I bring this video of a Lexus SC 430 fleet performing a synchronized convertible roof switch:

Judging from the characters above the cars, I’d say this is from Japan, and it looks to be close to 20 SCs in the formation.

Just remember, fanaticism has many faces.

Update: Found another video:

William Stern, the in-house photographer for Sevas, has posted up some shots of a custom Lexus SC 430 on Flickr:

The custom work, including some subtle fender vents and not-so-subtle LED side-step lighting, was done by Cartel Customs in Miami. There’s quite a collection of photos in William’s Flickr stream, be sure to check them out for more detail.

Update: Here’s the very same car in a video, posted to Youtube: