I picked up the keys to the 2026 Lexus LC500 Titanium Final Edition on a Wednesday in Dubai, which, if you know Dubai traffic, means I spent a fair bit of time sitting at lights on Sheikh Zayed Road rather than actually driving it. Not ideal for a 471HP grand tourer. But even in stop-start city driving, this car made an impression almost immediately.
The first thing you notice when you get in is how settled everything feels. The semi-aniline leather seats, the Mark Levinson speakers, the magnesium paddle shifters, none of it feels like it was added to tick a box. It’s just a very well-thought-out cabin. Even the details you interact with constantly, like the steering wheel and controls, feel solid and tactile in a way a lot of modern luxury cars don’t.
The 12.3-inch infotainment display supports wireless CarPlay, which, at this price point, I’d hope for, and the Head-Up Display means you’re not constantly glancing down to check your speed.
But obviously, the real story here is the engine. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 is what gives the LC500 its personality and is is really the heart of the whole experience. It’s a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 producing 471 HP at 7,100 rpm, and Lexus paired it with a 10-speed Sport Direct Shift transmission. In traffic, it’s docile enough, but when the road opened up, even briefly, it reminded you very quickly what it’s capable of. The Adaptive Variable Suspension means the ride stays smooth regardless. I kept waiting for it to feel stiff or unsettled and it never did, even on some of the rougher patches around the city.
Visually, the Titanium Final Edition comes with 21-inch forged alloys with a 3D-machined finish, and flush door handles.
Here’s the honest part, though. AED 462,000 is a serious amount of money but what you’re really paying for here is the entire experience of the car. The naturally aspirated V8, the comfort on longer drives, the craftsmanship inside the cabin, and the fact that, after this, it’s done, Lexus is discontinuing it. The Titanium Final Edition is the last one. Whether that makes it more or less appealing depends on who you are, but it’s hard to ignore.
If you’ve had your eye on one, now would be the time.
