Shortly after the Lexus LS 400 was introduced, it was generally acknowledged as a terrific piece of work and a scary indication of how far the Japanese have come so quickly.
Now the curtain on "Lexus, Act II" has gone up and the question is whether Toyota's upscale division will succeed with its encore: its SC 400 sports coupe.The base price is $37,500, and not surprisingly, that kind of money means a beautifully equipped automobile.
But Lexus got carried away. Options on the test car included $1,900 (yes, nineteen hundred dollars) for the top-of-the-line Nakamichi sound system, $900 for a sun roof and $300 for a rear spoiler.
The SC 400 has rear-wheel drive and an overall length of 191 inches, comparable in length to a Chevrolet Camaro.
But the SC 400's shape will not be mistaken for anything else on the road. Its American designers go on extensively about how they played lights across plaster-filled balloons as they sought the inspiration that eventually became the SC 400's shape. Balloons. Budweiser. Whatever. In any case, they came up with a no-middle-ground shape that provoked either drooling infatuation or hate mail left under the windshield wipers.
Getting in has been made a bit easier because the doors have special hinges so they swing out and then a bit forward. Inside, the front seats are comfortable, and two adults, surprisingly, can fit in the back seat.
The handsomely carpeted trunk has 9.3 cubic feet - just enough for the luggage of two people on a short trip. The instrumentation is "electroluminiscent" with a pleasant, startlingly bright appearance.
The temperature and radio controls use large, rotary dials that are easy to find and use. Like all the other SC 400 controls, they have a smooth, quality feel.
The air conditioning was perhaps the only real glitch on the test vehicle. It had a problem coping with 85-degree days.
On the other hand, the optional Nakamichi sound system offers 280 watts, seven speakers, a 10-inch subwoofer and a sound so good it can turn traffic jams into pleasant affairs.
While the SC 400's looks are debatable, its performance is not. Without question it is relentlessly refined, from the slick feel of such basic controls as heating and ventilation to the engine and transmission.
As with the LS 400, Lexus has done a wonderful job controlling noise, vibration and harshness, and the SC 400 is so quiet that tire noise is the most intrusive sound.
The 4.0-liter V-8 engine is basically the same as in the LS 400. It is rated at 250 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 260 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm. Combined with the four-speed automatic transmission (no manual gearbox is available), it is a stunningly smooth powertrain.
The SC 400 also gets slightly different gearing than LS 400 to give it better acceleration. The response is immediate and vigorous, almost regardless of the engine speed.
The computer controlled upshifts make acceleration one pleasant blur. Toyota engineers claim the SC 400 will cover 0-to-60 mph in an impressive 6.9 seconds.
Stopping is just as simple, due to four-wheel, ventilated disc brakes and an anti-lock braking system.
The all-independent suspension (using double wishbones) is considerably firmer than the LS 400's, and there is little of the body lean found in the sedan. But the ride remains comfortable. The variable-power assist steering (designed to be quicker than the LS 400) is nicely calibrated.
The SC 400, however, often feels nose-heavy, grudgingly changing direction. Once it turns it does a great job, but the initial reluctance makes it seem more at home as an ultra-stable, luxurious high-speed cruiser than a country road playmate.
In the end, the SC 400 comes across not so much as a vehicle that is exciting to drive as a gracious package that generates a deep appreciation and a little wonder for its refined nature and general excellence. There's nothing wrong with that.