Lexus SC
Encyclopedia
The Lexus SC is a personal luxury
coupé that was retailed by Lexus
, and built from 1991 through 2010. It features a front engine, rear-wheel drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6
-powered SC 300 was added in 1992. Both first generation models were produced until 2000. The second generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001. The SC 430 features a hardtop convertible design and a V8 engine. The first generation SC was largely styled in California
, and the second generation SC was mainly conceived at design studios in Europe.
In Japan, the related third-generation Toyota Soarer
, with which the first generation SC originally shared body design and multiple components, featured a separate line-up of vehicle configurations and different powertrains. The fourth generation Soarer sport coupe
, largely identical to the SC 430, was superseded by its Lexus counterpart in Japan when the Lexus marque débuted there in 2005. The SC was the sole coupé in the Lexus lineup until the arrival of the IS C. According to Lexus, the SC designation stands for Sport Coupe.
, automotive press reports indicated a forthcoming mid-size Lexus coupé
to compete with the luxury coupés of other marques like Mercedes-Benz SL, Acura Legend coupe and Infiniti M30 coupe. At that point, Toyota had no genuine luxury coupés in its model range. A coupe would complement the successful Lexus flagship model, the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive LS 400 sedan. The coupé was going to be targeted towards the American market, and the development effort for its exterior design was handed over to the Calty Design Research
center in California
.
The American Calty design team took a different approach to designing the car, using plaster molding shapes to design the body, and working three-dimensionally instead of the traditional 2-D sketch approach. As described by design chiefs Denis Campbell and Erwin Lui, the result was a car that was based on "emotion and feeling" rather than linear aesthetics. The resulting design possessed almost no straight edges, and produced a drag coefficient of Cd 0.31. According to automotive journalist Bill Russ, the SC design was considered influential among automotive designs of the time.
The SC 400 débuted on June 1, 1991 in the United States as a 1992 model. The SC 400's 4.0 L V8 1UZ-FE, the same engine as used in the LS 400, was reported to have cost over in research and development. The SC 400 was honored as the Motor Trend
Import Car of the Year
for 1992. It also made Car and Driver
magazine's Ten Best list
for 1992 through 1998.
In July 1992, the SC 300, a smaller engined version of the SC 400, premiered in the United States. The SC 300 was equipped with a 3.0 L inline 6 2JZ-GE. Lexus' traction control system
, TRAC, was offered as an option.
The first generation SC lasted in production until July 7, 2000, over nine years, quite long compared to the other cars of the 1990s. Even with the SC's long production cycle, only minor exterior changes were made. New tail lighting and a modified spoiler
design was part of the mid-cycle vehicle refresh. A front grille
was added in 1997, along with a redesigned front bumper, side skirts and rocker panels. The SC 400 produced 250 hp/260 lbft from 1992–1995. The original 1991–1997 engines for the 2JZ-GE-powered SC 300 were rated at 225 hp/210 lbft. The output of the SC 300 was five horsepower more than the equivalent engine used in the Toyota Supra.
In 1996, the SC 400's 1UZ-FE engine design was upgraded to 260 hp from 250 hp. These engines were coupled with a 4-speed automatic transmission on both the SC 300 and SC 400 models. A 5-speed manual transmission
was only offered on the SC 300 from its debut until 1997. In 1997 (1998 model year), both the SC 300 and 400 were upgraded with VVT-i and thus the ratings were raised to 290 hp/300 lbft of torque for the SC 400 and 225 hp/220 lbft of torque for the SC 300. Tests conducted on the new engines showed an acceleration for the SC 400 for years 1992–1995 of 0–60 mph in 6.9 seconds, years 1996–1997 in 6.7 seconds, and years 1998-2000 in 6.3 seconds. For the SC 300 an acceleration 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds with the 5 speed manual and 7.2 seconds with the 4 speed automatic for all years. This 1997 upgrade included the replacement of the four-speed automatic on the SC 400 to a five-speed unit. Sales of the automatic transmission SC 300 and SC 400 models formed the majority of models purchased. The Lexus SC 400 was never officially sold in the British Isles
, but many examples found their way across the Atlantic as personal imports. The first generation SC coupes were assembled at Toyota's Higashifuji Technical Center in Motomatchi, Japan.
, Lexus displayed its Sport Coupe concept, a V8-powered convertible, signifying its plans for a replacement for the first generation SC 300/400. The production version of its new sports coupe-convertible, the SC 430, debuted at the Paris Motor Show
in 2000. The car was scheduled to go on sale in the second quarter of the following year. Power was provided by a 4.3 L 3UZ-FE V8 engine with variable valve timing
(VVT-i
) mated to a five-speed automatic transmission
. This engine was the same model as that found in the UCF30 Lexus LS
. The SC 430's V8 could produce 288 hp (214.76 kW) and 430 newton metre of torque, allowing the coupe to go from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.
In contrast with the previous generation model, the redesigned Lexus SC was intended as a convertible from its inception. The development team was led by chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa. Lexus designers from Europe and Japan worked together to create a streamlined design. Led by chief designer Sotiris Kovo, designers traveled to the Côte d'Azur to develop the vehicle's exterior shape, and studied the region's architecture, lifestyle, and harbors. The resulting convertible received character lines similar to the region's yachts, in contrast with traditional waveform lines. The vehicle's side profile, the product of extensive wind tunnel testing, was intended to channel air around the passenger compartment at high speed during top-down driving.
The SC 430 chassis featured a double-wishbone setup for both the front and rear wheels. The vehicle platform shared elements with the GS 430
sport sedan, including variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering. Safety systems ranged from traction control to vehicle stability control. The convertible received a ULEV emissions certification rating.
The SC 430 featured a retractable aluminium hardtop, all-leather interior with brushed-aluminum accents, navigation screen with folding wood panel, and 18 inch aluminium wheels. Chrome Lexus emblems were mounted on the back of the front seat headrests. The coupe has four seat belts and could technically seat four, but rear seat space is limited. The hardtop fully retracts in 25 seconds. Standard luxury features include Burl Walnut or Bird's Eye Maple wood trim, a Mark Levinson
premium sound system, DVD-based navigation system, and headlamp washers. For additional trunk space, as an option the SC 430 could be equipped with run-flat tires.
At its launch, the SC 430 was marketed as the "jewel of Lexus", and as the marque's first convertible, was intended as a more ostentatious addition to the Lexus lineup. Reviewers from Car and Driver magazine praised the SC 430 for 2002 as "an unqualified success", calling it "comfortable, fast, smooth, and quiet" with "all of the virtues expected in a patrician roadster."
In 2004, Lexus unveiled the Lexus SC "Pebble Beach Edition", a limited-production model of the SC. The special edition SC was produced in partnership with the Pebble Beach Company, and featured a unique exterior and interior color combination which changed with each model year. For model years 2004, 2005, and 2006, production of the Pebble Beach edition was limited to 400 units. Each Lexus SC Pebble Beach edition coupe exhibited special badging (featuring the "Lone Cypress" logo) on the front fenders, center console, and floor mats. For the 2006 model, a rear spoiler and spider alloy wheels was also included.
In 2004 and 2005, J.D. Power and Associates
' Initial Quality Survey awarded the SC 430 as the highest ranked premium luxury vehicle. Kelley Blue Book
gave the SC 430 its Best to Hold Value Award in 2002. In June 2004, a custom-designed Carolina Herrera
SC 430 was shown at the Madrid Motor Show
. The special edition SC 430 CH used a 'Testa di Moro' body color, with matching interior leather and carpeting, along with designer logos on the wheels and door sills. A line of accessories was also developed for the vehicle.
In 2010, a final special edition model for Japan, the SC 430 Eternal Jewel edition, was produced, limited to 200 units. The 2010 model was the last automobile from any major manufacturer in the United States to ship with a cassette tape deck
.
Production of the second generation SC ended in July 2010 after nine years of production, but Lexus is still using them in the Super GT
until the 2011 season
ends.
, Lexus is working on a "clean sheet" replacement for the SC and the convertible theme will be retained, with a soft top instead of the hard top setup currently being used.
In July 2008, Edmunds InsideLine had reported that Lexus had cancelled the next generation SC due to slowing sales. A company spokesman did not confirm or deny the rumors, but called the report in the possible replacement with the introduction of the Lexus LFA
as "unfounded speculation." Lexus subsequently announced the production of the SC 430 model for 2009, and in 2010.
) race series in the GT500 class (cars with approximately 500 horsepower
). Extensively modified from the factory car, the engine used is a modified version of the SC 430's 3UZ-FE V8 that was also used in the Toyota Supra
race car from previous years.
The new SC 430 based race cars were immediately competitive with former GT500 champion Juichi Wakisaka
and no. 2 driver Andre Lotterer
driving the Open Interface TOM's SC to victory at the opening round at Suzuka
giving the SC 430 its first victory on its debut race. Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer also won the GT500 class championship during the same year. In 2007, Lexus SC fully replaces Supras in the Toyota side, a Zent Cerumo SC 430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa was victorious in the GT500 opening round race.
In 2008, a Zent Cerumo SC 430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa
and Richard Lyons
won the Fuji 500 race, round 3 of the Autobacs Super GT at Fuji Speedway
. In 2009, five SC 430s were entered in Super GT racing in the GT500 class, including the Petronas TOM's SC 430 driven by Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer, along with the Eneos SC 430, Kraft SC 430, Dunlop Sard SC 430, and Zent Cerumo SC 430.
In 2009, the Lexus Team Petronas TOM's SC 430 driven by Andre Lotterer and Juichi Wakisaka was the championship winner in the GT500 series, also the SC 430 was victorious in early rounds at the Suzuka Circuit. In 2010, the SC 430 continued in Super GT competition, where the MJ Kraft SC 430 and other Lexus Team Kraft SC 430s won victories at the 2010 Autobacs Super GT at Fuji Speedway.
Personal luxury car
A personal luxury car is a highly styled, luxury vehicle with an emphasis on image over practicality. Accenting the comfort and satisfaction of its owner and driver above all else, the personal luxury car sometimes sacrifices passenger capacity, cargo room, and fuel economy in favor of style and...
coupé that was retailed by Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
, and built from 1991 through 2010. It features a front engine, rear-wheel drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
-powered SC 300 was added in 1992. Both first generation models were produced until 2000. The second generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001. The SC 430 features a hardtop convertible design and a V8 engine. The first generation SC was largely styled in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and the second generation SC was mainly conceived at design studios in Europe.
In Japan, the related third-generation Toyota Soarer
Toyota Soarer
The Soarer made its first appearance at the 1980 Osaka International Motor Show with the name "EX-8", and the Z10 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985, with 2.0L, 2.8L or 3.0L DOHC I-6 variants. The first generation Soarer debuted with a rear-wheel drive...
, with which the first generation SC originally shared body design and multiple components, featured a separate line-up of vehicle configurations and different powertrains. The fourth generation Soarer sport coupe
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
, largely identical to the SC 430, was superseded by its Lexus counterpart in Japan when the Lexus marque débuted there in 2005. The SC was the sole coupé in the Lexus lineup until the arrival of the IS C. According to Lexus, the SC designation stands for Sport Coupe.
1991–2000
In the early 1990s, following the début of LexusLexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
, automotive press reports indicated a forthcoming mid-size Lexus coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
to compete with the luxury coupés of other marques like Mercedes-Benz SL, Acura Legend coupe and Infiniti M30 coupe. At that point, Toyota had no genuine luxury coupés in its model range. A coupe would complement the successful Lexus flagship model, the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive LS 400 sedan. The coupé was going to be targeted towards the American market, and the development effort for its exterior design was handed over to the Calty Design Research
Calty Design Research
Calty Design Research Incorporated is a Toyota design studio established in 1973. They have two facilities: one in Newport Beach, California and another in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Calty's primary focus is exterior styling...
center in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The American Calty design team took a different approach to designing the car, using plaster molding shapes to design the body, and working three-dimensionally instead of the traditional 2-D sketch approach. As described by design chiefs Denis Campbell and Erwin Lui, the result was a car that was based on "emotion and feeling" rather than linear aesthetics. The resulting design possessed almost no straight edges, and produced a drag coefficient of Cd 0.31. According to automotive journalist Bill Russ, the SC design was considered influential among automotive designs of the time.
The SC 400 débuted on June 1, 1991 in the United States as a 1992 model. The SC 400's 4.0 L V8 1UZ-FE, the same engine as used in the LS 400, was reported to have cost over in research and development. The SC 400 was honored as the Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
Import Car of the Year
Car of the Year
Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best American automobile...
for 1992. It also made Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1992 through 1998.
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
, TRAC, was offered as an option.
The first generation SC lasted in production until July 7, 2000, over nine years, quite long compared to the other cars of the 1990s. Even with the SC's long production cycle, only minor exterior changes were made. New tail lighting and a modified spoiler
Spoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
design was part of the mid-cycle vehicle refresh. A front grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
was added in 1997, along with a redesigned front bumper, side skirts and rocker panels. The SC 400 produced 250 hp/260 lbft from 1992–1995. The original 1991–1997 engines for the 2JZ-GE-powered SC 300 were rated at 225 hp/210 lbft. The output of the SC 300 was five horsepower more than the equivalent engine used in the Toyota Supra.
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was only offered on the SC 300 from its debut until 1997. In 1997 (1998 model year), both the SC 300 and 400 were upgraded with VVT-i and thus the ratings were raised to 290 hp/300 lbft of torque for the SC 400 and 225 hp/220 lbft of torque for the SC 300. Tests conducted on the new engines showed an acceleration for the SC 400 for years 1992–1995 of 0–60 mph in 6.9 seconds, years 1996–1997 in 6.7 seconds, and years 1998-2000 in 6.3 seconds. For the SC 300 an acceleration 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds with the 5 speed manual and 7.2 seconds with the 4 speed automatic for all years. This 1997 upgrade included the replacement of the four-speed automatic on the SC 400 to a five-speed unit. Sales of the automatic transmission SC 300 and SC 400 models formed the majority of models purchased. The Lexus SC 400 was never officially sold in the British Isles
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but many examples found their way across the Atlantic as personal imports. The first generation SC coupes were assembled at Toyota's Higashifuji Technical Center in Motomatchi, Japan.
2001–2005
At the 1999 Tokyo Motor ShowTokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
, Lexus displayed its Sport Coupe concept, a V8-powered convertible, signifying its plans for a replacement for the first generation SC 300/400. The production version of its new sports coupe-convertible, the SC 430, debuted at the Paris Motor Show
Mondial de l'Automobile
The Paris Motor Show is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held around October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show was the first motor show in the world, started in 1898 by industry pioneer, Albert de Dion. The show...
in 2000. The car was scheduled to go on sale in the second quarter of the following year. Power was provided by a 4.3 L 3UZ-FE V8 engine with variable valve timing
Variable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
(VVT-i
VVT-i
VVT-i, or Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Toyota, similar in performance to the BMW's VANOS. The Toyota VVT-i system replaces the Toyota VVT offered starting in 24 December 1991 on the 5-valve per cylinder 4A-GE engine. The...
) mated to a five-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. This engine was the same model as that found in the UCF30 Lexus LS
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
. The SC 430's V8 could produce 288 hp (214.76 kW) and 430 newton metre of torque, allowing the coupe to go from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.
In contrast with the previous generation model, the redesigned Lexus SC was intended as a convertible from its inception. The development team was led by chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa. Lexus designers from Europe and Japan worked together to create a streamlined design. Led by chief designer Sotiris Kovo, designers traveled to the Côte d'Azur to develop the vehicle's exterior shape, and studied the region's architecture, lifestyle, and harbors. The resulting convertible received character lines similar to the region's yachts, in contrast with traditional waveform lines. The vehicle's side profile, the product of extensive wind tunnel testing, was intended to channel air around the passenger compartment at high speed during top-down driving.
The SC 430 chassis featured a double-wishbone setup for both the front and rear wheels. The vehicle platform shared elements with the GS 430
Lexus GS
The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
sport sedan, including variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering. Safety systems ranged from traction control to vehicle stability control. The convertible received a ULEV emissions certification rating.
The SC 430 featured a retractable aluminium hardtop, all-leather interior with brushed-aluminum accents, navigation screen with folding wood panel, and 18 inch aluminium wheels. Chrome Lexus emblems were mounted on the back of the front seat headrests. The coupe has four seat belts and could technically seat four, but rear seat space is limited. The hardtop fully retracts in 25 seconds. Standard luxury features include Burl Walnut or Bird's Eye Maple wood trim, a Mark Levinson
Mark Levinson
The company Mark Levinson, now owned by Madrigal Audio Laboratories specializes in high-end digital audio processors, integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, pre amplifiers, and CD players...
premium sound system, DVD-based navigation system, and headlamp washers. For additional trunk space, as an option the SC 430 could be equipped with run-flat tires.
At its launch, the SC 430 was marketed as the "jewel of Lexus", and as the marque's first convertible, was intended as a more ostentatious addition to the Lexus lineup. Reviewers from Car and Driver magazine praised the SC 430 for 2002 as "an unqualified success", calling it "comfortable, fast, smooth, and quiet" with "all of the virtues expected in a patrician roadster."
In 2004, Lexus unveiled the Lexus SC "Pebble Beach Edition", a limited-production model of the SC. The special edition SC was produced in partnership with the Pebble Beach Company, and featured a unique exterior and interior color combination which changed with each model year. For model years 2004, 2005, and 2006, production of the Pebble Beach edition was limited to 400 units. Each Lexus SC Pebble Beach edition coupe exhibited special badging (featuring the "Lone Cypress" logo) on the front fenders, center console, and floor mats. For the 2006 model, a rear spoiler and spider alloy wheels was also included.
In 2004 and 2005, J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 by James David Power III. The firm conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for industries ranging from cars to marketing and advertising firms. The firm is best known for...
' Initial Quality Survey awarded the SC 430 as the highest ranked premium luxury vehicle. Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the United States' largest automotive vehicle valuation company. The company's website is a source for new and used vehicle pricing and information...
gave the SC 430 its Best to Hold Value Award in 2002. In June 2004, a custom-designed Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera (fashion designer)
Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño (born January 8, 1939) is a Venezuelan and naturalized American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her eponymous company in 1980.-Early life:...
SC 430 was shown at the Madrid Motor Show
Madrid Motor Show
The Madrid International Auto Show is a motor show held biennially in May in Madrid, Spain, which alternates with the Barcelona Motor Show...
. The special edition SC 430 CH used a 'Testa di Moro' body color, with matching interior leather and carpeting, along with designer logos on the wheels and door sills. A line of accessories was also developed for the vehicle.
2005–2010
In 2005 for the 2006 model year, the SC 430 was updated, with changes that included redesigned alloy wheels. In late 2005, the SC 430 premiered along with the Lexus marque in Japan; it was manufactured at the Kanji (Kanto Jidosha) assembly site in Japan. The SC 430 was sold in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia; unlike its predecessor, the SC 430 was officially imported to the British Isles; the old SC 400 had been a popular personal grey import.In 2010, a final special edition model for Japan, the SC 430 Eternal Jewel edition, was produced, limited to 200 units. The 2010 model was the last automobile from any major manufacturer in the United States to ship with a cassette tape deck
Cassette deck
A cassette deck is a type of tape recorder for playing or recording audio compact cassettes. A deck was formerly distinguished from a recorder as being part of a stereo component system, while a recorder had a self-contained power amplifier...
.
Production of the second generation SC ended in July 2010 after nine years of production, but Lexus is still using them in the Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
until the 2011 season
2011 Super GT season
The 2011 Autobacs Super GT Series is the 18th season of the Japan Automobile Federation Super GT Championship.-Schedule:The provisional calendar was released on 8th, August, 2010. The Autopolis round which was absent last season was added to the calender while the Suzuka race was reduced to a...
ends.
Third generation
According to Car and DriverCar and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
, Lexus is working on a "clean sheet" replacement for the SC and the convertible theme will be retained, with a soft top instead of the hard top setup currently being used.
In July 2008, Edmunds InsideLine had reported that Lexus had cancelled the next generation SC due to slowing sales. A company spokesman did not confirm or deny the rumors, but called the report in the possible replacement with the introduction of the Lexus LFA
Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is a 2-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F...
as "unfounded speculation." Lexus subsequently announced the production of the SC 430 model for 2009, and in 2010.
Motorsport
In 2006 the SC 430 was entered in the (Super GTSuper GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
) race series in the GT500 class (cars with approximately 500 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
). Extensively modified from the factory car, the engine used is a modified version of the SC 430's 3UZ-FE V8 that was also used in the Toyota Supra
Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is a sports car/grand tourer that was produced by Toyota Motor Company from 1979 to 2002. The styling of the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. Starting in mid-1986, the Supra became its own model and was no longer based on the Celica...
race car from previous years.
The new SC 430 based race cars were immediately competitive with former GT500 champion Juichi Wakisaka
Juichi Wakisaka
is a Japanese racing driver who was a 2002, 2006 and 2009 champion in Japan's Super GT series in the GT500 category. In 2002, Wakisaka raced the Toyota Supra GT with Akira Iida, in 2006 and 2009 Wakisaka raced the Lexus SC 430 with Andre Lotterer....
and no. 2 driver Andre Lotterer
André Lotterer
André Lotterer is a German auto racing driver.- Racing career :Lotterer succeeded in both German and British Formula 3 championships en route to being named Jaguar Racing's Formula One test driver in 2002...
driving the Open Interface TOM's SC to victory at the opening round at Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
giving the SC 430 its first victory on its debut race. Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer also won the GT500 class championship during the same year. In 2007, Lexus SC fully replaces Supras in the Toyota side, a Zent Cerumo SC 430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa was victorious in the GT500 opening round race.
In 2008, a Zent Cerumo SC 430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa
Yuji Tachikawa
Yuji Tachikawa , is a Japanese racing driver. He was SuperGT series champion in 2001 and 2005.-24 Hours of Le Mans results:-External links:*...
and Richard Lyons
Richard Lyons (auto racer)
Richard Lyons is a Northern Irish motor racing driver.-Junior Formula:He started in Formula Ford in Britain winning the Winter Series in 1996, before moving to Formula Vauxhall Junior finishing the championship sixth in 1997 and second in 1998. he then moved to Formula Palmer Audi, finishing...
won the Fuji 500 race, round 3 of the Autobacs Super GT at Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
. In 2009, five SC 430s were entered in Super GT racing in the GT500 class, including the Petronas TOM's SC 430 driven by Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer, along with the Eneos SC 430, Kraft SC 430, Dunlop Sard SC 430, and Zent Cerumo SC 430.
In 2009, the Lexus Team Petronas TOM's SC 430 driven by Andre Lotterer and Juichi Wakisaka was the championship winner in the GT500 series, also the SC 430 was victorious in early rounds at the Suzuka Circuit. In 2010, the SC 430 continued in Super GT competition, where the MJ Kraft SC 430 and other Lexus Team Kraft SC 430s won victories at the 2010 Autobacs Super GT at Fuji Speedway.
Sales and production
Sales and production data for the first and second generations, based on manufacturer's data:| Chassis code | Model no(s). | Calendar year | Total sales, U.S. | Production figures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC 400 AT | SC 300 AT (MT) | Total | ||||
| UZZ30/JZZ31 | SC 400/300 | 1992 | 20,677 | 19,212 | 7,074 (1,601) | 27,887 |
| 1993 | 16,075 | 9,809 | 6,036 (910) | 16,755 | ||
| 1994 | 11,929 | 3,675 | 1,978 (227) | 5,880 | ||
| 1995 | 7,906 | 9,750 | 5,329 (793) | 15,872 | ||
| 1996 | 5,047 | 2,413 | 2,118 (232) | 4,763 | ||
| 1997 | 5,041 | 2,261 | 2,509 (120) | 4,890 | ||
| 1998 | 3,009 | 1,189 | 1,582 | 2,771 | ||
| 1999 | 2,557 | 905 | 1,910 | 2,815 | ||
| 2000 | 631 | 324 | 581 | 905 | ||
| Chassis code | Model no(s). | Calendar year | Total sales, U.S. | Total sales, Japan | Production figures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC 430 AT | |||||||
| UZZ40 | |||||||
| SC 430 | 2001 | 14,333 | not sold | n/a | |||
| 2002 | 14,462 | not sold | 25,427 | ||||
| 2003 | 10,298 | not sold | 10,755 | ||||
| 2004 | 9,708 | not sold | 9,848 | ||||
| 2005 | 8,360 | 539 | 8,941 | ||||
| 2006 | 5,847 | 1,532 | 8,051 | ||||
| 2007 | 3,927 | 872 | 5,673 | ||||
| 2008 | 1,986 | 621 | 2,756 | ||||
| 2009 | 720 | 256 | 333 | ||||
Technical specifications
| Drivetrain specifications by generation | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model year(s) | Model no. | Chassis code(s) | Engine type | Engine code | Transmission(s) | Power | Torque | |
| 1991–1995 | SC 400 | UZZ31 | 4.0 L V8 | 1UZ-FE | 4-speed AT | 250 hp | 260 ft·lbf (352.5 N·m) @4400 rpm | |
| 1996–1997 | SC 400 | UZZ31 | 4.0 L V8 | 1UZ-FE | 4-speed AT | 260 hp | 270 ft·lbf (366.1 N·m) @4800 rpm | |
| 1998–2001 | SC 400 | UZZ31 | 4.0 L V8 | 1UZ-FE | 5-speed AT | 290 hp | 300 ft·lbf (406.7 N·m) @4000 rpm | |
| 1992–1997 | SC 300 | JZZ31 | 3.0 L I6 | 2JZ-GE | 4-AT/5-MT | 225 hp | 210 ft·lbf (284.7 N·m) @4800 rpm | |
| 1998–2001 | SC 300 | JZZ31 | 3.0 L I6 | 2JZ-GE | 4-speed AT | 225 hp | 220 ft·lbf (298.3 N·m) @4000 rpm | |
| 2002–2005 | SC 430 | UZZ40 | 4.3 L V8 | 1UZ-FE | 5-speed AT | 300 hp | 325 ft·lbf (440.6 N·m) @3400 rpm | |
| 2006–2010 | SC 430 | UZZ40 | 4.3 L V8 | 3UZ-FE | 6-speed AT | 288 hp | 317 ft·lbf (429.8 N·m) @3400 rpm | |
External links
- Intellexual Lexus SC FAQ SC/Soarer information
- Soarer FAQ page for the Australian Lexus Soarer Club - additional links