THE LEXUS SC 430 ROADSTER- Who's to say we aren't ready for radical styling? A better question, who's to say we are? VW says we are, evidence: success of the Bug. Audi says we are, evidence TT roadster. Lexus says we are, evidence: the all new, completely redesigned from the ground-up. SC430 coupe. Lexus first started out as a racing company. That didn't work. Who would have known they'd become one of the best selling Luxury car makers on the planet? Ever since 1989, Lexus has impressed its public with luxurious refinements, class-leading safety features, "most bang for the buck" mentalities, and the creature comforts that separate an economy car from a Lexus. And the new SC430 isn't any different. Sharing nothing with it's almost decade-old ancestor, the new coupe is pure Lexus, and at the same time, pure fun.

With 12,000 units slated for the US, the car is going to be exclusive. And with 9,000 already pre-ordered, the car is going to be hard to get. But with exclusivity like that, there has to be a reason the car is already doing so well.

With competitors like Jaguar and Mercedes, the sport-coupe market is a hard one to stay afloat in. Recent belly-up projects include the Lincoln Mark VIII, Ford Thunderbird (making a return appearance next-year), and Dodge Avenger. However, Lexus has yet again found a perfect niche in the market. With the Mercedes, itÕs SLK roadster, at around $40K is a mere two seater, and loses performance shoot-outs with the Lexus in every category. The Jaguar XK8 has more room than the Lexus, but still isn't as powerful, and comps with a lofty $75K sticker. Lexus has placed a firm hold on its spot, and with itÕs 300-hp V-8, its doubtful anyone will catch it in the near future.

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Priced at "only" $59K, the coupe is only available in one fully-loaded version. The retractable hardtop is standard, as well as a premium Mark Levinson custom Digital Signal Processing, nine-speaker, seven channel, 240-watt audio system that absolutely cranks. The only options are a DVD-based satellite navigation system ($2000), a rear decklid spoiler ($440) and 18-inch run-flat tires ($400, but you get a lot more trunk room, a lot more). That's $61,295 for everything: not a Blue Light Special, but compared to the Jag and Benz, it's almost a steal.

The car has all the goodies you'd expect from Lexus, being power-everything, wood trim abounds (your choice of maple or walnut), plush leather, and a driving experience matched by no one. Power comes from the aforementioned 4.3-litre 300 hp V8, and is fed through a silky smooth 5-speed automatic. Utilizing Lexus' VVTi valve timing technology, the car delivers effortless power, and is still a ULEV vehicle, very eco-friendly. You'll get to 60 in 5.9 seconds, and you'll see your high-priced friends in your rear-view mirror. The quarter mile time came out to 14.4 seconds, and speed is unfortunately limited to 156 mph.

Other technological goodies we liked included Lexus' brake assist feature, which can sense if the driver is not applying sufficient pedal pressure to activate the anti-lock system when conditions warrant. It will then intervene and adjust pressure to achieve maximum braking effectiveness. And with Lexus' new tire pressure monitoring system that lets the driver know if things are getting flaccid underfoot, you'll never neglect to add air pressure when needed. The Lexus system can even be programmed for different types of tires, such as snow tires vs. summer tires.

With 12,000 units slated for the US, the car is going to be exclusive. And with 9,000 already pre-ordered, the car is going to be hard to get. But with exclusivity like that, there has to be a reason the car is already doing so well. The reasons are A, it's a Lexus, B, it's a hard-top convertible, and C, it's a Lexus. What more do you want? With a price like that, and amenities worth 20 pages of description, it's a wonder this car hasn't sold out already.

More than any manufacturer: Well, we think that Lexus has a winner here. The potential of getting those status oriented Mercedes SL owners to convert should be rather easy. Not only do you have a lower sticker price, but you get a car that is every bit as luxurious and performs in a very comparable manner. The styling is very unique. It offers a flair of a little bit of the Audi TT and and almost Honda 2000/Toyota MR2 rear end. All in all, it is a class of its own in the unique department. AZ & JH/AutoNetDirect.com

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