This car looks so freaking good.

Every manufacturer has a halo car, and for Lexus, it's the LC 500. Toyota's premium brand might be best known for making luxurious sedans and staid crossovers, but the LC is something totally different. It's fast and gorgeous, and in addition to the coupe, the LC 500 is now available as a convertible.

Regardless of body style, the LC is a looker. My tester is covered in a luscious shade of red paint, which is probably the most gorgeous rouge this side of Mazda's Soul Red. Lexus' spindle grille doesn't look bad in this application, and I love how the distinct headlight shape is echoed in the taillights. Front to back, the LC is stunning.

There's performance to back up that style, too -- mostly. The LC uses a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, and Lexus says this convertible can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. But when I hit the throttle, all I feel is hesitation. I want the LC 500 to leap off the line, but you've got to give it a second for the engine to rev into the heart of its powerband.