Though it’s a mainstay in the luxury auto world, Lexus isn’t known for being the boldest or most exciting automaker. Sure, there was the insane LFA over a decade ago, but for years after that, Lexus’s participation in the world of performance cars was limited. That changed in 2018, when the brand stepped way outside of its box with the LC. The car’s dramatic lines and sleek shape were punctuated by a rowdy V8 and a stunning interior.

Lexus offers the 2022 LC in a few configurations: Coupe, Bespoke, and Convertible. Pricing for the range starts at $95,700 for the Coupe, $98,275 for the Bespoke model, and $103,570 for the convertible. (A hybrid model is also available and is previewed separately.) The LC’s positioning and price put it in competition with a wide variety of cars including the BMW M5, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, and the Audi S7/RS7.

Hiding under its curvy hood, the LC sports a 5.0-liter V8 that makes 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and a ten-speed automatic transmission are standard. Though it’s exceptionally powerful, the LC is much happier as a sleek touring car than it is tearing up a racetrack. The sport exhaust plays a tremendous soundtrack under heavy throttle, and the big coupe can shuffle to 60 mph from a standstill in around four seconds. The car can go on to an electronically limited top speed of 168 mph.

Interior design and finishes help the LC stand out for luxury as much as it does for performance. Gorgeous materials and interesting shapes meet in the LC’s cabin, making it a truly special place to spend time. Space is not its forte, however, as the rear seat and trunk are both almost nonexistent. Children may be comfortable riding in back, but it’s much more likely that LC owners will use the back seat as a parcel shelf, since the space is so limited. The story is the same in the trunk, where you’ll find just 5.4 cubic feet of space. So, the LC is a great touring car, as long as your tour is shorter than a three-hour tour on the S.S. Minnow.

The LC comes in a single, well-equipped trim that brings all the bells and whistles. Standard features include 20-inch wheels, 10-way power front seats, leather upholstery, navigation, 12 speakers, HD radio, SiriusXM radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and connected services. Every LC gets a generous list of advanced driver aids that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane departure alerts, and blind spot monitoring. Lexus offers several upgrades for the 2022 LC, such as an all-weather package that adds a heated steering wheel, or the Touring Package that brings semi-aniline leather upholstery and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.