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| [[Image:SC430belle.JPG|thumb|right|300px|2002 Lexus SC430]]
| | #REDIRECT [[Lexus SC]] |
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| The '''[[Lexus|Lexus]] SC''' series is a [[personal luxury car|personal luxury]] [[coupé]] manufactured by the [[Toyota Motor Corporation]] under the [[Lexus]] brand and sold in Japan as the [[Toyota Soarer]]. The first generation, available as the '''SC 300''' or '''SC 400''' was in production from 1991 until July 7, 2000. A second-generation model, the '''SC 430''', went into production in 2001. The first generation SC 300/SC 400 were assembled at Toyota's ''Higashifuji Technical Center'' in [[Motomatchi]], [[Japan]].
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| The [[Lexus|Lexus]] SC is a [[FR layout|front engine, rear-wheel drive]] design and was sold with either [[Straight-6|I6]] or [[V8]] engines.
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| ==Second Generation (2001-Present)==
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| [[Lexus|Lexus]] showcased its new sports convertible, the '''SC 430''', at the Paris Motorshow in 2000, and the car entered production the following year. Power was provided by a 4.3 L [[Toyota UZ engine#3UZ-FE|3UZ-FE]] V8 engine mated to a five-speed [[automatic transmission]].
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| [[Lexus|Lexus]] designers from Europe and Japan worked together to create the convertible's sleek, streamlined design. The car features a [[Retractable hardtop|retractable aluminium hardtop]], all-leather interior, and 18 in alloy wheels. It can seat four and has a base price of US$63,825.
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| Competitors include the [[Mercedes-Benz SL-Class]], [[BMW 6 Series]], [[Jaguar XK8]], and [[Cadillac XLR]].
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| ==First Generation (1991-2000)==
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| [[Image:SC400.JPG|thumb|right|300px|1998 Lexus SC400]]
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| The '''SC 300''' and '''SC 400''' were mid-sized coupes available in the United States with a 3.0 L inline 6 [[Toyota JZ engine#2JZ|2JZ-GE]](225 [[HP|hp]] and 210 ft·lbf, SC 300) or a 4.0 L [[V8]] [[Toyota UZ engine#1UZ-FE|1UZ-FE]] (250 [[HP|hp]] and 260 ft·lbf, SC 400). In [[Japan]], an additional engine choice was a 2.5 L twin-[[Turbo Engine|turbo]] inline 6, good for 276 [[HP|hp]] on the '''[[Toyota Soarer|Toyota Soarer 2.5GT-T/TL]]'''. The V8 [[Toyota UZ engine#1UZ-FE|1UZ-FE]] motor, also used in the LS 400, was reported to have cost over US$400,000,000 in research and development. In 1996, the SC400's engine design was upgraded to 260 [[HP|hp]] from 250 [[HP|hp]]. In 1998, both the SC300 and 400 were upgraded with VVT-i and thus the ratings were raised to 290 [[HP|hp]]/300 ft·lbf of torque for the SC400 and 225 [[HP|hp]]/220 ft·lbf of torque for the SC300. Tests conducted on the new engines showed an acceleration for the SC400 of 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds, and for the SC300 an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds.[http://www.autos.com/autos/car/luxury/2000/[[Lexus|lexus]]/sc400/base]
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| [http://www.autos.com/autos/car/luxury/2000/[[Lexus|lexus]]/sc300/base]
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| The SC 400 was ''[[Motor Trend]]'''s [[Car of the Year|Import Car of the Year]] for 1992. It also made ''[[Car and Driver]]'' magazine's [[Car and Driver Ten Best|Ten Best list]] for 1992 through 1995. The first generation [[Lexus|Lexus]] SC was considered far ahead of its time, which is why it lasted for nearly 10 years without any major changes while comparible cars were being re-designed every 3-4 years.
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| ==Motorsport==
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| In 2006 the SC430 was entered in the ([[Super GT]]) 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 SC430's [[Toyota UZ engine#3UZ-FE|3U-ZFE]] V8 that was also used in the [[Toyota Supra]] race car from previous years.
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| The new SC430 based race cars were immediately competitive with former [[All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship#GT500|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 SC430 its first victory on its debut race.
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| ==External links==
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| * [http://www.[[Lexus|lexus]].com/models/sc/index.html Official [[Lexus|Lexus]] SC430 Website]
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| * [http://www.soarercentral.com/ Soarer Central - SC/Soarer Information and Forum]
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| * [http://www.[[Lexus|lexus]].australia.as/ Australian [[Lexus|Lexus]] Soarer Club]
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| * [http://www.intellexual.net/faq.html Intellexual - SC/Soarer FAQ]
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| * [http://www.toyotaimportsforum.co.uk/forum Toyota Imports Forum]
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| * [http://www.supergt.net/en/ SuperGT Race Series Official Site]
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| * [http://www.clublexus.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=63 [[Lexus|Lexus]] forums]
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| [[Category:Lexus vehicles|SC]]
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| [[Category:Luxury vehicles]]
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| [[Category:Rear wheel drive vehicles]]
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| [[Category:Grand tourers]]
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