The front styling has been revised for 2006 with bolder two-bulb headlight clusters, and heavier brightwork surrounding a more sharply angular rendition of Lexus's trademark trapezoid grille. The front bumper is more pronounced, and the Lexus badge is bigger.
The 2006 Lexus SC 430 has been upgraded with the Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), which helps drivers see around turns better at night. The system uses an on-board processor that calculates the optimum angle to illuminate a turn, then swivels the headlamp closest to the turn accordingly.
The styling features an arched roof that leads to a rounded rear. 2006 models feature sophisticated LED tail lights that replace the multi-lens lamps used last year.
Beneath its beltline the SC 430 is round and plump but pleasingly so. The bold, squatty stance is emphasized by its long wheelbase, exaggerated wheel wells, and 18-inch wheels. The design pushes the wheels so far out to the corners they almost seem to stretch the sheet metal behind them. The wheels have been redesigned for 2006 with a more wide-open appearance, with metallic gray spokes and flat titanium-look center inserts.
Press a button and the lightweight aluminum hardtop quickly folds itself double and tucks into the trunk. With the top concealed below the trunk lid, the SC 430 looks fluid and fast. The optional rear spoiler further reduces the car's slick drag coefficient of 0.31 to an even slicker 0.30.
Available run-flat tires eliminate the need for a spare tire and thus increase space in the trunk.
