Toyota Soarer IV (Z40) photos

The fourth generation Toyota Soarer (Z40 series) launched in April 2001, executing a radical concept shift into a premium 2+2 retractable hardtop convertible. Styled at Toyota's European design center in France with design cues drawn from luxury yachts, the aluminum hardtop folded electro-hydraulically into the trunk in 25 seconds. Globally sold twin-badged as the Lexus SC 430, the luxurious cabin was finished in hand-stitched leather, genuine bird's-eye maple or walnut wood trim, and a custom-engineered 9-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

Under the hood, the Z40 was powered exclusively by a 4.3-liter 3UZ-FE V8 engine with VVT-i, generating 280 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission (upgraded to a six-speed in late 2005). The rear-wheel-drive chassis utilized independent double-wishbone suspension at both axles. In July 2005, with the official introduction of the Lexus brand in Japan, the historic Toyota Soarer nameplate was retired, transitioning directly to the Lexus SC 430 badge.