The new Lexus LS luxury saloon will cost from £72,595 when it goes on sale, with deliveries planned from the beginning of 2018.
Four specs are available from launch - LS 500h, LS 500h Luxury, LS 500h F Sport and LS 500h Premier. The all-wheel drive variant of the LS 500h Premier tops out the range, at £105,595. The car's starting price places it close to its rival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The S-Class, with a starting price of £72,705, is just £110 more expensive than the Lexus. For older rivals, such as the BMW 7 Series and Jaguar XJ, prices start considerably lower, at £59,995 for the Jaguar and £61,300 for the BMW.
From base-spec LS 500h cars, the LS range gets automatic lights, a 12.3in infotainment system, 12 speaker audio system, an around view monitor and electrically adjustable seats with 20 modes of adjustment, as well as heating and ventilation as standard. Luxury-spec cars boosts the level of adjustment up to 28 different ways, and also adds a premium sound system, among other technology and comfort upgrades. A host of driver assistance and passive safety systems also come as standard across the range.
The luxury saloon was unveiled at the Detroit motor show with the Japanese manufacturer boldly stating that it expects the fifth-generation car to “reset the luxury benchmark in the same way the original LS did in 1989”.
The new LS, a rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, is based upon a version of the GA-L platform which underpins the well-received LC500. In the LS, however, the wheelbase has been extended from 2870mm to 3125mm. The new saloon is front-engined and rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive available as an option.
The new Lexus LS is 5235mm long, 1450mm high and 1900mm wide. Compared to the current LS, the new model sits about 15mm lower, while the bonnet and boot are 30 and 41mm lower respectively, with Lexus’s designers striving for a ‘four-door coupé’ silhouette.
Lexus has put an emphasis on driver engagement. It claims the LS is endowed with “precise handling and direct steering” thanks to its lighter platform, a new engine mounted lower in the car’s nose and enhanced body rigidity.
A new 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine “with the performance of rivals’ V8 engines” has been developed for the LS. It produces maximum power of 409bhp and 442lb ft of torque, channeled through a ten-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, as also used in the LC500. The rear-wheel-drive LS is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 4.5sec; Lexus hasn’t revealed the performance of the four-wheel-drive variant.
The Japanese manufacturer’s engineers have made a 90kg weight saving over the outgoing LS and have developed a more rigid multi-link suspension system, with air suspension also available as an option. The air suspension system comes with an ‘access’ function that raises the vehicle and opens the seat bolsters to allow easier ingress.
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The number of LS sold in the
The number of LS sold in the UK must be vanishingly small. This new model isn't going to help.
The grille has been enlarged to the point of caricature.
The side profile is too generic, reminiscent of the Tesla model S
The interior is not quite a successful attempt at simplicity. A successful simple design relies on the transition between elements being convincing. Here the edge of the dashboard continues onto the door panel in a particularly awkward unresolved way.
Lexus LS 500
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for me this is a strikingly good car both visually and technically. Yes, I do like the bold front grill which is seemingly going to be a feature on all forthcoming new models. It will be easily recognisable as a Lexus from both the front and the rear, which is what every car maker wants.
It will be a pleasure to drive and will be extremely reliable I am sure, knowing Lexus's reputation.
From what I have read about its rivals flaws, mainly about Mercedes engineering causing mechanical problems,some having too small an engine to deliver required power, but relying on customers being wowed by comfort and styling, Lexus will extend its loyal customer numbers I am sure, with the increasing range of new models over the coming years.
All I need is for 3 years to pass, to buy the LS 500 at a second hand price, knowing that the previous owner would have looked after it extremely well.
Finally a Lexus LS that doesn't look like a bloated German copy
The styling is almost coupe-like and resembles a cross between the Mazda 6 and the Porsche Panamera, which is not a bad thing and works very well with Lexus' elegant character lines that doesn't look tortured or overworked like on their other vehicles.
While the spindle grille has been a polarizing Lexus design feature, this version looks more artful and graceful (and probably will look better with a license plate on it disguising its massive size), and the headlights and bumper openings are now better integrated with this pinched grille shape and doesn't look as awkward and forced as before.
This could be the breakout or second coming of the Lexus flagship, as the Audi A8 and BMW 7-series have been so boring and forgettable, the Jaguar XJ while beautiful is long in the tooth and too specific, leaving only the Mercedes S-class the only compelling luxury sedan on the market without venturing into the ultra-luxury segment of Bentley and RR.
The weird Nike swoosh bottom headlight eyelids seen on other models is better integrated into the headlights instead of two separate disjointed elements and hope this design will make it to their other models.