While the introduction of the first all-new Lexus LS in six years is a significant event in itself, there are two unique developments that make this new-generation flagship particularly noteworthy. For starters, 2007 marks the first time the LS will be offered in both regular (LS 460) and long-wheelbase (LS 460 L) body styles. The second major development comes next spring as the automaker introduces the world’s first full-size hybrid luxury sedan, called the LS 600h L.
Model LineupLexus’s three-model approach is designed to allow Lexus to expand its share of the market by appealing to so-called “prestige-luxury” buyers who’d prefer to let their driver contend with the messy realities of rush hour traffic as they attend to business or pleasure in the coddling confines of their expansive back seat. Despite its unwieldy mouthful of a name, the LS 600h L will offer a gasoline-electric hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain tuned to provide a significant boost in performance along with a number of cutting-edge amenities.
Features As you might expect, the list of standard features is extensive and includes goodies like xenon headlights, leather upholstery and genuine wood trim, and a keyless starting system that allows you to unlock the doors, start the engine, and drive away without removing the key from your pocket or purse. There are no pre-packaged trim levels here, just an
a la carte menu of options that includes such exotic items as heated and cooled front and rear power-adjustable seats, infrared body temperature sensors, power door and trunk closers, and an impressive 19-speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson surround sound audio system.
New Platform To create this latest LS generation, Lexus engineers spent four years developing an all-new rear-wheel drive platform with a wheelbase that’s 1.7 inches longer than the outgoing model in LS 460 trim and 4.75 inches longer in LS 460 L models. The sleek body is also nearly two inches wider, though trunk capacity shrinks a bit to a still respectable 18 cubic feet.
PowertrainPowering the Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L is the first all-new V8 engine in the brand’s 17-year history, an aluminum-intensive 4.6-liter number that pumps out 380 horsepower. Mated to this new motor is another impressive bit of engineering in the form of the world’s first eight-speed automatic transmission. While eight gears may seem like overkill, this new design allows for better acceleration in lower gears and improved fuel economy at the top end of the range.
Performance Lexus claims a pretty remarkable 0-60 acceleration time of just 5.4 seconds for the new LS 460, and estimated EPA fuel economy numbers of 19 city and 27 highway. Add the fact that this powertrain is also expected to earn an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) rating and you can enjoy all the perks this luxury sedan has to offer without a guilty conscience.
Exterior Design The new Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L represent the latest expressions of the brand’s “L-finesse” design direction. Lexus says its designers’ goal was to give its flagship model more expressive styling, no doubt in an effort to counter the common and, in our opinion, wholly undeserved criticism that previous LS generations looked a bit too stodgy. And they’ve largely succeeded, creating a sleeker profile with a long hood, short rear deck, and subtly altered one-third glass to two-thirds sheetmetal proportions similar to those on the latest generation of the carmaker’s midsize GS sedan.
Interior DesignSleek design cues are also carried through to the Lexus LS 460’s beautifully-crafted interior. The supple leathers and radiant woods are top quality and are liberally applied in a way that might look more at home in the cabin of a private jet than in an earthbound automobile.
Executive SeatingWith the optional four-place Executive Class Seating Package, two lucky rear seat passengers can enjoy the Lexus LS 460 L’s individually heated and cooled reclining seats with vibrating massage (the right rear seat also includes a power-operated leg rest), power-operated rear window and side door sunshades, and a wood- and leather-trimmed center console with a retractable table. Add the rear beverage cooler and rear seat DVD entertainment system with a big nine-inch monitor and, well, let’s just say we’d definitely be tempted to let the better half drive more often.
Easy TechnologyWith the new LS, Lexus has clearly tried to walk a fine line between adding enough new electronic wizardry to remain competitive and creating a car that doesn’t take an engineering degree to figure out. And, for the most part, we think they’ve done a great job deploying cutting-edge doo-dads that operate in either a completely transparent or very intuitive manner.
Safety
Lexus engineers have fitted the new LS 460 with a full-compliment of advanced accident avoidance features including antilock disc brakes, a tire pressure monitor, and a sophisticated electronic stability control system designed to stop an impending skid before it starts. Standard adaptive headlights with individual elements that automatically pivot to illuminate around corners, daytime running lights, and bright LED tail and brake lights also help the driver see and be seen.
Pre-Collision System If a crash is unavoidable, Lexus’s Pre-Collision System is also available on the LS 460. The system, which uses input from the optional radar cruise control to detect an impending crash, adds an additional measure of protection by cinching up the driver and front passenger’s seatbelts and priming the car’s Brake Assist system so it’s ready to apply maximum braking force the moment the driver touches the pedal. Eight standard airbags are standing by to cushion the blow.
Driving the LS 460From the moment you touch the dash-mounted “Start” button, the strengths of the LS’s new V8 are readily apparent. For one thing, this sophisticated motor is so smooth and quiet that you’ll find yourself stealing a look at the tachometer just to make sure it’s running. Head out on the road and put your foot into it, however, and the new engine jumps to life with brisk acceleration that makes the company’s 5.4-second 0-to-60 acceleration estimate feel just about right. To add a hint of character, there’s even a nice subdued growl when you get on the gas hard.
HandlingElectric power steering that feels surprisingly responsive keeps the Lexus LS 460 traveling on the intended path, though it lacks some of the weight and direct feedback we’ve come to expect from European sedans. The same can be said for the brakes which provide effective stopping power but with a softer pedal feel than we’d like. The LS 460’s base suspension provides an endlessly comfortable ride quality that made us head out in search of really bad pavement to laugh at. While this suspension offered stable and predictable handling, we preferred the crisper quality of the optional sport-tuned air suspension.
Final Analysis In the final measure, we’d say the new Lexus LS offers a more composed and pleasurable alternative to the edgier driving character of some competing luxury sedans. Add the car’s beautiful craftsmanship, top-quality materials, long list of top-drawer standard and available features, and the user-friendly integration of technology, and we think these two new LS models will be enormously popular with luxury sedan shoppers.
Photos courtesy of Lexus
