10 Things You Need to Know About the All-New 2018 Lexus LS 500

2018 Lexus LS 500 exterior front angle ・ Photo by Lexus

Hard to believe, but the first Lexus, the LS 400, made its debut some 28 years ago, at the Detroit Auto Show in 1989. This large and refined rear-wheel drive sedan, a groundbreaking car that launched the Lexus brand and was priced at around $35,000, dramatically upset the global luxury landscape, which at the time was dominated by European brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

At the Detroit show this year, some 28 million sold Lexi later, the company took the wraps off a brand-new LS, a 5th-generation car that once again is the company's flagship sedan. Here are 10 things you need to know about this car, the 2018 Lexus LS 500.

1. It's an All-New Car

The 2018 Lexus LS 500 is based on the company’s new global platform, which also underpins the LC Coupe. Lexus calls it the GA-L platform, and it’s the stiffest chassis in company history, a sturdy anchor point for the LS’s sophisticated multilink front and rear suspension. This new 2018 LS is a slightly longer and lower car with improved handling dynamics, but Lexus says this hasn’t come at the expense of a smooth ride or a quiet cabin. The wheelbase, for the record, is 123 inches, 1.3 inches longer than that of the current long-wheelbase LS. And thanks to the increased use of lightweight materials such as ultra-high tensile steel and aluminum, Lexus has shaved 200 pounds off the chassis compared to the current LS platform and body.

Photo by Lexus

2. Turbocharged Power

If you’re looking for a V8 engine in your large new Lexus luxury sedan, you’re out of luck. The only engine offered in the 2018 Lexus LS 500 is a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, chosen primarily, we suspect, for fuel economy reasons. Nevertheless, this aluminum-block engine, with electric wastegates and lots of low-end torque, will move this large luxury sedan with plenty of alacrity. With 415 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, the long-stroke V6 propels the big new Lexus to 60 mph in a projected time of only 4.5 seconds. The transmission is a 10-speed torque-converter automatic with available shift paddles, and there are three selectable driving modes (Normal, Sport, Sport+).

Photo by Lexus

3. A 4-Door Coupe... of Sorts

As is vogue with today’s large sedans, Lexus has eschewed a traditional 3-box shape in favor of a coupe-like design (with a long hood and a short rear deck) that is designed to appeal to younger customers. Will it work? Time will tell. But this much we know: At Detroit, the new LS got plenty of attention, with much of the discussion focused on its new spindle grille, a clear focal point that has 5000(!) individual surfaces. It is bold. For the record, the new 2018 LS 500 is 0.6 inches shorter in height than the current car, while the hood and trunk have been lowered 1.2 inches and 1.6 inches, respectively. To ensure good head room with the new lower profile, Lexus has switched to an outer-slide type of moonroof. Also, five wheel designs will be available, in both 19- and 20-in. sizes.

Photo by Lexus

4. Intuitive Pedestrian Protection

As the company’s flagship luxury sedan, the new 2018 Lexus LS 500 bristles with safety technology. In addition to Lexus Safety System +, the new LS 500 will boast Advanced Safety Package, the world’s first safety system with what Lexus calls “Intuitive Pedestrian Detection with Active Steering within the lane.” What it does: If a pedestrian is detected in the lane ahead and a collision is deemed imminent, the LS will automatically brake and possibly steer around the person… while staying in its own lane. No driver input is needed, but the car’s head-up display will warn the driver that the system is active.

Photo by Lexus

5. Enhanced VDIM

The big Lexus sedan has enjoyed a plush ride ever since it arrived in 1989, but the new LS 500 aims to maintain that silky comfort while upping its “fun to drive” quotient. The car is lower, which helps with the sporty dynamics, but the new LS also is fitted with the latest generation of Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. VDIM, a stability enhancer, can adjust the braking, steering, powertrain, and suspension to control basic longitudinal, lateral and vertical motion of the LS, as well as its yaw, roll, and pitch. If you want a real sporty LS 500, order it with the optional Lexus Dynamic Handling System, which employs active stabilizer bars and independent front and rear steering.

Photo by Lexus

6. Sublime Comfort

Driven by a Japanese hospitality theme called Omotenashi, Lexus designers have crafted a luxurious and inviting LS 500 interior that “treats the driver like a partner.” This includes seats that Lexus says are “unlike those in any luxury car before.” While we’re not sure what that means, the 2018 Lexus LS 500 will be available with heated, cooled, and massaging 28-way power front seats. And when ordered with the available wider power rear seat package, the new LS will boast more legroom than any LS ever, plus a Shiatsu massage feature and a raised ottoman. Also noteworthy with this package: The right rear seat, the one behind the LS’s front passenger seat, can be reclined up to 48 degrees. Ahh!

Photo by Lexus

7. It's Double-Jointed!

While anybody who’s driven a Lexus LS (or ridden in one) knows how supple its suspension is, the new 2018 car goes a step further, employing a multilink arrangement front and rear that features double ball joints on the upper and lower control arms. Without getting technical, this means there’s a better-controlled wheel at each corner of the car. In addition to sharing the workload, a dual ball joint arrangement improves the suspension geometry for improved wheel control and better steering response, particularly during your initial effort. Last, lots of aluminum has been used throughout the LS 500’s suspension to reduce unsprung weight, improving both ride comfort and vehicle agility.

Photo by Lexus

8. Sporty Exhaust, Quiet Inside

Twin turbochargers have a tendency to quiet a car’s engine, but Lexus says the LS exhaust has been tuned to convey a more authoritative tone than before. Inside, though, this new LS is said to be quieter than any previous model. Various sound suppression efforts are highlighted by Active Noise Control, which detects the sound of the engine and road noise, and then uses the car’s audio system to create anti-phase sounds from the speakers, even when the stereo is shut off. This is not new technology, we know, but it has been updated in this latest LS, and it provides a superb platform that gives the car’s superb audio systems a chance to shine.

Photo by Lexus

9. Superb Audio Systems

In standard form, the new 2018 LS 500 has what Lexus calls a “premium” audio system; in other words, it probably sounds better than most stereos we have at home. But if you move up to the optional Mark Levinson system with 3D surround sound and speakers arrayed in the car’s headliner, well, we suspect even your most discerning audiophile friends will be impressed. You'll probably want to stay in the LS until the song is over. Of note, this upgrade audio package features a graphic user interface that mimics smartphone operation and also supports handwritten inputs.

Photo by Lexus

10. Miscellaneous Facts; The Chief Engineer Speaks

And finally, some fun facts about the 2018 Lexus LS 500:

• The car will be sold in 90 countries
• The interior lighting is inspired by Japanese lanterns
• The car goes on sale at the end of 2017, price TBD
• All but one of the wheel designs are hollow, to reduce sound generated by the tires
• The new LS has optional air suspension; with it, the LS has a special access mode that raises the car a bit (and even opens the seat bolsters!) to welcome drivers behind the wheel
• The navigation screen is massive—12.3 inches wide
• The armrests appear to float next to the LS’s door panels
• The various interior wood trim is now cross-grain and in a larger pattern, with bolder contrasts between light and dark to make the wood look more vibrant  
• Just how serious is Lexus about the new LS 500? Let Toshio Asahi, LS Chief Engineer, explain: “The customers who are going to want to own a Lexus flagship are already surrounded by luxury on a daily basis. They are people who have a sharp eye for authenticity. We wouldn’t turn their heads with a conventional premium product.”

Photo by Lexus