It's been 28 years since Toyota launched the Lexus brand with its first model, the LS sedan; since its debut, Lexus has been setting benchmarks for powertrain smoothness, ride quietness, craftsmanship, attention to detail, documented dependability, and long-term quality. Now, Lexus is repeating history with the introduction of the all-new, LS flagship sedan for 2018.
Developed from a completely clean-sheet -- or blank CAD screen -- design, the fifth-generation five-passenger luxury sedan will be available in base LS, Earth-friendly hybrid 500h, and high-performance F-Sport trim levels when it goes on sale in U.S. in February 2018. With a starting manufacturer suggested retail price of $75,000 (not including $995 destination and delivery fees), the LS 500 arrives with a base price that is $3,820 less than its current long-wheelbase predecessor despite offering more power, comfort, and safety than ever before.
Longer and lower than the model it replaces, the all-new LS debuts a strikingly sleek and bold design with a coupe-like silhouette punctuated by the unique Lexus design language. Compared to the outgoing LS, the new model is about 0.6 inches lower, while the hood and trunk are approximately 1.2 inches and 1.6 inches lower, respectively. The new LS is also the first Lexus sedan with a six-window profile, which enables excellent outward visibility; a first for a Lexus sedan, the flush-surface windows smoothly integrate with the side pillar. That impressive front grille isn't just pretty to look at; its Takumi CAD modeler clicked for eight hours a day for six months to program each of the points for its more-than-5000 surfaces.
Inside, Lexus sought to instill the new LS cabin with a quiet luxury that welcomes and envelops passengers while treating the driver like a partner. "I hope that when you open the door you'll experience an immediate, intuitive sense that you're looking at an interior that is unlike any luxury car before", said Chief Designer Koichi Suga.
Inspired by the omotenashi principle -- a Japanese term signifying the traditionally correct way to treat a guest -- incredible craftsmanship has been applied the passenger cabin, resulting in an elegant finish with beautiful touches highlighted by laser-cut natural wood, origami-like hand-pleated fabrics, and beautiful "Kiriko"-style cut-glass patterns. Seating choices include available 28-way power adjustable heated and cooled front seats featuring pneumatic shiatsu-style massage; options for heating, recline, and massage also offer rear-seat passengers an incredibly luxurious environment. Active Noise Control quiets the cabin by detecting the sound of the engine coming into the vehicle and cancelling certain frequencies using anti-phase sound from the audio speakers.
The organically shaped dash design clusters information displays at a uniform height to support the "seat-in-control" layout that emphasizes the driver's ability to operate all systems without changing body posture. A next-generation Remote Touch Interface mimics smartphone operation and supports handwritten input. In addition to its 12.3-inch wide navigation display, an optional 24-inch color heads-up display -- currently the largest in the world -- projects a variety of driving information onto the driver's forward view. This level of luxury offers a variety of choices: The 2018 LS 500 offers nine interior color schemes (plus two for the F SPORT), as well as nine choices in interior trim.
For high power, scintillating performance, and excellent fuel efficiency, Lexus developed an all-new 3.5-liter V-6 engine specifically for the new LS; boasting 416 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, the twin-turbocharged powerplant is mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters. Available in both rear- and all-wheel drive, the new powertrain promises significant gains over the outgoing LS model's naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 and boasts acceleration from 0 to 60 mph of 4.6 seconds (in RWD form) and a top speed of 136 mph.
The 500h's hybrid powertrain uses a different, naturally aspirated, 295-horsepower Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V-6 engine paired with two electric motor generators that boost output to 354 total horsepower and offers acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds (in RWD form). With a 22.2-gallon fuel tank and estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined, the LS 500h RWD has a range of more than 600 miles, depending on driving conditions and habits. The new hybrid LS 500h has a base price of $79,510, which undercuts its competition by thousands of dollars while still offering exceptional comfort and performance.
"The LS is designed to be the top runner in advanced safety technologies", said Lexus LS Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi. The all-new Lexus LS provides world-class safety technology to help reduce traffic fatalities. The standard Lexus Safety System+ includes intelligent high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, a front pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, as well as lane keeping assistance and departure alerts. The optional Safety System+ A (Advanced) package adds pedestrian alerts, front lateral side pre-collision assistance, lane trace assistance, front cross-traffic alert, road-sign assistance, and active steering assist. If you've never heard of it before, active steering assist can automatically control steering and braking in certain situations; if it determines that a collision is imminent and cannot be avoided through brake control alone, but might be avoided with steering control, the system can automatically steer and brake to help avoid impact.
Lexus will be promoting the all-new model during the 2018 Super Bowl game next month. "The 2018 LS is one of the most important launches in our brand's history, so it makes sense for us to use a stage like the Super Bowl to showcase it to our customers. The LS not only offers unsurpassed performance, style and luxury, its competitive pricing makes it a great value as well", said Lexus Group Vice President and Division General Manager, Jeff Bracken.
