2018 Lexus LS 500 (5th Generation)

Lexus LS F Sport revealed ahead of New York motor show

Lexus’ sportier S-Class rival gets bigger alloys, more aggressive styling and handling-honing chassis tech

The Lexus LS F Sport has been revealed, a day ahead of its debut at the New York motor show.

The F Sport gets more aggressive styling than its standard sibling, with two large air intakes flanking Lexus’ signature ‘Spindle’ grille. 20in alloy wheels are also fitted as standard, shod in 245/45 front and 245/40 rear tyres. Two new colours – shades of blue and white - are exclusive to the F Sport, too.

Inside, the F Sport gets more bolstered seats with perforated leather and Ultrasuede, as well as aluminium pedals and footrest. An F Sport steering wheel also features, as do instruments derived from those in the LFA supercar. Ultrasuede is also used on the F Sport’s headliner.

Mechanical upgrades include bigger brakes – six-piston front and four-piston rear units – and air suspension specially set up for a sportier ride, while Lexus’ Dynamic Handling tech, which tweaks the ABS, traction control, ESC and steering to control the way the car behaves at different speeds.

Lexus’ chassis control tech is fitted in its most advanced iteration in the LS F Sport, and is claimed to control the car’s ride and flatness around corners, as well as provide greater comfort, by tweaking the brake response, steering and suspension. Three drive modes are selectable; Normal, Sport S or Sport S+, which tweak the chassis control system’s settings.

Under the bonnet, there’s either a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 415bhp and 442lb ft torque in the LS 500 or the same engine mated to an electric motor for the LS 500h with 295bhp and 261lb ft; both with 10-speed automatic gearboxes.

The former manages 0-62mph in 4.5sec, while the mild hybrid takes a more leisurely 5.4sec, but can be used in electric-only mode at up to 87mph. Lexus is yet to announce the hybrid’s electric-only range, but the range is expected to be around 30 miles; the same as the updated Mercedes-Benz S500 hybrid.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...ls-f-sport-revealed-ahead-new-york-motor-show
 
a1891283ac0bda81f8f80d59a39203b7.jpg
 
The sedan must evolve or die, says Lexus executive

Lexus chief branding officer Tokuo Fukuichi says that the traditional sedan must evolve to compete with ever-popular crossovers … or die.

“Unless we can really offer a sedan experience you cannot have with an SUV or crossover, I think the sedan may not be able to survive if it does not evolve,” Fukuichi told Automotive News.

Of course, rumours of Lexus pulling the plug on the GS have been circulating for a few months now.

“At a certain point of time, the traditional, square, three-box sedan will go away,” he added.

According to Fukuichi, Lexus plans to tackle this problem by lending its future sedans better driving dynamics that are unable to be matched by crossovers and making its luxury saloons “more casual”.

Fukuichi told the US publication that giving Lexus sedans lower centres of gravity and sharpening their steering response would help to improve their dynamics, adding this had already been largely achieved with the LC coupé.

“At the initial touch, it needs to respond sharply. The LC is quite close,” he said, suggesting that lessons learned with the LC could be applied to sedans.

Fukuichi said that the new LS featured a fastback silhouette rather than the traditional three-box profile, adding that the brand may even consider creating something that is similar in shape to the Porsche Panamera or Panamera Sport Turismo.

“Personally, I would like to have a Lexus wagon if we had enough resources. Maybe not as tall as an SUV, but not as short as a wagon. There could be some optimised packaging,” he revealed.

“If we’re going to do it, it can’t be just an ordinary station wagon,” he added.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/the-sedan-must-evolve-or-die-says-lexus-executive/
 
2018 Lexus LS 500 Review: Top 5 Unexpected Luxury Surprises! - The Fast Lane

[video=youtube;L2RedcWLI8w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2RedcWLI8w[/video]
 
2017 Lexus LS 500 and LS 500h Review | motoring.com.au

[video=youtube;MhzEl5tXf58]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhzEl5tXf58[/video]
 
Used car buying guide: Lexus LS400

The LS400 was the first car Lexus made — and it was so good that it shook up the luxury car world. John Evans says you can buy a piece of this history for £500

It’s almost 18 years old, has just returned from a 3000-mile European road trip — during which, the seller claims, it never missed a beat — and it could be yours for £800.

‘It’ is a Lexus LS400, Japan’s first bullseye on the luxury car market. This one’s the Mk4 version – that is, the second-generation facelifted car. (There were two generations, each of them facelifted.) So it has the uprated 280bhp V8 engine with variable valve timing, a five-speed automatic transmission and suspension tweaks. It has sat-nav and parking aids, too. “They all work,” says the seller.

So, £800: not a lot, is it? Actually, you can get runners for around £500 – small change for a last hurrah in this extraordinary triumph of marketing and engineering.

The LS400 arrived in 1990 to the sound of nervous coughing as executives at BMW and Mercedes-Benz prepared their excuses. You see, the company behind Lexus was Toyota, which saw its new brand and its maiden model as an opportunity to beat the established players at their own game. It gave itself six years and an almost unlimited budget to create a luxury car superior to rivals on most measures.

The original LS400 was powered by a 4.0-litre V8, producing 241bhp and driving the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic 'box. The 0-62mph sprint came and went in 8.5sec and the top speed was 155mph.

More important, it was whisper quiet and very smooth. The car wanted for little, highlights being powered leather seats with memory, climate and cruise control and a sunroof. The soft, floaty ride and light steering weren’t to everyone’s taste but no one could fault the car’s build quality.

Just two years after its launch, in 1992 Lexus wheeled out the Mk2, incorporating more than 50 changes. They ranged from sharpened steering and suspension to an illuminated vanity mirror. Not content with these tweaks, Lexus launched the second-generation LS400 in 1994 (confusingly known as the Mk3 in some circles). It had a longer and stronger body than the first-gen model, with improved sound insulation, revised suspension and stronger brakes. The engine now produced 260bhp and achieved 0-62mph in 7.5sec. The seats were comfier and there was dual-zone climate control.

But there were signs that the public’s love affair with the model was fading, so in 1997, a facelifted version, known as the Mk4, arrived, featuring the improvements described earlier, chief among them being that 280bhp V8 and five-speed automatic gearbox. The model was eventually replaced in 2000 by the LS430.

Today, there aren’t many LS400s left and those that remain have usually done starship mileages. The front suspension is the weak point. The engine and transmission should be smooth and quiet, and most things should work. Buy one and enjoy a slice of motoring history.

How to get one in your garage:

An expert’s view — Barry Sansome, enthusiast owner: “I’ve owned eight LS400s and five of the later 430s. The LS400s have been the most reliable. In fact, they’ve been so good, I’ve never taken out breakdown insurance. The leggiest had done 379,000 miles and its engine was as sweet as a nut. Lexus dealers are the nicest I’ve ever met. I sold my latest LS just last night. I’ve replaced it with a 430 but already I’m sorry. My wife says she won’t be seen in anything else, so I’ve a bit of explaining to do…”

Buyer beware:

ENGINE: If there are any noises, walk away. The timing belts and water pump should be changed every 100,000 miles. Check for oil leaks from behind the timing cover. It’s the cam and crankshaft seals, so have them replaced. Valve cover gaskets can let go at around 80,000 miles. Check the hoses are soft rather than hard and brittle. Listen for noises from the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulleys. It’s a heavy bonnet and the support struts can fail.

TRANSMISSION: The fluid and filter should be changed annually. Shifts should be almost imperceptible. Problems are rare.

SUSPENSION, STEERING AND BRAKES: Check for looseness over speed humps, which is most likely caused by worn front strut bushes. Front upper and lower wishbone balljoints are fragile. Front wheel bearings can become noisy on early models. Listen for anti-roll bar bushes creaking. Springs can break without warning. Early cars are known for dumping power steering fluid onto the alternator. Warped front discs are a common issue.

ELECTRICAL: Hard starting or rough running may be failed ECU capacitors. The instrument needles and LEDs can fail but it’s possible to have them rebuilt.

BODY: Check for surface corrosion on the chassis. Remove the spare wheel and carpet to check the bottom of the boot for flooding. The cause is a worn boot seal, which isn’t expensive.

INTERIOR: Expect the leather-covered wheel and transmission selector to look jaded. Check the powered aerial works. It might just need lubricating.

Also worth knowing:

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency lists just one Lexus recall, in June 1998. It relates to the possibility of an under-bonnet fire affecting cars built from April 1995 to June 1997. Affected VIN numbers are 00024691 to 00094983. Twenty years on, the chances are your chosen car has been seen and rectification work carried out.

How much to spend:

£500-£995: Tatty early high-milers with MOT and partial history, including a tempting 220k-mile 1998 S-reg for £800.

£1000-£1995: Some bargains, including a sound 156k-mile 1995/M for £1200, a nice 159k-mile 1996/N for £1500 and a low-mileage (84k) 1995 car for £1995.

£2000 AND HIGHER: A 108k-mile 1998/S for £2900, which is about top money. Be careful because LS430s start at around £2000.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-car-buying-guides/used-car-buying-guide-lexus-ls400

Lexus LS 1.jpg
Lexus LS 2.jpg
Lexus LS 3.jpg
Lexus LS 4.jpg
 
Lexus LS 500h F Sport 2018 review

Should I buy one?

The caveats are stated above and bear reiterating: we have a lot more to learn about the LS before we can deliver a verdict.

For now, it's possible to conclude that there are many reasons why you might buy an LS: its looks, the anticpated tax and fuel economy benefits of the hybrid powertrain, likely kit and tech-laden trims (yet to be announced) and consequent value for money, plus the driver assistance systems on the car, some of which aren’t available elsewhere. Then there's Lexus’ remarkable dealership quality and superb reliability record in its favour.

However, although in isolation the LS is not a bad car - far from it - as tested it is flawed in the key areas of ride quality and noise isolation. If it is to have any chance of challenging the class best, those traits must prove exclusive to this hard-working test car.

As such, perhaps the best conclusion is to urge you to return and read our opinion again after we have had a chance to deliver a more thorough evaluation of the LS – and ideally one prepped for sale, and on standard wheels and tyres at that.

Lexus LS 500h F Sport

Where Yokohama, Japan; On sale January 2018; Price from £75,000 (est); Engine V6, 3456cc, petrol, plus electric motor; Power 354bhp at 6600rpm; Torque 263lb ft at 5100rpm; Gearbox CVT; Kerbweight 2390kg; 0-62mph 5.4sec; Top speed 155mph; Economy tbc; CO2 rating tbc; Rivals Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lexus/ls/first-drives/lexus-ls-500h-f-sport-2018-review

LS 500h 1.jpg
LS 500h 2.jpg
LS 500h 3.jpg
LS 500h 4.jpg
LS 500h 5.jpg
LS 500h 6.jpg
 
Lexus LS500h 2018 review

Should I buy one?

For myself, I liked the fact that Lexus has tried to do something genuinely different here and create a thoroughly modern, distinctive and attractive luxury saloon. And it has succeeded.

But when it comes to cars that must transport a number of people over long distances, style is almost always a poor substitute for substance, and this is where the likeable but far too flawed LS500h comes substantially unstuck. The packaging is not good enough for such an enormous car, it is too heavy and too difficult to operate. But it is the engine that is its undoing: bluntly, it has no place in a car like this. Over a genial chat with its deputy chief engineer Shinji Kishida, I asked him why the hybrid system was not available with the twin-turbo V6 fitted to cars sold outside the UK. And he replied that the engine was new and there’d not been time to integrate the hybrid. When I asked him if that was work in progress, he grinned from ear to ear and simply said: "That’s a secret."

Such an engine, far more refined in character and flooded with low-down torque as it would undoubtedly be, could genuinely transform this car. But I can report only as I find and, as it stands, the LS500h promises more than it delivers. Five generations on, I’d hoped for more.

Lexus LS500h Premier AWD​

Where Oman Price £97,995 Engine 3456cc, V6, petrol plus electric motor Power 354bhp at 6600rpm Torque 231lb ft at 5100rpm Gearbox CVT and auto Kerb weight 2420kg Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 5.5sec Fuel economy 39.8mpg CO2/tax band 161g/km, 31% Rivals Audi A8 55TFSI, BMW 740Li

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lexus/ls/first-drives/lexus-ls500h-2018-review

46cb87bd5c9c48ddb950e04e1b19314d.jpg


d285dbbe776978a1ef4a8500a7320b55.jpg


f3649b86b2fe7628532dff23577baf66.jpg


b3554f41412cdba9c8496ebc1bd4cb69.jpg


e1e297cbd222e3f3da9753a4db5b7d00.jpg
 
5 New Luxury Cars Coming To South Africa In 2018

There may be plenty of new crossovers heading to our shores (be sure to check out 10 of the most significant plus five additional high-performance versions), but that doesn’t mean traditional luxury cars are a thing of the past. No, there are a few super-premium models coming to South Africa in 2018. And we’ve listed five below…

1. Audi A7 Sportback

Boasting a far sharper design than its predecessor, the fresh-faced A7 Sportback will come standard with a new mild hybrid system that boasts a “recuperation performance” of up to 12 kW when braking. At launch, a 3,0-litre V6 TFSI producing 250 kW and 500 N.m (allowing a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 5,3 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h) will do duty, mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. Expect a local arrival in the second quarter of 2018.

2. Rolls-Royce Phantom

The new, eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom is scheduled to touch down in SA in the second quarter of the year, running on new aluminium “spaceframe” underpinnings. Powered by a “completely new” (are you seeing a theme here?) 6,75-litre V12 engine, linked to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission, that now employs two turbochargers contributing to a low-end torque output of 900 N.m at just 1 700 r/min (up from the old car’s 720 N.m) and peak power of 420 kW (again, up from 338 kW), the Phantom should sprint to 100 km/h in about 5,3 seconds.

3. Lexus LS

Also expected in the second quarter of 2018, the fifth-generation Lexus LS shares its underpinnings with the LC 500 coupé. The Japanese brand’s flagship sedan draws its urge from a new 3,5-litre twin-turbo V6 that delivers 310 kW and 600 N.m of torque to either the rear or all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The result is a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4,5 seconds (in all-wheel-drive models, that is).

4. Mercedes-Benz CLS

The third-generation CLS is the first Mercedes-Benz to adopt the Stuttgart-based brand’s “new design idiom”, but also shares much with the E-Class on which it is based (and even gains some S-Class tech). Initially, just a trio of 3,0-litre six-cylinder mills will be offered, with each sending their oomph to all four wheels: the CLS 350d 4Matic (210 kW and 600 N.m), CLS 400d 4Matic (250 kW and 700 N.m) and electrified CLS 450 4Matic (270 kW and 500 N.m). Bank on an arrival in SA in the final quarter of 2018.

5. Audi A8

The fourth-generation Audi A8 is due on local shores in the second quarter of the year, sporting a fresh design and a bunch of semi-autonomous technology features. All models will ship standard with quattro all-wheel drive, with a 210 kW 3,0 TDI and 250 kW 3,0T FSI on the cards. Later, we can expect a 320 kW 4,0 TDI and 338 kW 4,2 TFSI to be added to the line-up, with the flagship 6,0-litre W12 likely hot on their heels. A plug-in hybrid variant has also been developed.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/5-new-luxury-cars-coming-to-south-africa-in-2018/
 
WATCH: Lexus showcases its new LS 500 F Sport in 'Black Panther'

United States - The Lexus LS 500 SPORT stars besides man of the moment, Chadwick Boseman of Black Panther.

Lexus is once again taking part in advertising’s biggest day of the year in the USA with a commercial ready to air during TV coverage of the Super Bowl on February 4.

A car fit for kings, or the king for that matter, T’Challa from Black Panther displays his energetic and strong nature in the latest advertisement for America’s Super Bowl LII 2018.

Long live the king

The ad campaign is aptly titled “Long Live the King,” which seamlessly incorporates actual footage from the Black Panther movie and includes Letitia Wright who stars as T’Challa’s sister, Shuri.

The full ad features many of the film’s actors, plus a cameo appearance by the Lexus LC luxury coupe.

In South Africa, Black Panther is 2018’s most anticipated movie and debuts on Friday, 16 February at most cinemas. With a strong representation of some of SA’s finest actors in major roles, the cast includes the great John Kani, his son Atandwa Kani and legendary actress Connie Chiume.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/WildOnWhe...-new-ls-500-f-sport-in-black-panther-20180202

[video=youtube_share;01AEuxSlIMg]https://youtu.be/01AEuxSlIMg[/video]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X