2018 Lexus LS 500 (5th Generation)

All-new LS flagship.

It is possible that no single automobile has, upon introduction, upended its category as decisively as the first Lexus LS did when it launched the luxury brand 28 years ago. The 1990 LS 400 was the original luxury disruptor, winning critical acclaim and astonishing customers by setting new benchmarks for comfort, powertrain performance and smoothness, quietness, build quality, attention to detail, and dependability. The brand supported that groundbreaking vehicle by setting and maintaining new standards for customer service and satisfaction.

Now, Lexus is about to repeat history with the introduction of the all-new, fifth-generation LS flagship sedan for 2018, unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Inside and out, the new LS reflects a strong, uniquely Japanese identity and approach to luxury. Yet, the LS was designed to be the brand's latest global citizen, available in about 90 countries.

For both high power and excellent fuel efficiency, Lexus designed an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine specifically for the new LS with all-new twin turbos developed through the company's F1 technology. This new engine in the LS is indicative of the more dynamic approach being taken by Lexus, offering V8-level power without sacrificing fuel economy-all while minimizing noise and vibration. The new LS engine offers the output one would expect in a flagship sedan: 415 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, sizeable gains over the current LS model's V8. The long stroke and optimized stroke-to-bore ratio contribute to high-speed combustion and the efficiency of the twin turbos, which assist the LS with a projected 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds (RWD).

Perhaps more critical is how Lexus tuned the engine and transmission to deliver instant acceleration and a constant buildup of torque toward the engine's redline.

A ladder frame structure in the cylinder block, redesigned engine mounts, electric wastegates and numerous other features help ensure the remarkable powertrain smoothness, a Lexus hallmark. The driver will be able to tailor powertrain response and feel by choosing from Normal to Sport to Sport+ modes, and just enough of the exhaust note can be heard to enhance the sporty feel.

The first-ever 10-speed automatic transmission for a premium passenger car, having already debuted in the Lexus LC 500, is also used in the new LS flagship sedan. It is a torque-converter automatic, yet with shift times that rival those of dual-clutch transmissions. The wide bandwidth afforded by ten closely spaced ratios is ideal for all forms of driving, helping to provide an optimal gear for all conditions.

https://www.netcarshow.com/lexus/2018-ls_500/

Lexus is hoping to shoulder its way into the super luxury segment where BMW’s 7 Series and Merc’s S-Class currently rule the roost, with an all-new version of its flagship sedan, the LS 500.

This fifth generation of the giant Japanese limo is taking a unique approach however, with a pure focus on quality, comfort and driveability, rather than following self-driving trends. The new LS’s lengthy media release, which accompanied the car’s unveiling this week goes into great detail about Shimamoku wood patterned interior panels, Japanese lantern-inspired cabin lighting and Shiatsu massage functions, but makes no mention of any autonomous technologies.

And it might not be just a clever tactic. Lexus believes modern luxury sedan owners are demanding a more in touch experience from their cars, not only when sipping saki at the back but also steering themselves between board meetings.

The 5.2 metre-long limo rolls on the same platform as the recently introduced LC 500 coupe but lengthened to a wheelbase of 3124mm for obvious reasons and equipped with a fancy air suspension that offers premium waftability and self raises to allow easier entry and exit. The air ride also combines with a new chassis management system which ties together the car’s braking, steering, suspension and drivetrain, and adjusts everything according to drive mode selection. The new LS also gets four wheel steering which should help keep things true at high speed, and aid in manoeuvrability in tight situations.

The new LS 500 ditches the outgoing model’s 4.6-litre V8 for a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, but power goes up from 285kW and 493Nm to 309kW and 600Nm. The current LS 460’s eight-speed gearbox also makes way for a new 10-speeder – the same as used in the new LC. Lexus says the LS, which weighs 90kg less than before, can go from 0-100km/h in around 4.5 seconds putting it in contention performance-wise with the 750i and S500.

Wheel sizes range from 19 to 20-inches, and of the five new designs four feature a new hollow rim structure designed to suppress road noise. And while on the topic of road noise, the LS also adopts active noise cancelling technology which deletes unwanted frequencies by anti-phasing audio speakers (including those in the ceiling) in the onboard Mark Levinson 3D sound system.

Lexus has emphasised the LS’s driver’s car nature by including foldable rear ottomans and reclining backrests as optional extras, while at the front you’ll find 28-way adjustable seats with heating, cooling and massaging (yes, Shiatsu) functions as standard equipment. The driver’s side bolster also relaxes when the door is opened to make it easier to slide in and out, and dashboard controls have been laid out in a way so the driver shouldn’t have to adjust his posture to reach anything. There’s also a handwriting touchpad for infotainment entry commands, even if similar setups have proven tricky (or nearly impossible) to use in rival models.

The multimedia and navigation interface uses a rather large 12.3-inch colour display, but Lexus has also devised a massive 24-inch (that’s two feet!) heads-up display which projects onto the windscreen in full colour – again as an optional extra.

Expect pricing for the new Lexus LS 500 to become available closer to time of launch in around a year’s time.

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/cars/lexus/lexus-unveils-its-all-new-ls-500-flagship-sedan-7370399

That ostentatious front grille has grown on me. Those chrome wheels have to go tho...

SA-bound Lexus LS revealed with new biturbo V6

The LS badge is the oldest in the Lexus range and has stood as the brand’s flagship since it was first introduced to the global market back in 1989. This new fifth-generation model has just been revealed in Detroit, and is based on the GA-L platform used by the LC 500 Coupe, meaning that the new executive sedan will be both lower and wider than before.

The LS features a dramatic exterior design and large windows, and sits on a set of 19-inch wheels (20-inch wheels are optional). The interior, on the other hand, does not adopt a new design direction and looks much like a revised layout found in the current LS (and includes an optional Mark Levinson surround sound speaker system).

Mechanically, the Lexus LS boasts a new 3,5-litre biturbo V6 which delivers 310 kW and 600 N.m of torque to the rear 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, it must be added).

Along with the new GA-L platform comes the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system that serves to optimise braking, steering, powertrain and suspension systems in order to keep the large sedan as balanced as possible.

The luxury sedan will be released in 90 different countries. Expect to see it in South Africa in the first quarter of 2018, with local specifications set to be released closer to the time.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/sa-bound-lexus-ls-revealed-with-new-biturbo-v6/

The Lexus LS will make its South African debut in Q1 of 2018 with local specification details published closer to the time.

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/twin-turbo-lexus-ls-debuts-in-detroit/42970/#.WHZzNstXehA

The re-imagined LS will make its South African debut in Q1 of 2018 with local specification details published closer to local release date.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels...-need-to-know-about-the-new-ls-sedan-20170112

Lexus LS 500h

The 2018 Lexus LS 500h, the full hybrid version of Lexus' new flagship sedan, was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

The model, which follows the world premiere of the twin-turbo gas V6-powered LS 500 at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, is a further manifestation of how Lexus has reimagined the luxury sedan, presenting bold design, enhanced performance and a sophisticated appeal to capture the imagination of forward-thinking customers.

The car's design successfully brings together the virtues of a long-wheelbase four-door sedan with a low, coupe-like profile, positioning the LS perfectly across the growing sedan and coupe segments.

The cabin has benefited from an equally new approach, focusing on "progressive comfort," interpreting Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship traditions in the context of an advanced, luxurious and innovative vehicle interior such as the unique door trim ornamentation. Notably, the LS 500 was honored at the NAIAS with the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence - Interior Design.

Conceived as the new global pinnacle of the Lexus brand, the LS goes beyond what the world expects from a luxury car. Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi explained: "Developing such a flagship model required a massive paradigm shift. Rather than being bound by the conventions that had defined luxury cars in the past, we aimed to create a car with innovative, emotional and sensual appeal that would draw customers' eyes away from other luxury cars and provide entirely new values."

The Lexus LS 500h is equipped with the new Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, which provides enhanced responsiveness and linear acceleration, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. The powertrain features a 3.5-liter V6 Dual VVT-i V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors, together delivering maximum system power of 354 hp.

The Lexus LS 500h is built on the new Lexus Global Architecture - Luxury (GA-L) platform, which is shared with the all-new LC. This platform ensures a low center of gravity and optimum weight distribution, contributing to the car's essential stability and handling agility, which in turn deliver increased driver rewards. The fundamental high rigidity of the chassis allows the new multi-link suspension to be tuned to achieve enhanced handling performance and the supreme comfort for which the LS is renowned. The car's dynamic performance also benefits from the coordination of braking, steering and stability systems through Lexus Dynamic Handling.

https://www.netcarshow.com/lexus/2018-ls_500h/

Awesome. The only thing that needs to change are the rims.

Slootvreter said:

Awesome. The only thing that needs to change are the rims.

Click to expand...

Hybrid or gasoline for you sir?

that front grill is an optical illusion...

I hate this damn grill
Lexus seem to think it's a wonderful feature.

Lexus to give its new LS 500 the F Sport treatment

Lexus has released a teaser image of the upcoming LS 500 F Sport.

The new LS 500 F Sport will make its first international appearance at the 2017 New York International Auto Show later this month.

We’ve already seen the new flagship LS sedan, which is based on the extended version of the Japanese brand’s GA-L platform (shared with the LC Coupé), but this will be the first appearance of the new F Sport version in fifth-generation guise.

The automaker claims that the LS F Sport will exploit this new platform’s “responsiveness and agility” to provide the “most engaging” LS driving experience yet.

The F Sport package will be available on both the LS 500 and LS 500h models. No word yet on whether the local line-up will include F Sport derivatives when it launches in South Africa in the first quarter of 2018.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/lexus-to-give-its-new-ls-500-the-f-sport-treatment/

Lexus LS 500 F Sport Teased

Lexus has released a teaser image of the all-new LS 500 F Sport ahead of its official reveal at the upcoming New York Motor Show.

Earlier this year Lexus introduced the LS 500 luxury sedan and the hybridised LS 500h to the world. Now, Lexus has announced the introduction of the sportier LS 500 F Sport which due to make its global debut at the New York Motor Show on 14 April 2017.

The LS 500 F Sport is based on an extended version of the brand’s GA-L platform and Lexus promises the “most engaging LS driving experience yet”. Furthermore, according to Lexus, the LS 500 F Sport will offer “enhanced handling, ride smoothness and cabin quietness”.

The teaser image shows the rear of the LS 500 F Sport with tinted taillights, a gloss black diffuser and integrated dual exhaust system with chrome tailpipes. An F Sport badge is also seen on the boot lid.

Further details are to be revealed soon and we will keep you updated as more information is revealed at the New York Motor Show.

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/lexus-ls-500-f-sport-teased/43213/

Loving Lexus design. Incredibly progressive. Will still look fresh 10 years down the line.

Lexus LS 500 F Sport

Having debuted its reinvented flagship sedan in early 2017 - the all-new 2018 LS - Lexus is putting an exclamation point on this signature model with the new F SPORT model. The Lexus LS F SPORT, unveiled and on display at the 2017 New York International Auto Show, moves the driving emotion needle even farther with handling enhancements and a performance-infused design outside and in.

The original luxury disruptor when it debuted to launch the brand, the Lexus LS has for nearly three decades set benchmarks for powertrain smoothness, ride quietness, craftsmanship, attention to detail, and long-term quality. The 2018 LS will offer the most dynamic driving experience in the model's history; now it has the possibility of being enhanced further with the new F SPORT model.

Available in petrol and hybrid powertrains, the F SPORT version of the LS, will imbue the standard model with a more engaging driving spirit through carefully applied chassis tuning and enhancements, while still emphasizing exceptional comfort.

F SPORT Look

Lexus designers didn't hold back when giving the LS its coupe-like silhouette and dramatic rendition of the Lexus signature spindle grille that shows even greater intricacy in the design. Developing the F SPORT grille took computer-aided design (CAD) operators some five months to achieve the desired texture and interaction with light. Even then, they adjusted 7,100 individual surfaces to achieve the desired look and texture (compared to 5,000 for the standard model's grille). And when combined with the sporty enlarged side grille, the F SPORT grille is functional as well, helping to maintain the vehicle's cooling performance.

The special F SPORT front grille, rocker panel, and trunk mouldings accentuate the sedan's rakish profile, while F SPORT badging on fenders and exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior transformation. And for those looking to really stand out, White Nova and Heat Blue are offered as F SPORT-exclusive exterior colours.

F SPORT Inside

As it did with the exterior, Lexus shifted the LS cabin into F SPORT spec by applying trim and features exclusive to this version. A common thread through all LS models remains: Omotenashi, the concept of Japanese hospitality. Applied to the LS, it means taking care of the driver and passengers, anticipating their needs, attending to their comfort and helping to protect them from hazards. The F SPORT adds a performance attitude to the mix.

The F SPORT persona shines throughout the cabin, starting with the F SPORT-exclusive front seat, which provides enhanced support for dynamic driving. A perforated-grill pattern on seating surfaces and unique scored aluminum trim elements add additional sporty flair.

The driver faces a special F SPORT steering wheel as well as a speedometer and tachometer in a movable meter with a meter ring that slides to display information, a design adapted from the limited-production Lexus LFA supercar and a further expression of the car's dynamic character. Attention to detail shows in the aluminum accelerator, brake and footrest pedals, as well as the F SPORT perforated shift handle and footrest. Ultrasuede in the seats and headliner is the crowning touch. For those desiring the ultimate sporty look, a new Red interior is available exclusively on F SPORT models.

https://www.netcarshow.com/lexus/2018-ls_500_f_sport/