Interactive tour:
http://lexus.com/allnewls/

More nitty-gritty details/pricing/etc
http://lexus.com/models/LS/

All new chassis design. The engine is all new - the first ground up redesign of the Lexus V8 since Lexus existed as a brand in the US 17 years ago. Aluminum block, magnesium heads, 380hp, 8-speed auto, long wheel base and short wheel base available, long wheel base with late availability of AWD and hybrid electric system (making a total of 450hp).

SWB w/ no extras msrp of 61k... LWB w/ no extras (though comes standard with a few options on the SWD) is 71k. The LWB hybrid AWD with every option available is rumored to be the first Lexus to hit the 100k mark.

Almost all editorials and reviews of it have been very very positive. Handling is still not class-leading, but it doesn't try to be, and isn't exactly bad either - in fact it's very capable...just not much in the feedback department.

This new LS has an astounding number of toys, gadgets, and new features - my question is how problem free or not so problem free will the first model year be with all of these new toys? Lexus has always been mostly a follower of technology (except in safety) which allowed them to copy other designs and improve upon their reliability and functionality. But this new model introduces quite a few features not available anywhere else (to my knowledge).

edit: I know the car's standard climate system has infrared sensors that detect hot and cold areas of the occupant's body and direct air more to those areas to compensate, but I don't see it mentioned on their website.

Also - they mention the body is 'hand sanded' three times over for the painting process and that is typically reserved for custom aftermarket paint jobs... is that true? I always thought a good OEM paint job was near impossible to beat with an aftermarket job... at least in terms of quality and durability? What improvement would that allow for the paint? Less orange peel? More shine? I've seen pics of the new LS in real life (not in a studio) and man the dark colors look amazing. The lighter colors don't look that special, really.

 

pretty impressive gadgets on this car, but the styling doesnt do it for me..

 

ironically a friend sent me this link that shows a little bit about the automatic parallel parking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkEu-PdVlK0

He is invited to the LS460 event here in Houston at the end of the month and asked if I would go with him. Let me look first hand at this car.

 

I have read reviews of American rags praising this car, but recently read Car magazine from England, and they werent too nice to it, amazingly. There was a comment made about the interior being marginaly better then the Toyota Asiens or whatever they sell in Europe, and they added that the interior will only amaze American consumers.
They had a whole thing about the paint process in Oct MT. I cant find it now, but they had some really cool features.

 

drove it in austria back in july. it's actually very very good. and the engine sounds (and goes) ballsy.

 

This was the claim made by Jim Press at the LS 600h L intro in Chicago.

OEM paint jobs tend to adhere well since they have the advantage of starting with a "virgin" surface, but frankly most of them kinda suck in terms of appearance. I don't know what a "factory" LS paint job will look like, but the vehicles I've seen in person (which perhaps have received some extra attention) have looked spectacular.

 

Nice overall package. Exterior styling is a little bland for me but maybe the target market likes low profile cars. I like the interior, especially the back seat. Making a long wheel base is a smart move. Cadillac really should build the STS-L in the US and not just China.

 

Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but to people really need all that crap on their cars. If you can't parrallel park, you shouldn't drive. Of course I keep cars well past their warranty period, so perhaps I am looking at it from having to fix all the roken gizmo's.

 

That's what the luxury scene is all about these days.

If I was getting one I'd get the navigation, mark levinson stereo, comfort package (adds heated/cooled seats and a few other nice touches) and that's it. Absolutely nothing more. At the 61k base MSRP I think you are getting a really solid, well crafted, reliable car for your money. Tack on a few features you'd actually appreciate (I love nav systems and am big into audio)... but past that it seems like I'd have a hard time justifying the rest of those options unless I just had a bunch of money to blow to impress my golfing buddies. I can see some of the nice rear seat features like the extended wheel base, ottoman recliner, seperate rear seat climate system, massage function, LCD TV, cooler, etc if I was being driven around sitting in the back seat - but man if I'm going to pay 40 grand a year for my own personal driver, I'm probably going to be able to afford a car even nicer than an 80k dollar car. I'd probably be getting a Maybach or something...

BTW... about stuff breaking - I was wondering about that with all the gizmos, but Lexus said their target is to have fewer initial defects on the first year of this launch than the SC430 currently does (which is well into its model life and also currently the world record holder for PP100 initial defects according to JD Power). I guess we'll see if they do, but Lexus has always been pretty good about making their high tech stuff non-dependent on one another... so if something breaks, it's not going to screw up the entire car and keep you from getting from point A to point B safely and comfortably. You'll just be down a feature.

 

That thing reminds me WAAAAAY too much of a Camry for me to take its pedigree seriously. They obviously spent a whole lot of time on engineering its platform, driveline, doo-dads and gee-gaws, but they could have spent an extra half hour or so, and actually make it look interesting...

Bottom line, beautiful, wonderful car, until you have to look at it sitting in your driveway.

 

I agree, its design is not that great. It looks like a fancy Camry, as did the last generation and the generation before that.
Its an amazing car, but when you look at the new sleek S class, the 7 series, A8 or the XJ...it doesnt stand out that well. I think that the new S class looks amazing, took a lot from the CLS with that swoop design, very nice.

 

I was able to see one in Toyota Mega-web in Tokyo. Awesome car. Its the equivalent of MB or BMW in Japan. I know some of you dont like its style but i kinda like its simplicity. Flamboyance is usually for sports cars. If you are wealthy, self-assured and no mid-life crisis, you'd prefer a low-profile car that exudes comfort and class. Unless you are a rapper or a rockstar, then you get a Bentley or RR

 

Yawn... another boring appliance from the king of boring cars.

 

Car doesn't pass up a chance to snipe at America. They had a blame America headline recently regarding the new Mini. Apparently the new one rides better or something.

It would be like C&D having a blame Europe headline for the bulbous front ends on new sporty cars (to meet the new pedestrian impact regs).

Somehow, it seems to me that if Mini gives a better ride to the new Mini and handling is somewhat less sharp, then it's Mini's "fault".

Car is the only UK automotive magazine I've seen that whines (whinges) like this. The others, such as Autocar, stick to writing about the cars.
So it's not surpising that Car gives a review like this to a car designed for the American market. I can already predict their review of the new Camaro.

 

That parking thing is badass. I can't let my wife find out about this car or she'll want one