Toyota Motor Sales USA (TMS) has revealed a second facelift for the fourth generation Lexus LS sedan, not the fifth generation model that had been expected. This is the first time that the brand’s flagship has not been replaced after five-six years of production.
The facelifted car, which in North America is the 2013 model year LS, gains Lexus’ so-called ‘spindle’ grille design as seen on the latest RX and GS models. Another novelty for the LS is the first appearance of F Sport trim, giving Lexus a rival for the albeit far more powerful (520hp) Audi S8.
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The (386hp) F Sport is powered by Toyota’s 1UR-FSE 4.6-litre V8. It also features lowered suspension, Brembo brakes, 19″ wheels, sports seats and paddle shifters for its standard automatic transmission. All model variants have had revisions to the steering, brakes and suspension in an attempt to make them handle more dynamically. This signals a shift for the big Lexus away from its traditional image as a pure luxury liner rather than a sports sedan.
As with the outgoing vehicle, the line-up starts with the LS 460, which is powered by the same 386hp 4.6-litre V8 as the 2012 model year car. The LS 600hL keeps its 5.0-litre V8+ two electric motors hybrid powertrain. The same 2UR-FSE engine as in the outgoing car produces 389hp in the new LS 600h.
The model range is as follows: LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600hL, and LS 460 F Sport. All-wheel drive is available for all but the F Sport and is standard for the hybrid. The petrol-electric car continues to have a CVT whereas other variants have an updated eight-speed automatic.
The styling refresh comes at a crucial time. In the US, the car’s long-time largest market, LS sales were just 3,036 units in the first half of 2012. This compares to 4,201 for the same period of 2011, a fall of 28%, figures issued by TMS show.
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By GlobalDataThe decision to give the LS a second facelift, thus extending its lifecycle beyond six years is a brave one by Toyota. The Audi A8 is not yet three years old, a refreshed BMW 7 Series is currently being launched globally, while a new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is only weeks away. The big Benz and the LS have long been rivals, battling one another for sales supremacy not only in the US, but increasingly, in China, Russia, Japan, and to a lesser extent, India too.
The Tahara plant in Japan’s Aichi prefecture has been the build location for every LS since the launch of the first generation in 1989. It should manufacture the new car for another three years, at which point the fifth generation model, likely to feature a new platform and new engines, would be introduced. This presumed nine-year lifecycle would be by far the longest in the history of the LS series.
Author: Glenn Brooks
