While we’re on the topic of Lexus LS 460s with crazy paint jobs, here’s an absolutely unreal pink LS from Florida that takes it to a whole other level:

Words fail me — be sure to check out the rest of photos on Club Lexus for the full effect.

Earlier this year, we saw a chrome-wrapped Lexus LS 460 from Kuwait, and now here’s a golden edition from the very same country Abu Dhabi:

Even if I could understand the desire to metallic-wrap a vehicle, I think the LS would be my very last pick for the process.

Update: A friend of this car’s owner, Ahmad, has let us know that this LS is no longer gold, but now a fantastic blue:

Here’s a clever LS 460 commercial from Lexus Germany:

Captures the LS 460’s Mark Levinson system perfectly — there’s nothing quite like live music through those 19 speakers, in my experience.

Here’s a neat story from blogger Mike CJ that combines the first-ever UK Lexus LS 400, Twitter and a whole heap of coincidence — here’s a quote but I recommend reading the full article:

Way back in 1990, I was still in my 20’s and had recently been appointed to a role as a Training Manager at Toyota GB in Surrey. Ice, Ice Baby was at number one, Nelson Mandela had been set free and we were still marvelling that the Berlin Wall had come down the previous year.  I loved my job, and it was a fabulous time to be working for Toyota, as we were preparing to launch a whole new luxury car brand onto the UK market – Lexus.

When I heard that the [first LS 400] had arrived, I almost ran down the stairs to find it in one of our training bays. It was dark metallic green with tan leather.

It’s probably quite hard to imagine the impact that first LS 400 had back in 1990.

I’ve often considered buying an old Jensen, so I did what we all do. I Google’d “Classic cars UK” to see what was available and how much one would cost. I clicked on the site that came up number one, and looked at several examples.

With my dream Jensen in mind, I absentmindedly scrolled through the menu and was surprised to see Lexus amongst the Morgans and Lotus’.

Great to see Lexus GB buying a little bit of its history — I wonder what kind of story that LS could tell?

20 years is a long time, but the LS has this “timelessness” about it, and has aged so well. I may be bias, but it’s still a great looking car.

(Note: The picture above is not the same LS in the article, hard to find a dark green pre-1993 update LS 400.)

[Source: Mike's Life]

Been going through a lot of old files lately, and I stumbled on this brilliant photo of a VIP’d Lexus LS & GS prowling the streets together:

This has to be one of my all-time favorite Lexus shots, I wish I knew who took the shot and where it came from. Has anyone seen it before?

Update: Special thanks to Wunko for correctly identifying this photo as a product shot for Fortissimo body kits — and for linking to a Club Lexus thread that has even more photos:

The Bangkok Post has some engine variation rumors regarding the RX & LS:

Later this year, Japan’s top nameplate is set to offer a third engine variant of its RX sport-utility vehicle in the guise of RX270 with 2WD. For the first time, the new entry-level RX would be getting a four-cylinder petrol engine currently used in the Toyota Fortuner and Land Cruiser Prado.

Such a move would help widen the RX customer base, which currently has only two pricey options including the V6-powered RX350 and hybrid-driven RX450h, both of which are priced at over B5m due to 50% excise tax.

Earlier, Lexus had pledged to not build a four-pot motor for the RX in the form of RX240 (Toyota Harrier-style) fearing a diluted image.[..]

For long, Thai product planners have aspired for a six-pot unit for the flagship LS saloon which its parent firm in Japan refused to develop.

Sources say it is possible the next-generation LS could see a V6 option alongside the V8 (LS460) and hybrid (LS600h) so it can compete with the BMW 730i and Mercedes-Benz S300 on the B8m front. A hybrid version using the V6 petrol/electric combination of the RX450h and GS450h is also possible.

A RX 240 wouldn’t be entirely out of the question, after all, the ES 240 has been available in China since last year — however, I’m sure Lexus will wait to see how the RX 270 is received before making any decision.

As for the LS V6 rumor, it’s an older rumor, and it certainly makes sense given the import taxes placed on big V8s in some countries. More interesting is the thought of using the hybrid/V6 from the RXh, which would turn a V6 flagship sedan into something with much larger potential appeal.

LS 450h, anyone?

[Source: The Bangkok Post]