Motoring Australia reports that the next-generation Lexus LS will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, and will share engine options with the upcoming LC coupe:
Lexus insiders say the LC 500’s V8 will develop around 350kW (469 hp). Heading the coupe line-up (at least until an LC-F hottie surfaces) will be an LC 500h version which will employ a V8 hybrid combination pumping out upwards of 405kW (543 hp).
Apart from upping the ante on luxury, refinement and safety, the new LS is tipped to introduce the latest version of Toyota’s autonomous driving technology.
Introducing the LS in Tokyo this year makes a certain kind of sense, though I’m surprised to see it before the production version of the LF-LC coupe. Another point to consider is that the timing doesn’t fit with Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken’s announcement earlier this year:
“In addition to the four new or mid-cycle product refreshes that I revealed at the show this morning, there will also be an all-new generation introduction later this year, a special edition later in the year like the Crafted Line, and we’re going to drop turbo engines into multiple vehicles.”
The all-new generation model was obviously the fourth-generation RX, so unless the product rollout has changed significantly since January, something’s not adding up.
(I’ve always liked the idea of the next-generation LS debuting in Detroit due to the history there, but a safer bet at this point would be for the production LF-LC will be shown at next year’s show.)
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