Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Autumn Shimmer

2006 Lexus GS300(V6 3.0L)------2007 Lexus GS350(3.5L) same thing happened with the GS430 and GS460.
2018 Lexus LS350 (V6 3.5L)-------2019 Lexus LSxxx(V6 3.0L)

Also makes a lot of sense if the next IS350 RC350 and GS350 gets a 3.0LTT(just saying) and they are all due for a refresh in 2019/2020. why not put the same 3.0LTT engine in the LS 350 at least they all share the same engine in 2018 so why can't they do the same in 2019?

(This is just my way of viewing things and keeping the hope alive. cheers!!)

2006 Lexus GS300(V6 3.0L)------2007 Lexus GS350(3.5L) same thing happened with the GS430 and GS460.
2018 Lexus LS350 (V6 3.5L)-------2019 Lexus LSxxx(V6 3.0L)

Also makes a lot of sense if the next IS350 RC350 and GS350 gets a 3.0LTT(just saying) and they are all due for a refresh in 2019/2020. why not put the same 3.0LTT engine in the LS 350 at least they all share the same engine in 2018 so why can't they do the same in 2019?

(This is just my way of viewing things and keeping the hope alive. cheers!!)

2006 Lexus GS300(V6 3.0L)------2007 Lexus GS350(3.5L) same thing happened with the GS430 and GS460.
2018 Lexus LS350 (V6 3.5L)-------2019 Lexus LSxxx(V6 3.0L)

Also makes a lot of sense if the next IS350 RC350 and GS350 gets a 3.0LTT(just saying) and they are all due for a refresh in 2019/2020. why not put the same 3.0LTT engine in the LS 350 at least they all share the same engine in 2018 so why can't they do the same in 2019?

(This is just my way of viewing things and keeping the hope alive. cheers!!)

2006 Lexus GS300(V6 3.0L)------2007 Lexus GS350(3.5L) same thing happened with the GS430 and GS460.
2018 Lexus LS350 (V6 3.5L)-------2019 Lexus LSxxx(V6 3.0L)

Also makes a lot of sense if the next IS350 RC350 and GS350 gets a 3.0LTT(just saying) and they are all due for a refresh in 2019/2020. why not put the same 3.0LTT engine in the LS 350 at least they all share the same engine in 2018 so why can't they do the same in 2019?

(This is just my way of viewing things and keeping the hope alive. cheers!!)

Rhambler

That's why I think this car will be a sales flop. There's not many people that buy this class of car to begin with and when you're spending this much, why compromise?

This is going to be underpowered and overpriced.

The only way this thing moves off of lots is if Lexus undercuts the G90 price wise. Kind of sad I even have to say that, but that's a hard truth because it doesn't offer anything worthy of its reported price tag.

If I'm spending this much (Lexus will probably price this like the A8 V8 or 750i), I want it all. Not some puddly V6.

We don't know the price but since Benz is introducing a V-6 with 350hp and the base A8 V-6 has about 333hp and the 740i I-6 has 320hp, well the Lexus V-6 clearly out muscles them. Obviously Lexus doesn't even offer a V-8 yet in the LS.

"Wanting it all" sounds good on the internet but in the real world that rarely happens. Most are bought by people that want this size/class of car with some features. Most are silver/black/white. Many are for fleet and business. The badge is what matters to many which is why the Germans can sell 6 cylinders for the price of a 8 cylinder LS (pre 2018). There are some that cross shop but its not a bunch of people, people usually want what they want and they kind of already know what brand appeals to them.

Wanting it all? I've built this entire class many times, you can jump from 80k to 110k in a 740iL. You can jump from a 120k S8 to 160k. Most are not going to make a 30-40k jump like that. Most will do 10k in options.

With the LS and its very aggressive styling for its class, its aiming not for people that particularly care about the numbers and less so the badge. They do want to be seen, they want to make a statement, they do not want to blend in. The LS has this in spades.

So what the LS loses maybe in some spec ares, it wins in styling for people that want it. Surely many traditional LS buyers will dislike the styling and can move to a German or the Kia/Hyundai versions of the LS.

Rhambler

That's why I think this car will be a sales flop. There's not many people that buy this class of car to begin with and when you're spending this much, why compromise?

This is going to be underpowered and overpriced.

The only way this thing moves off of lots is if Lexus undercuts the G90 price wise. Kind of sad I even have to say that, but that's a hard truth because it doesn't offer anything worthy of its reported price tag.

If I'm spending this much (Lexus will probably price this like the A8 V8 or 750i), I want it all. Not some puddly V6.

We don't know the price but since Benz is introducing a V-6 with 350hp and the base A8 V-6 has about 333hp and the 740i I-6 has 320hp, well the Lexus V-6 clearly out muscles them. Obviously Lexus doesn't even offer a V-8 yet in the LS.

"Wanting it all" sounds good on the internet but in the real world that rarely happens. Most are bought by people that want this size/class of car with some features. Most are silver/black/white. Many are for fleet and business. The badge is what matters to many which is why the Germans can sell 6 cylinders for the price of a 8 cylinder LS (pre 2018). There are some that cross shop but its not a bunch of people, people usually want what they want and they kind of already know what brand appeals to them.

Wanting it all? I've built this entire class many times, you can jump from 80k to 110k in a 740iL. You can jump from a 120k S8 to 160k. Most are not going to make a 30-40k jump like that. Most will do 10k in options.

With the LS and its very aggressive styling for its class, its aiming not for people that particularly care about the numbers and less so the badge. They do want to be seen, they want to make a statement, they do not want to blend in. The LS has this in spades.

So what the LS loses maybe in some spec ares, it wins in styling for people that want it. Surely many traditional LS buyers will dislike the styling and can move to a German or the Kia/Hyundai versions of the LS.

Rhambler

That's why I think this car will be a sales flop. There's not many people that buy this class of car to begin with and when you're spending this much, why compromise?

This is going to be underpowered and overpriced.

The only way this thing moves off of lots is if Lexus undercuts the G90 price wise. Kind of sad I even have to say that, but that's a hard truth because it doesn't offer anything worthy of its reported price tag.

If I'm spending this much (Lexus will probably price this like the A8 V8 or 750i), I want it all. Not some puddly V6.

We don't know the price but since Benz is introducing a V-6 with 350hp and the base A8 V-6 has about 333hp and the 740i I-6 has 320hp, well the Lexus V-6 clearly out muscles them. Obviously Lexus doesn't even offer a V-8 yet in the LS.

"Wanting it all" sounds good on the internet but in the real world that rarely happens. Most are bought by people that want this size/class of car with some features. Most are silver/black/white. Many are for fleet and business. The badge is what matters to many which is why the Germans can sell 6 cylinders for the price of a 8 cylinder LS (pre 2018). There are some that cross shop but its not a bunch of people, people usually want what they want and they kind of already know what brand appeals to them.

Wanting it all? I've built this entire class many times, you can jump from 80k to 110k in a 740iL. You can jump from a 120k S8 to 160k. Most are not going to make a 30-40k jump like that. Most will do 10k in options.

With the LS and its very aggressive styling for its class, its aiming not for people that particularly care about the numbers and less so the badge. They do want to be seen, they want to make a statement, they do not want to blend in. The LS has this in spades.

So what the LS loses maybe in some spec ares, it wins in styling for people that want it. Surely many traditional LS buyers will dislike the styling and can move to a German or the Kia/Hyundai versions of the LS.

Rhambler

That's why I think this car will be a sales flop. There's not many people that buy this class of car to begin with and when you're spending this much, why compromise?

This is going to be underpowered and overpriced.

The only way this thing moves off of lots is if Lexus undercuts the G90 price wise. Kind of sad I even have to say that, but that's a hard truth because it doesn't offer anything worthy of its reported price tag.

If I'm spending this much (Lexus will probably price this like the A8 V8 or 750i), I want it all. Not some puddly V6.

We don't know the price but since Benz is introducing a V-6 with 350hp and the base A8 V-6 has about 333hp and the 740i I-6 has 320hp, well the Lexus V-6 clearly out muscles them. Obviously Lexus doesn't even offer a V-8 yet in the LS.

"Wanting it all" sounds good on the internet but in the real world that rarely happens. Most are bought by people that want this size/class of car with some features. Most are silver/black/white. Many are for fleet and business. The badge is what matters to many which is why the Germans can sell 6 cylinders for the price of a 8 cylinder LS (pre 2018). There are some that cross shop but its not a bunch of people, people usually want what they want and they kind of already know what brand appeals to them.

Wanting it all? I've built this entire class many times, you can jump from 80k to 110k in a 740iL. You can jump from a 120k S8 to 160k. Most are not going to make a 30-40k jump like that. Most will do 10k in options.

With the LS and its very aggressive styling for its class, its aiming not for people that particularly care about the numbers and less so the badge. They do want to be seen, they want to make a statement, they do not want to blend in. The LS has this in spades.

So what the LS loses maybe in some spec ares, it wins in styling for people that want it. Surely many traditional LS buyers will dislike the styling and can move to a German or the Kia/Hyundai versions of the LS.

Rhambler

In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.

I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.

Rhambler

In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.

I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.

Rhambler

In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.

I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.

Rhambler

In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.

I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.

Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...

Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...

Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...

Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...

They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.

They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.

They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.

They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.

Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

Rhambler

However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.

Rhambler

However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.

Rhambler

However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.

Rhambler

However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.

Rhambler

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

If you think anyone is buying flagship luxury sedans solely because of a few tenths of a second 0-60, you don't understand anything about this segment.

The LS is 11 years old and the S Class and 7 Series have seen 2 full generations since it was introduced.

Rhambler

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.

If you think anyone is buying flagship luxury sedans solely because of a few tenths of a second 0-60, you don't understand anything about this segment.

The LS is 11 years old and the S Class and 7 Series have seen 2 full generations since it was introduced.