Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

Stunning. What a beautiful car. Wonder what the MPG is gonna look like?

Stunning. What a beautiful car. Wonder what the MPG is gonna look like?

Black D, are you still complaining about the interior of the LS after seeing these latest photos?

Black D, are you still complaining about the interior of the LS after seeing these latest photos?

Black D, are you still complaining about the interior of the LS after seeing these latest photos?

Black D, are you still complaining about the interior of the LS after seeing these latest photos?

Now that's simply stunning! What an interior!

My only problem is that someone has been too eager with Photoshop and removed the seem between the door and dashboard in some of the interior closeups. It looks like there is no seam at all.

Now that's simply stunning! What an interior!

My only problem is that someone has been too eager with Photoshop and removed the seem between the door and dashboard in some of the interior closeups. It looks like there is no seam at all.

Now that's simply stunning! What an interior!

My only problem is that someone has been too eager with Photoshop and removed the seem between the door and dashboard in some of the interior closeups. It looks like there is no seam at all.

Now that's simply stunning! What an interior!

My only problem is that someone has been too eager with Photoshop and removed the seem between the door and dashboard in some of the interior closeups. It looks like there is no seam at all.

And I was like "OMG they're going to actually build it"

And I was like "OMG they're going to actually build it"

And I was like "OMG they're going to actually build it"

And I was like "OMG they're going to actually build it"

White Beach

Does anyone notice that the new LS's introduction page on the Lexus International site (unintentionally?) reveals a photo showing the backseat that is SLIGHTLY different from those of the LS500 at NAIAS or other auto show or on the official Lexus website.

Take a look at the bottom right part of the picture, and there is a "stitched something" on the side of the rear passenger seat. I don't know if this is a proof that there will be a 4-seat variant of the LS, but at least it is certain that Lexus will bring the another variant, hopefully more luxurious one.
View attachment 2094

And this picture for a comparison.

I think that's just the left passenger seat sticking out. For all of Rydo's complaints, even though I never previously addressed them and debunked such criticism regarding the lack of genuine 4-seater LS, I knew very well from the beginning that such an arrangement existed and saw photos of it in plain sight from the moment the press release came out. It didn't seem worth the energy to correct, when I knew someone else could easily do that.

White Beach

I just found this from Lexus' youtube channel. The 5LS won't go on sale until "early 2018"??? C'mon, Lexus...
View attachment 2095

I had pointed this out weeks ago, but heard no response nor did anyone address the "early 2018" disclaimer since early February. Thanks for mentioning that, as I had said--out of frustration--that the only market to get the new LS in 2017 is probably JDM. Not surprising, as they are still running prototypes and not even pilot production units in winter testing.

This was the case with the LC, which spent half of 2016 still in development, although pilot production LCs might have started being built as early as mid-2016. I hope that the new LS doesn't become a solid 2018 1/2 model in spring 2018, as that is pushing it and at that point they cannot keep the outgoing XF40 LS for the 2018 model year (a la Infiniti Q40).

White Beach

Does anyone notice that the new LS's introduction page on the Lexus International site (unintentionally?) reveals a photo showing the backseat that is SLIGHTLY different from those of the LS500 at NAIAS or other auto show or on the official Lexus website.

Take a look at the bottom right part of the picture, and there is a "stitched something" on the side of the rear passenger seat. I don't know if this is a proof that there will be a 4-seat variant of the LS, but at least it is certain that Lexus will bring the another variant, hopefully more luxurious one.
View attachment 2094

And this picture for a comparison.

I think that's just the left passenger seat sticking out. For all of Rydo's complaints, even though I never previously addressed them and debunked such criticism regarding the lack of genuine 4-seater LS, I knew very well from the beginning that such an arrangement existed and saw photos of it in plain sight from the moment the press release came out. It didn't seem worth the energy to correct, when I knew someone else could easily do that.

White Beach

I just found this from Lexus' youtube channel. The 5LS won't go on sale until "early 2018"??? C'mon, Lexus...
View attachment 2095

I had pointed this out weeks ago, but heard no response nor did anyone address the "early 2018" disclaimer since early February. Thanks for mentioning that, as I had said--out of frustration--that the only market to get the new LS in 2017 is probably JDM. Not surprising, as they are still running prototypes and not even pilot production units in winter testing.

This was the case with the LC, which spent half of 2016 still in development, although pilot production LCs might have started being built as early as mid-2016. I hope that the new LS doesn't become a solid 2018 1/2 model in spring 2018, as that is pushing it and at that point they cannot keep the outgoing XF40 LS for the 2018 model year (a la Infiniti Q40).

White Beach

Does anyone notice that the new LS's introduction page on the Lexus International site (unintentionally?) reveals a photo showing the backseat that is SLIGHTLY different from those of the LS500 at NAIAS or other auto show or on the official Lexus website.

Take a look at the bottom right part of the picture, and there is a "stitched something" on the side of the rear passenger seat. I don't know if this is a proof that there will be a 4-seat variant of the LS, but at least it is certain that Lexus will bring the another variant, hopefully more luxurious one.
View attachment 2094

And this picture for a comparison.

I think that's just the left passenger seat sticking out. For all of Rydo's complaints, even though I never previously addressed them and debunked such criticism regarding the lack of genuine 4-seater LS, I knew very well from the beginning that such an arrangement existed and saw photos of it in plain sight from the moment the press release came out. It didn't seem worth the energy to correct, when I knew someone else could easily do that.

White Beach

I just found this from Lexus' youtube channel. The 5LS won't go on sale until "early 2018"??? C'mon, Lexus...
View attachment 2095

I had pointed this out weeks ago, but heard no response nor did anyone address the "early 2018" disclaimer since early February. Thanks for mentioning that, as I had said--out of frustration--that the only market to get the new LS in 2017 is probably JDM. Not surprising, as they are still running prototypes and not even pilot production units in winter testing.

This was the case with the LC, which spent half of 2016 still in development, although pilot production LCs might have started being built as early as mid-2016. I hope that the new LS doesn't become a solid 2018 1/2 model in spring 2018, as that is pushing it and at that point they cannot keep the outgoing XF40 LS for the 2018 model year (a la Infiniti Q40).

White Beach

Does anyone notice that the new LS's introduction page on the Lexus International site (unintentionally?) reveals a photo showing the backseat that is SLIGHTLY different from those of the LS500 at NAIAS or other auto show or on the official Lexus website.

Take a look at the bottom right part of the picture, and there is a "stitched something" on the side of the rear passenger seat. I don't know if this is a proof that there will be a 4-seat variant of the LS, but at least it is certain that Lexus will bring the another variant, hopefully more luxurious one.
View attachment 2094

And this picture for a comparison.

I think that's just the left passenger seat sticking out. For all of Rydo's complaints, even though I never previously addressed them and debunked such criticism regarding the lack of genuine 4-seater LS, I knew very well from the beginning that such an arrangement existed and saw photos of it in plain sight from the moment the press release came out. It didn't seem worth the energy to correct, when I knew someone else could easily do that.

White Beach

I just found this from Lexus' youtube channel. The 5LS won't go on sale until "early 2018"??? C'mon, Lexus...
View attachment 2095

I had pointed this out weeks ago, but heard no response nor did anyone address the "early 2018" disclaimer since early February. Thanks for mentioning that, as I had said--out of frustration--that the only market to get the new LS in 2017 is probably JDM. Not surprising, as they are still running prototypes and not even pilot production units in winter testing.

This was the case with the LC, which spent half of 2016 still in development, although pilot production LCs might have started being built as early as mid-2016. I hope that the new LS doesn't become a solid 2018 1/2 model in spring 2018, as that is pushing it and at that point they cannot keep the outgoing XF40 LS for the 2018 model year (a la Infiniti Q40).

I'm super pissed off that Lexus let their flagship LS stagnate 4-5 years past its expiration date....

*eyes catch LS500h's ruffled, bamboo-inspired door panels*

...what was I talking about again?

I'm super pissed off that Lexus let their flagship LS stagnate 4-5 years past its expiration date....

*eyes catch LS500h's ruffled, bamboo-inspired door panels*

...what was I talking about again?

I'm super pissed off that Lexus let their flagship LS stagnate 4-5 years past its expiration date....

*eyes catch LS500h's ruffled, bamboo-inspired door panels*

...what was I talking about again?

I'm super pissed off that Lexus let their flagship LS stagnate 4-5 years past its expiration date....

*eyes catch LS500h's ruffled, bamboo-inspired door panels*

...what was I talking about again?

Some ideation design sketches from 2013 and 2014 by Koichi Suga

Ian Schmidt

So Lexus just Tweeted an info page on the new LS, which is this: http://www.lexus.com/concept/LS/?cid=sf59682137+sf59682137

And that page says "Coming Fall 2017". So now I'm confused about when we'll actually be able to drive the thing, but I certainly hope it's this fall instead of this winter.

Whomever is responsible for displaying "Coming Fall 2017" probably is referring to earlier LS press releases drafted in late 2016 and needs to update that information. With the latest RX, there were simultaneous reports that it would be launched in late 2015 and some said January 2016. Ultimately, it went on sale in late 2015 in Japan and US, then early 2016 in Europe.

We'll see, but considering what happened to the LC (Z100) going from a projected January 2017 launch date to May 2017, I wouldn't put it past them to wait until early next year.

meth.ix

Wow. Great Finds! It clearly is an F Sport embelem if you look close enough. It also can't be the F embelem since you can also see the letters saying SPORT below the F.

I know it is just the camo but I like how the taillights and the have the chrome trim blacked out. Hopefully that is how it will look on the production LS F. Looks very aggressive.

Also, where did you find those photos? Are their any other shots and angles?

It is blacked out per se, because that is mostly vinyl-clad disguising over different parts of the car (especially taillights). In addition to that, as krew stated, there definitely might be gunmetal accents and the vinyl strips are genuinely working well as camouflage.

While I had been very adamant since 2015, that Lexus would move away from horizontal slat grilles starting with the LC and LS, I never discounted them offering a sportier trim level. Since that is very much dependent on decisions of the marketing department (which I am very uninvolved with), it would've been very presumptuous of me to speculate on that, even if my early prediction regarding Spindle grilles was correct.


The LC seemingly ditching F-Sport made me start to think Lexus was moving away from that for the flagship products, but as many people have said here, the LC was probably just the exception.


Although off-topic, I must say that I greatly respect you, in being so young, intelligent, (rivaling many people I worked with in the industry), and extremely involved in such discussion. I never partook in such discussion online when I was your age 12-13 years ago nor did I even fully understand much of what I do now.

I had assumed you were at least university age, but colour me shocked to discover otherwise. If you ever plan to work in the automotive industry, I can tell you that will very far if you are already at the point you are.


Back to the LS, as I wanted to pose this question regarding an F performance version. I think we should be expecting an LS-F trademark filing by the end of 2017. LC-F was filed 1 month ago, so 6-9 months apart seems feasible. LC500 and LC500h were filed in tandem in November 2014, with LS500h in May 2015 and LS500 nearly 3 months later in August 2015.


Looking back, I have to wonder if there was internal conflict at TMC over how to name their new 3.5 litre twin-turbo LS. It was easy to name the LS500h, based off of the LC500h, but unlike the 2UR-GSE powered LC500, sometime in 2015 something had to have change regarding V35A-FTS and 2UR-GSE V8 for the LS.


I only point this out, as there was unusual delay gap between the two LS trademark filings of LS500h and LS500. The decision to not offer the 2UR-GSE in the LS could have been made in 2015 and deliberately not addressed until debut.

This explains why it was testing with BMW 750i(Li) and Audi A8L 4.0t TTV8 in Colorado last year. The problem is, I hope they are certain that real world performance exceeds those two, as on paper the horsepower and torque ratings do not.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta say, the full interior with the glass is beyond my expectations. Just, wow!

mikeavelli

The interior is absolutely insane....debuts the "glass" trim..... stunning...

View attachment 2120

The first thing came to mind was a statement that Mark Templin, in which coyly gushed about "doing things we've never done in interiors before". At the level of seniority he was at, he had seen this type of interior and was obscurely referring to it, plus maybe the 24-inch HUD. That was what the augmented reality patent (filed in 2013) was for, something I speculated correctly on.

krew

I know it's unbecoming to make fun of other people's mistakes, but I can't stop myself here -- Autoblog did not read the press release properly:

View attachment 2121

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/03/07/2018-lexus-ls-500h-twin-turbo-10-speed-hybrid/

Autoblog continue to be the disgraceful idiots that they've become, in continuing to deliver obtusely written articles and unsually biased indifference out of brand favouritism. If it wasn't for the fact the current LS is so old, they'd skip out on reporting about it and continue playing dumb as they do with many Japanese and non-German products.

There is an unfair slant in automotive media against certain brands, that one cannot pretend doesn't exist. Autoblog are the same bunch that called the enormously large, RWD test mule for the LS, the redesigned FWD ES. An inexcusable observation, when it was being tested with flagship luxury products in the 7-Series and A8. (LOL Well that is unless the LS was to become a RR Phantom competitor, leaving the ES to battle the FWD-based A8 and sub-V12 Bimmer)


I worked very hard to get out as much info about the fifth gen LS as possible the past few years, as is it was very clear most news sources couldn't give a damn about it and let info about it, slip around under the radar. We can already see that many of them lackadaisically report on any useless tidbits, while salivating over the next story on a new MB CUV 5-door shooting break coupe or fifteenth billion Lamborghini Urus story.


The only thing was worse than their reporting record, is that of their atrocious comment section. Of which is mostly a peanut gallery, save for 5-10% of commentary. The slanted bias against non-European or non-German premium marques is upsetting, when it is clear in not entirely-based out of objectivity. The many times one hears that Lexus somehow needs to hire an Italian or European designer is contemptuous, when the 1989 Giugario-designed GS300 (1993), was a dowdy poor seller compared to the in-house designed second generation and stuck out like a sore thumb in the Lexus lineup.

Joaquin Ruhi

Oh, heck, you're too politically correct! ;) If someone makes an egregious mistake like that, you politely but clearly call them out on it.

Also, yet further proof of the ongoing, longtime decline of Autoblog.

Considering the source, I wouldn't even bother doing it politely, as they are broadly misinforming a LARGE audience and that I find it disrespectful and extremely careless, when they have the ability to have better quality control. Being in krew's shoes, I would probably be forced to do it politely and not in a snarky manner.

Levi

I said it they would present the 4-seater with the LS 500h, and here it is. The case for the SWB/LWB can be closed: only one size available (the longer one), which IMO is a wise decision.





It looks so good in black without chrome.

Thank you, as I had said the same thing, but we have already seen an example of the 4-seater in a lighter colour. I think Rydo's previous comment threw many people off, in assuming Lexus hadn't bothered showing 4-seater variant yet.

Regarding the black prototype, I think that is the same one as White Beach provided. For once, Japanese residents are bothering to report on sightings of prototypes and not feigning indifference to them, as it never made sense to me why one would never see a lick of spy shots from Japan.

Aside from Shibetsu, I am thinking that Toyota primarily test their cars in Aichi. Due to local pride, familial ties, and that of immense honour, most Aichi residents probably went out of their way to not post such things to social media.

SteVVT-i

thats not the fixed 4 seat option...looks identical to the other one

Yes it is the 4-seat option. There is a major difference in the placement of the bucket seats, compared to the 5-seater. There is no built in headrest at the front of the centre armest. In fact, this is what the LF-FC previewed. The production LS interior, but took it to further heights in an effort to obscure the actual interior design (too early to show it in 2015).

What we haven't seen, is the base bench seat rear. This is a $100k USD+ LS500h and that has been the case with all of the LS prototypes shown so far. In fact, none of them have been $85k USD examples, that will be the basic offering.

Some ideation design sketches from 2013 and 2014 by Koichi Suga

Ian Schmidt

So Lexus just Tweeted an info page on the new LS, which is this: http://www.lexus.com/concept/LS/?cid=sf59682137+sf59682137

And that page says "Coming Fall 2017". So now I'm confused about when we'll actually be able to drive the thing, but I certainly hope it's this fall instead of this winter.

Whomever is responsible for displaying "Coming Fall 2017" probably is referring to earlier LS press releases drafted in late 2016 and needs to update that information. With the latest RX, there were simultaneous reports that it would be launched in late 2015 and some said January 2016. Ultimately, it went on sale in late 2015 in Japan and US, then early 2016 in Europe.

We'll see, but considering what happened to the LC (Z100) going from a projected January 2017 launch date to May 2017, I wouldn't put it past them to wait until early next year.

meth.ix

Wow. Great Finds! It clearly is an F Sport embelem if you look close enough. It also can't be the F embelem since you can also see the letters saying SPORT below the F.

I know it is just the camo but I like how the taillights and the have the chrome trim blacked out. Hopefully that is how it will look on the production LS F. Looks very aggressive.

Also, where did you find those photos? Are their any other shots and angles?

It is blacked out per se, because that is mostly vinyl-clad disguising over different parts of the car (especially taillights). In addition to that, as krew stated, there definitely might be gunmetal accents and the vinyl strips are genuinely working well as camouflage.

While I had been very adamant since 2015, that Lexus would move away from horizontal slat grilles starting with the LC and LS, I never discounted them offering a sportier trim level. Since that is very much dependent on decisions of the marketing department (which I am very uninvolved with), it would've been very presumptuous of me to speculate on that, even if my early prediction regarding Spindle grilles was correct.


The LC seemingly ditching F-Sport made me start to think Lexus was moving away from that for the flagship products, but as many people have said here, the LC was probably just the exception.


Although off-topic, I must say that I greatly respect you, in being so young, intelligent, (rivaling many people I worked with in the industry), and extremely involved in such discussion. I never partook in such discussion online when I was your age 12-13 years ago nor did I even fully understand much of what I do now.

I had assumed you were at least university age, but colour me shocked to discover otherwise. If you ever plan to work in the automotive industry, I can tell you that will very far if you are already at the point you are.


Back to the LS, as I wanted to pose this question regarding an F performance version. I think we should be expecting an LS-F trademark filing by the end of 2017. LC-F was filed 1 month ago, so 6-9 months apart seems feasible. LC500 and LC500h were filed in tandem in November 2014, with LS500h in May 2015 and LS500 nearly 3 months later in August 2015.


Looking back, I have to wonder if there was internal conflict at TMC over how to name their new 3.5 litre twin-turbo LS. It was easy to name the LS500h, based off of the LC500h, but unlike the 2UR-GSE powered LC500, sometime in 2015 something had to have change regarding V35A-FTS and 2UR-GSE V8 for the LS.


I only point this out, as there was unusual delay gap between the two LS trademark filings of LS500h and LS500. The decision to not offer the 2UR-GSE in the LS could have been made in 2015 and deliberately not addressed until debut.

This explains why it was testing with BMW 750i(Li) and Audi A8L 4.0t TTV8 in Colorado last year. The problem is, I hope they are certain that real world performance exceeds those two, as on paper the horsepower and torque ratings do not.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta say, the full interior with the glass is beyond my expectations. Just, wow!

mikeavelli

The interior is absolutely insane....debuts the "glass" trim..... stunning...

View attachment 2120

The first thing came to mind was a statement that Mark Templin, in which coyly gushed about "doing things we've never done in interiors before". At the level of seniority he was at, he had seen this type of interior and was obscurely referring to it, plus maybe the 24-inch HUD. That was what the augmented reality patent (filed in 2013) was for, something I speculated correctly on.

krew

I know it's unbecoming to make fun of other people's mistakes, but I can't stop myself here -- Autoblog did not read the press release properly:

View attachment 2121

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/03/07/2018-lexus-ls-500h-twin-turbo-10-speed-hybrid/

Autoblog continue to be the disgraceful idiots that they've become, in continuing to deliver obtusely written articles and unsually biased indifference out of brand favouritism. If it wasn't for the fact the current LS is so old, they'd skip out on reporting about it and continue playing dumb as they do with many Japanese and non-German products.

There is an unfair slant in automotive media against certain brands, that one cannot pretend doesn't exist. Autoblog are the same bunch that called the enormously large, RWD test mule for the LS, the redesigned FWD ES. An inexcusable observation, when it was being tested with flagship luxury products in the 7-Series and A8. (LOL Well that is unless the LS was to become a RR Phantom competitor, leaving the ES to battle the FWD-based A8 and sub-V12 Bimmer)


I worked very hard to get out as much info about the fifth gen LS as possible the past few years, as is it was very clear most news sources couldn't give a damn about it and let info about it, slip around under the radar. We can already see that many of them lackadaisically report on any useless tidbits, while salivating over the next story on a new MB CUV 5-door shooting break coupe or fifteenth billion Lamborghini Urus story.


The only thing was worse than their reporting record, is that of their atrocious comment section. Of which is mostly a peanut gallery, save for 5-10% of commentary. The slanted bias against non-European or non-German premium marques is upsetting, when it is clear in not entirely-based out of objectivity. The many times one hears that Lexus somehow needs to hire an Italian or European designer is contemptuous, when the 1989 Giugario-designed GS300 (1993), was a dowdy poor seller compared to the in-house designed second generation and stuck out like a sore thumb in the Lexus lineup.

Joaquin Ruhi

Oh, heck, you're too politically correct! ;) If someone makes an egregious mistake like that, you politely but clearly call them out on it.

Also, yet further proof of the ongoing, longtime decline of Autoblog.

Considering the source, I wouldn't even bother doing it politely, as they are broadly misinforming a LARGE audience and that I find it disrespectful and extremely careless, when they have the ability to have better quality control. Being in krew's shoes, I would probably be forced to do it politely and not in a snarky manner.

Levi

I said it they would present the 4-seater with the LS 500h, and here it is. The case for the SWB/LWB can be closed: only one size available (the longer one), which IMO is a wise decision.





It looks so good in black without chrome.

Thank you, as I had said the same thing, but we have already seen an example of the 4-seater in a lighter colour. I think Rydo's previous comment threw many people off, in assuming Lexus hadn't bothered showing 4-seater variant yet.

Regarding the black prototype, I think that is the same one as White Beach provided. For once, Japanese residents are bothering to report on sightings of prototypes and not feigning indifference to them, as it never made sense to me why one would never see a lick of spy shots from Japan.

Aside from Shibetsu, I am thinking that Toyota primarily test their cars in Aichi. Due to local pride, familial ties, and that of immense honour, most Aichi residents probably went out of their way to not post such things to social media.

SteVVT-i

thats not the fixed 4 seat option...looks identical to the other one

Yes it is the 4-seat option. There is a major difference in the placement of the bucket seats, compared to the 5-seater. There is no built in headrest at the front of the centre armest. In fact, this is what the LF-FC previewed. The production LS interior, but took it to further heights in an effort to obscure the actual interior design (too early to show it in 2015).

What we haven't seen, is the base bench seat rear. This is a $100k USD+ LS500h and that has been the case with all of the LS prototypes shown so far. In fact, none of them have been $85k USD examples, that will be the basic offering.

Some ideation design sketches from 2013 and 2014 by Koichi Suga

Ian Schmidt

So Lexus just Tweeted an info page on the new LS, which is this: http://www.lexus.com/concept/LS/?cid=sf59682137+sf59682137

And that page says "Coming Fall 2017". So now I'm confused about when we'll actually be able to drive the thing, but I certainly hope it's this fall instead of this winter.

Whomever is responsible for displaying "Coming Fall 2017" probably is referring to earlier LS press releases drafted in late 2016 and needs to update that information. With the latest RX, there were simultaneous reports that it would be launched in late 2015 and some said January 2016. Ultimately, it went on sale in late 2015 in Japan and US, then early 2016 in Europe.

We'll see, but considering what happened to the LC (Z100) going from a projected January 2017 launch date to May 2017, I wouldn't put it past them to wait until early next year.

meth.ix

Wow. Great Finds! It clearly is an F Sport embelem if you look close enough. It also can't be the F embelem since you can also see the letters saying SPORT below the F.

I know it is just the camo but I like how the taillights and the have the chrome trim blacked out. Hopefully that is how it will look on the production LS F. Looks very aggressive.

Also, where did you find those photos? Are their any other shots and angles?

It is blacked out per se, because that is mostly vinyl-clad disguising over different parts of the car (especially taillights). In addition to that, as krew stated, there definitely might be gunmetal accents and the vinyl strips are genuinely working well as camouflage.

While I had been very adamant since 2015, that Lexus would move away from horizontal slat grilles starting with the LC and LS, I never discounted them offering a sportier trim level. Since that is very much dependent on decisions of the marketing department (which I am very uninvolved with), it would've been very presumptuous of me to speculate on that, even if my early prediction regarding Spindle grilles was correct.


The LC seemingly ditching F-Sport made me start to think Lexus was moving away from that for the flagship products, but as many people have said here, the LC was probably just the exception.


Although off-topic, I must say that I greatly respect you, in being so young, intelligent, (rivaling many people I worked with in the industry), and extremely involved in such discussion. I never partook in such discussion online when I was your age 12-13 years ago nor did I even fully understand much of what I do now.

I had assumed you were at least university age, but colour me shocked to discover otherwise. If you ever plan to work in the automotive industry, I can tell you that will very far if you are already at the point you are.


Back to the LS, as I wanted to pose this question regarding an F performance version. I think we should be expecting an LS-F trademark filing by the end of 2017. LC-F was filed 1 month ago, so 6-9 months apart seems feasible. LC500 and LC500h were filed in tandem in November 2014, with LS500h in May 2015 and LS500 nearly 3 months later in August 2015.


Looking back, I have to wonder if there was internal conflict at TMC over how to name their new 3.5 litre twin-turbo LS. It was easy to name the LS500h, based off of the LC500h, but unlike the 2UR-GSE powered LC500, sometime in 2015 something had to have change regarding V35A-FTS and 2UR-GSE V8 for the LS.


I only point this out, as there was unusual delay gap between the two LS trademark filings of LS500h and LS500. The decision to not offer the 2UR-GSE in the LS could have been made in 2015 and deliberately not addressed until debut.

This explains why it was testing with BMW 750i(Li) and Audi A8L 4.0t TTV8 in Colorado last year. The problem is, I hope they are certain that real world performance exceeds those two, as on paper the horsepower and torque ratings do not.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta say, the full interior with the glass is beyond my expectations. Just, wow!

mikeavelli

The interior is absolutely insane....debuts the "glass" trim..... stunning...

View attachment 2120

The first thing came to mind was a statement that Mark Templin, in which coyly gushed about "doing things we've never done in interiors before". At the level of seniority he was at, he had seen this type of interior and was obscurely referring to it, plus maybe the 24-inch HUD. That was what the augmented reality patent (filed in 2013) was for, something I speculated correctly on.

krew

I know it's unbecoming to make fun of other people's mistakes, but I can't stop myself here -- Autoblog did not read the press release properly:

View attachment 2121

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/03/07/2018-lexus-ls-500h-twin-turbo-10-speed-hybrid/

Autoblog continue to be the disgraceful idiots that they've become, in continuing to deliver obtusely written articles and unsually biased indifference out of brand favouritism. If it wasn't for the fact the current LS is so old, they'd skip out on reporting about it and continue playing dumb as they do with many Japanese and non-German products.

There is an unfair slant in automotive media against certain brands, that one cannot pretend doesn't exist. Autoblog are the same bunch that called the enormously large, RWD test mule for the LS, the redesigned FWD ES. An inexcusable observation, when it was being tested with flagship luxury products in the 7-Series and A8. (LOL Well that is unless the LS was to become a RR Phantom competitor, leaving the ES to battle the FWD-based A8 and sub-V12 Bimmer)


I worked very hard to get out as much info about the fifth gen LS as possible the past few years, as is it was very clear most news sources couldn't give a damn about it and let info about it, slip around under the radar. We can already see that many of them lackadaisically report on any useless tidbits, while salivating over the next story on a new MB CUV 5-door shooting break coupe or fifteenth billion Lamborghini Urus story.


The only thing was worse than their reporting record, is that of their atrocious comment section. Of which is mostly a peanut gallery, save for 5-10% of commentary. The slanted bias against non-European or non-German premium marques is upsetting, when it is clear in not entirely-based out of objectivity. The many times one hears that Lexus somehow needs to hire an Italian or European designer is contemptuous, when the 1989 Giugario-designed GS300 (1993), was a dowdy poor seller compared to the in-house designed second generation and stuck out like a sore thumb in the Lexus lineup.

Joaquin Ruhi

Oh, heck, you're too politically correct! ;) If someone makes an egregious mistake like that, you politely but clearly call them out on it.

Also, yet further proof of the ongoing, longtime decline of Autoblog.

Considering the source, I wouldn't even bother doing it politely, as they are broadly misinforming a LARGE audience and that I find it disrespectful and extremely careless, when they have the ability to have better quality control. Being in krew's shoes, I would probably be forced to do it politely and not in a snarky manner.

Levi

I said it they would present the 4-seater with the LS 500h, and here it is. The case for the SWB/LWB can be closed: only one size available (the longer one), which IMO is a wise decision.





It looks so good in black without chrome.

Thank you, as I had said the same thing, but we have already seen an example of the 4-seater in a lighter colour. I think Rydo's previous comment threw many people off, in assuming Lexus hadn't bothered showing 4-seater variant yet.

Regarding the black prototype, I think that is the same one as White Beach provided. For once, Japanese residents are bothering to report on sightings of prototypes and not feigning indifference to them, as it never made sense to me why one would never see a lick of spy shots from Japan.

Aside from Shibetsu, I am thinking that Toyota primarily test their cars in Aichi. Due to local pride, familial ties, and that of immense honour, most Aichi residents probably went out of their way to not post such things to social media.

SteVVT-i

thats not the fixed 4 seat option...looks identical to the other one

Yes it is the 4-seat option. There is a major difference in the placement of the bucket seats, compared to the 5-seater. There is no built in headrest at the front of the centre armest. In fact, this is what the LF-FC previewed. The production LS interior, but took it to further heights in an effort to obscure the actual interior design (too early to show it in 2015).

What we haven't seen, is the base bench seat rear. This is a $100k USD+ LS500h and that has been the case with all of the LS prototypes shown so far. In fact, none of them have been $85k USD examples, that will be the basic offering.

Some ideation design sketches from 2013 and 2014 by Koichi Suga

Ian Schmidt

So Lexus just Tweeted an info page on the new LS, which is this: http://www.lexus.com/concept/LS/?cid=sf59682137+sf59682137

And that page says "Coming Fall 2017". So now I'm confused about when we'll actually be able to drive the thing, but I certainly hope it's this fall instead of this winter.

Whomever is responsible for displaying "Coming Fall 2017" probably is referring to earlier LS press releases drafted in late 2016 and needs to update that information. With the latest RX, there were simultaneous reports that it would be launched in late 2015 and some said January 2016. Ultimately, it went on sale in late 2015 in Japan and US, then early 2016 in Europe.

We'll see, but considering what happened to the LC (Z100) going from a projected January 2017 launch date to May 2017, I wouldn't put it past them to wait until early next year.

meth.ix

Wow. Great Finds! It clearly is an F Sport embelem if you look close enough. It also can't be the F embelem since you can also see the letters saying SPORT below the F.

I know it is just the camo but I like how the taillights and the have the chrome trim blacked out. Hopefully that is how it will look on the production LS F. Looks very aggressive.

Also, where did you find those photos? Are their any other shots and angles?

It is blacked out per se, because that is mostly vinyl-clad disguising over different parts of the car (especially taillights). In addition to that, as krew stated, there definitely might be gunmetal accents and the vinyl strips are genuinely working well as camouflage.

While I had been very adamant since 2015, that Lexus would move away from horizontal slat grilles starting with the LC and LS, I never discounted them offering a sportier trim level. Since that is very much dependent on decisions of the marketing department (which I am very uninvolved with), it would've been very presumptuous of me to speculate on that, even if my early prediction regarding Spindle grilles was correct.


The LC seemingly ditching F-Sport made me start to think Lexus was moving away from that for the flagship products, but as many people have said here, the LC was probably just the exception.


Although off-topic, I must say that I greatly respect you, in being so young, intelligent, (rivaling many people I worked with in the industry), and extremely involved in such discussion. I never partook in such discussion online when I was your age 12-13 years ago nor did I even fully understand much of what I do now.

I had assumed you were at least university age, but colour me shocked to discover otherwise. If you ever plan to work in the automotive industry, I can tell you that will very far if you are already at the point you are.


Back to the LS, as I wanted to pose this question regarding an F performance version. I think we should be expecting an LS-F trademark filing by the end of 2017. LC-F was filed 1 month ago, so 6-9 months apart seems feasible. LC500 and LC500h were filed in tandem in November 2014, with LS500h in May 2015 and LS500 nearly 3 months later in August 2015.


Looking back, I have to wonder if there was internal conflict at TMC over how to name their new 3.5 litre twin-turbo LS. It was easy to name the LS500h, based off of the LC500h, but unlike the 2UR-GSE powered LC500, sometime in 2015 something had to have change regarding V35A-FTS and 2UR-GSE V8 for the LS.


I only point this out, as there was unusual delay gap between the two LS trademark filings of LS500h and LS500. The decision to not offer the 2UR-GSE in the LS could have been made in 2015 and deliberately not addressed until debut.

This explains why it was testing with BMW 750i(Li) and Audi A8L 4.0t TTV8 in Colorado last year. The problem is, I hope they are certain that real world performance exceeds those two, as on paper the horsepower and torque ratings do not.

Ian Schmidt

I gotta say, the full interior with the glass is beyond my expectations. Just, wow!

mikeavelli

The interior is absolutely insane....debuts the "glass" trim..... stunning...

View attachment 2120

The first thing came to mind was a statement that Mark Templin, in which coyly gushed about "doing things we've never done in interiors before". At the level of seniority he was at, he had seen this type of interior and was obscurely referring to it, plus maybe the 24-inch HUD. That was what the augmented reality patent (filed in 2013) was for, something I speculated correctly on.

krew

I know it's unbecoming to make fun of other people's mistakes, but I can't stop myself here -- Autoblog did not read the press release properly:

View attachment 2121

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/03/07/2018-lexus-ls-500h-twin-turbo-10-speed-hybrid/

Autoblog continue to be the disgraceful idiots that they've become, in continuing to deliver obtusely written articles and unsually biased indifference out of brand favouritism. If it wasn't for the fact the current LS is so old, they'd skip out on reporting about it and continue playing dumb as they do with many Japanese and non-German products.

There is an unfair slant in automotive media against certain brands, that one cannot pretend doesn't exist. Autoblog are the same bunch that called the enormously large, RWD test mule for the LS, the redesigned FWD ES. An inexcusable observation, when it was being tested with flagship luxury products in the 7-Series and A8. (LOL Well that is unless the LS was to become a RR Phantom competitor, leaving the ES to battle the FWD-based A8 and sub-V12 Bimmer)


I worked very hard to get out as much info about the fifth gen LS as possible the past few years, as is it was very clear most news sources couldn't give a damn about it and let info about it, slip around under the radar. We can already see that many of them lackadaisically report on any useless tidbits, while salivating over the next story on a new MB CUV 5-door shooting break coupe or fifteenth billion Lamborghini Urus story.


The only thing was worse than their reporting record, is that of their atrocious comment section. Of which is mostly a peanut gallery, save for 5-10% of commentary. The slanted bias against non-European or non-German premium marques is upsetting, when it is clear in not entirely-based out of objectivity. The many times one hears that Lexus somehow needs to hire an Italian or European designer is contemptuous, when the 1989 Giugario-designed GS300 (1993), was a dowdy poor seller compared to the in-house designed second generation and stuck out like a sore thumb in the Lexus lineup.

Joaquin Ruhi

Oh, heck, you're too politically correct! ;) If someone makes an egregious mistake like that, you politely but clearly call them out on it.

Also, yet further proof of the ongoing, longtime decline of Autoblog.

Considering the source, I wouldn't even bother doing it politely, as they are broadly misinforming a LARGE audience and that I find it disrespectful and extremely careless, when they have the ability to have better quality control. Being in krew's shoes, I would probably be forced to do it politely and not in a snarky manner.

Levi

I said it they would present the 4-seater with the LS 500h, and here it is. The case for the SWB/LWB can be closed: only one size available (the longer one), which IMO is a wise decision.





It looks so good in black without chrome.

Thank you, as I had said the same thing, but we have already seen an example of the 4-seater in a lighter colour. I think Rydo's previous comment threw many people off, in assuming Lexus hadn't bothered showing 4-seater variant yet.

Regarding the black prototype, I think that is the same one as White Beach provided. For once, Japanese residents are bothering to report on sightings of prototypes and not feigning indifference to them, as it never made sense to me why one would never see a lick of spy shots from Japan.

Aside from Shibetsu, I am thinking that Toyota primarily test their cars in Aichi. Due to local pride, familial ties, and that of immense honour, most Aichi residents probably went out of their way to not post such things to social media.

SteVVT-i

thats not the fixed 4 seat option...looks identical to the other one

Yes it is the 4-seat option. There is a major difference in the placement of the bucket seats, compared to the 5-seater. There is no built in headrest at the front of the centre armest. In fact, this is what the LF-FC previewed. The production LS interior, but took it to further heights in an effort to obscure the actual interior design (too early to show it in 2015).

What we haven't seen, is the base bench seat rear. This is a $100k USD+ LS500h and that has been the case with all of the LS prototypes shown so far. In fact, none of them have been $85k USD examples, that will be the basic offering.

That's amazing that the LS500h can cruise up to 87muph without the engine if I read that correctly. when the LS was revealed back in 2007 I'm starting to get that feeling again! Cant wait to see one on the road.

That's amazing that the LS500h can cruise up to 87muph without the engine if I read that correctly. when the LS was revealed back in 2007 I'm starting to get that feeling again! Cant wait to see one on the road.

That's amazing that the LS500h can cruise up to 87muph without the engine if I read that correctly. when the LS was revealed back in 2007 I'm starting to get that feeling again! Cant wait to see one on the road.

That's amazing that the LS500h can cruise up to 87muph without the engine if I read that correctly. when the LS was revealed back in 2007 I'm starting to get that feeling again! Cant wait to see one on the road.