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

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.

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.

I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.

I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.

I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.

I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.

Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).

Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).

Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).

Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).