Lexus LS 500 Contends for Automobile All-Stars Awards

spwolf

there was talk already how we are getting a LS with V8 (shown by the end of the year if I remember?), so basically wont be a LS F.
I dont remember what was the name for it, but they did have something specific.

This is the first I've heard of this... anymore info?

Gecko

This is the first I've heard of this... anymore info?

nope... it was maybe few months ago... maybe after those dealer meetings? Forgot.

but keep in mind that there are 2 new V8's coming... if LC 300 can use same V6tt as Lexus, then I would guess trucks will use variation of one of these V8s too.

Gecko

We will know about LS F soon enough, but I think Lexus has an opportunity to evolve the F strategy for this car into something that we haven't seen before - and capture both high performance shoppers and those who are looking for - and willing to pay for - "more" in general. I have a feeling that LS F will be the "super LS" that many of us have dreamed of, but not just in the realm of performance.

Will it be fast? Yes. Will it have quad exhaust and the fender vent? Probably. But let's be honest: Lexus' historical approach to F Sport might not work so well on a 5,000 pound, full size luxury sedan. They can't just put aluminum and carbon fiber trim inside a flagship car that costs ~$110k... the audience isn't going to be looking for that.

I am expecting higher end trim options like an open pore black woodgrain with laser etching or aluminum framing, a unique door insert pattern like the pleated one on the kiriko glass optioned interior, more alcantara, a unique steering wheel, etc. etc. I feel like their approach to this car will be "more LS" instead of just "more performance."

Looking at what a 750i and S560 costs, Lexus could easily position the LS F against them with a pricing strategy but punch above their weight at S63, S8 and Panamera GTS, etc.

LS 500 starts at $75k. I don't see why this car can't start around $100-110k and appeal to both the "ultra flagship" shopper as well as the high performance shopper.

Such a strategy would eliminate the need for a mid-level LS with a V8.

@Gecko great write up sir. I hope we see something shortly.

spwolf

nope... it was maybe few months ago... maybe after those dealer meetings? Forgot.

Next dealer meeting is in a couple of weeks....

Hey guys!!! Let’s get a conversation started on the LS F. So what does everyone think it will be? The TTV8 as the motor that will go into the LC F Or something different? Also we know that the TTV6 is the de facto motor now but will a V8 be added to the standard line up? Of 5ls or will the v8 just be on the F line?? Also what will become of that 5.0?? It’s a great motor and they got something special there but all it needs is to be updated with more power and torque and that could added into the line up!!

Can I get an agreement once the 8 comes out the 5ls will have two pretty potent motors will everyone agree that this will help it out?
Also Apple CarPlay will be standard next year. Huge upgrade.


-m

Berto3818

Hey guys!!! Let’s get a conversation started on the LS F. So what does everyone think it will be? The TTV8 as the motor that will go into the LC F Or something different? Also we know that the TTV6 is the de facto motor now but will a V8 be added to the standard line up? Of 5ls or will the v8 just be on the F line?? Also what will become of that 5.0?? It’s a great motor and they got something special there but all it needs is to be updated with more power and torque and that could added into the line up!!

Can I get an agreement once the 8 comes out the 5ls will have two pretty potent motors will everyone agree that this will help it out?
Also Apple CarPlay will be standard next year. Huge upgrade.


-m

Hi,

It is all speculation at this point. Tons of rumors of a tt V-8 for the LS F/LC F but nothing concrete has shown. It does make perfect sense for a non turbo version or a hybrid version of this new V-8 to debut. I just can't see Lexus offering a very very very small volume tt V-8 for their F lineup only.

@mikeavelli I have to agree but what would be the displacement of the motor?

for next MY, LS has received some changes in Japan and I assume in all of the markets:

30th August 2018

Partial improvement of LEXUS, LS, LC
News Release Model Lexus LS LC
Bulk download PDF

• LS is, ride comfort and quietnessto improveaddition,it evolved"Lexus Safety System +" to the standard specificationadopted
• LC realizes a more linear steering feel andimprovedride comfort

LS 500h "version L" <vehicle with option>

LC 500 h <Optionally equipped vehicle>
LEXUS improved some LS, LC and released it on August 30th through the Lexus shops throughout the country.

LS
Flagship Sedan LS realizes styling that combines innovative coupe silhouette with comfort and comfort, and emotional and elegant running.

In the partial improvement of this time, the shock absorber in AWD adopts a pressure expansion independent orifice * 1 , improving ride comfort such as expansion of variable damping force width and reduction of friction. In addition, the quietness is also improved by tuning the engine sound and shift control of the multi-stage hybrid system, adding vibration damping materials, etc. In addition, we adopted the evolved preventive safety package "Lexus Safety System +" as a standard specification. While keeping the composition of "Monocular Camera + Millimeter Wave Radar" adopted in the previous Lexus Safety System +, we will advance each function, further reduce the accident prevention, further reduce the traffic accident casualties, and reduce the burden on the driver I aim for it.

Evolution of "Lexus Safety System +"

• By improving the performance of monocular camera and millimeter wave radar, "pre-crash safety" whichcan detectdaytimebicycle riders andnightpedestrians
• In the motorway, such as radar cruise controlat the time of use,the same lane in the centerto be able to travelthe steeringto helpwith the "radar cruise control,""lane tracing assist (LTA * 2 ) * 3 "
• A major road labeled with a camera reading,meter andto head up the displayto display"load sign assist (RSA * 4 )"
• "Advance car launch notification function(TMN* 5)"tonotify thestart of the preceding vehicle bydisplay andbuzzerin the meter and head-up display

- quieter hybrid, more comfortable AWD, improved LSS+. This is japan only press release, so things like Carplay would be for US press.

That's a fairly impressive set of changes for the first year of a brand new generation, and some of them are clearly in response to the reviews of the '18. Be interesting to see if they keep that up.

Does LS already have the noise-cancelling mechanism that suppresses the electric whining sound under acceleration? If not, does the upgrade bring this feature? On the ES300h it is quite effective that even in EV mode the electric whine is well contained.

I’m still buying mine in December and it will have apple CarPlay and amazon Alexa. The LS is a marvel.

Berto3818

I’m still buying mine in December and it will have apple CarPlay and amazon Alexa. The LS is a marvel.

Test drove an LS500 F-Sport last week, non US version btw, and it was WOW! The sales associate sitting with me couldn't help but remark that he himself was enjoying the ride! Too bad I couldn't have a test drive of more than 5km. :)

As I've said before, the worst thing you can do in the LS500 is drive in a straight line. I caught myself involuntarily smiling yesterday. It was Friday afternoon, work week over, flying around a squiggly road at nearly double the posted speed limit with no significant body lean and no complaints from the tires. That's an experience that was never possible in previous LSes (and things got scary quickly if you tried). I do think there's probably room for an Ultra Luxury Edition that dials things back to "pillow on wheels" for those who prefer that, but I wouldn't have mine any other way.

I told you Sir! @momers . That TTV6 is awesome!!! I just don't see how anyone that has driven the old LS's with the V8 even misses them at all. The TTV6 is quiet just as the old LS's but just has more power and torque. 442 pounds to be exact.

Hey all!! What's the rumor on the TTV8? you think it will land in the regular LS or LS F??

No new rumors lately, but I'd be shocked if it wasn't an LS F.

Sounds good @Ian Schmidt !!! I honestly don't think it will be offered in the regular 5LS but in the LS-F of course it will. I read something the other day that the V35A-FTS was built just for the 5LS. I didn't know that fact.

@Ian Schmidt I'm thinking about doing a lease on mine instead of buying and just buy at the end... So I've never done a lease before so how would that work. Would I be paying the full price for the car or a subset of that? What would you recommend buying or leasing . its going to have the executive package with Kiriko Glass and will be Manganese luster.

Thanks,

Manganese luster on kiriko sounds awesome. I wish the LS had more customization, they seem to love putting everything into packages and severely limiting the optional color combinations.

Hope the LS+ will be Lexus' ultra luxury flagship, longer, roomier, hi-tech, much more plush. As Lexus said, they made the current LS500 more intimate and sexy

Generally a really big fan of Matt Farah and he reviewed the 2019 ES F Sport last week. Having driven both so closely back to back, his impressions are interesting to me.

*QUICK SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SPOIL IT*



Two notable quotes IMO:

"This car's own worst enemy is within the Lexus family. The ES is just as fun and it's half the price and has the same amount of interior space, "

"It's twice the price but doesn't feel like twice the car." (talking about LS compared to ES)













Ok, you're good. Also, the car looks so damn good in F Sport with Atomic Silver :heart_eyes:

I think his statements at the end are bogus. The Fsport package isn’t like the standard LS and the Es doesn’t come no where near that at any level.... just another smear for the 5LS... I hope lexus never gives him a car again go test..

Berto3818

I think his statements at the end are bogus. The Fsport package isn’t like the standard LS and the Es doesn’t come no where near that at any level.... just another smear for the 5LS... I hope lexus never gives him a car again go test..

hah, take it easy, it is just an opinion :).

I get that @spwolf but at the same time why constantly smear the LS??? That fsport package is bear bones and he constantly said he wouldn’t buy it.. ok then that’s you but let people make up their own mind. You can’t have It both ways.

R,

M

Berto3818

I think his statements at the end are bogus. The Fsport package isn’t like the standard LS and the Es doesn’t come no where near that at any level.... just another smear for the 5LS... I hope lexus never gives him a car again go test..

I think he was mostly referring to the fact that there is no real performance advantage with F Sport - no extra power - for what the package costs. I LOVE how it looks, but do wish there was even a 20-30hp bump with the package. New LS is also such a great driving car - even in standard form - is F Sport really necessary to make it "sporty"?

ES F Sport has been very well reviewed - great steering, great ride quality, TNGA platform, and it weighs more than 1k lbs less than LS. It may end up feeling similar indeed - who knows? I have not driven ES F Sport, so I cannot comment. However, the driving footage of ES F Sport was surprisingly aggressive and he was continually commenting how stable and lively the car felt.

Berto3818

@Ian Schmidt I'm thinking about doing a lease on mine instead of buying and just buy at the end... So I've never done a lease before so how would that work.

This page explains leasing well: https://clark.com/cars/new-car-leasing-101/

The upshot is that it still works like a purchase up front. Your monthly lease payments will be less than an equivalent purchase, but still can be controlled by your down payment. Around 10% down is pretty normal.

The good points: you're never out of warranty (not typically an issue with Toyota/Lexus), you get a new car every 3 years or so (which for the last 10 years of Lexus hasn't been a great selling point, but it seems like things will be picking up), and Toyota Credit US is super easy to deal with.

The negatives: you don't own the car after paying for a significant chunk of it (but you can buy it at the end of the lease for the remaining value) and the car is not yours to do with as you want (for instance, you can't drive Uber/Lyft with a leased Toyota or Lexus in the US). Also you're limited to a certain number of miles per year. That's easy enough to comply with for most people, but if you want to take a lot of road trips in your LS (and I wouldn't blame you for wanting to) that could be problematic.

Gecko

I think he was mostly referring to the fact that there is no real performance advantage with F Sport - no extra power - for what the package costs. I LOVE how it looks, but do wish there was even a 20-30hp bump with the package. New LS is also such a great driving car - even in standard form - is F Sport really necessary to make it "sporty"?

I think given the features you have to give up on F Sport packages there needs to be something in it to actually improve the performance. The stock suspension is so good that just adding some anti-sway bars isn't gonna cut it anymore. They need to at least offer better air intakes, better brakes, a freer exhaust, a bit of ECM tuning, that kind of typical go-faster kit.

Gecko

ES F Sport has been very well reviewed - great steering, great ride quality, TNGA platform, and it weighs more than 1k lbs less than LS. It may end up feeling similar indeed - who knows? I have not driven ES F Sport, so I cannot comment. However, the driving footage of ES F Sport was surprisingly aggressive and he was continually commenting how stable and lively the car felt.

I suspect at some point the FWD nature of the ES does reveal itself; they've done a decent job of hiding it under normal driving conditions in the past, but it's always been there waiting to pop up.

Ian Schmidt

I think given the features you have to give up on F Sport packages there needs to be something in it to actually improve the performance. The stock suspension is so good that just adding some anti-sway bars isn't gonna cut it anymore. They need to at least offer better air intakes, better brakes, a freer exhaust, a bit of ECM tuning, that kind of typical go-faster kit.

Completely agree. What I really love about F Sport is the wheels and smoked chrome trim... but I'd never buy an LS without woodgrain, and I don't like the limited interior options: red or black, so I don't personally really see the value in F Sport. I'd buy a nicely optioned LS - probably just like yours because I love that interior - and buy the F Sport wheels after the fact :)

Having actually watched Farah's two videos now, lemme put in one correction: you can take and hang up phone calls on the LS entirely with the D-pad on the steering wheel and the dash display in front of the driver, it's much simpler (and safer) than dealing with the Remote Touch.

ETA: Also, I completely don't get his discussion about the styling. For one thing, he says the 7ES looks "more like a Lexus" when then overwhelming reaction people have to the 7ES is its similarity to 5LS. He also says it looks like "every sedan out of Asia" where most people compare the roofline with the Quattroporte or Panamera. And he didn't get the floating door handles; floating things are very fashionable right now, and combined with the subtle backlighting the floating handles look spectacular in the dark.

Saw this yesterday. He sure was confused, no consistent message in his review! He was ho hum in the middle and by the end he was ecstatic?!

Gecko

Generally a really big fan of Matt Farah and he reviewed the 2019 ES F Sport last week. Having driven both so closely back to back, his impressions are interesting to me.

*QUICK SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO SPOIL IT*



Two notable quotes IMO:

"This car's own worst enemy is within the Lexus family. The ES is just as fun and it's half the price and has the same amount of interior space, "

"It's twice the price but doesn't feel like twice the car." (talking about LS compared to ES)













Ok, you're good. Also, the car looks so damn good in F Sport with Atomic Silver :heart_eyes: