Lexus LS Sedan to Get V8 Hybrid Engine Option?

Posted by Kevin on April 26th, 2020

The Lexus LS sedan is rumoured to get a mid-cycle refresh next year, and now a camouflaged prototype spotted in Japan by Mag-X essentially confirms the fact.

Like most facelifts, the focus is on the lights and bumpers, and the changes seem relatively minor. There is a hint that this LS may be equipped with autonomous tech — from Lexus Enthusiast forum member TurboLag:

Lexus LS Autonomous Tech

Mag-X also suggests a V8 hybrid 600h powertrain will be returning to the LS sedan, though it’s unclear if it would be the previously used 2UR-FSE 5L V8 or a new engine altogether. There’s also a hint of a possible 4-cylinder engine option, though this is unlikely to reach North America regardless.

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Comments
S
Gecko said
My ideal LS lineup would be something like (with all global markets considered):

LS 450h+: (maybe 2.4L turbo) 4 cylinder + PHEV with 350hp/390lb-ft (not for USA)
LS 450: TT V6 as-is, base price drops to ~$70k base USD
LS 600h: 3.5L TT V6 + next gen hybrid with 450hp/500lb-ft, from $85k USD
LS 600: TT V8 with 550hp, 580lb-ft, from $95k USD
Click to expand...
That's pretty much on point. The 450h doesn't really need to be PHV though since current batteries will have difficulty propelling a car this heavy in pure-EV mode, unless they 'cheat' and only allow blended/EV-auto mode like the 7-series/S-class/A8L PHVs. Also makes it cheaper for ChDM. IMO the 2.4T LS is just an answer to the very popular 730Li in ChDM, and a future four-cylinder A8L as well. The S90L and CT6 also use 2.0T engines but these two aren't direct competitors to the LS.

I would really love to see a 'LS600e' with LF-30 battery (110kWh with 400kW/536hp) considering this technology is readily available in 2019.

Joaquin Ruhi said
A thought that crossed my mind this morning: Might the 4-cylinder powertrain for 5LS be a longitudinal application of the RAV4 Prime / upcoming Lexus NX 450h+ power plant? In other words, a plug-in hybrid version of the A25A-FXS 2.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that (in the RAV4 Prime) produces 302 hp? Thus, an LS 450h+?
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Unlikely, the A25A-FXS is insufficient to propel this car. A slightly long gradient will drain the battery and the car is basically powerless at that point. It needs a bigger ICE.
CRSKTN
www.autoblog.com

Lexus LS luxury sedan could see a return to V8 hybrid power - Autoblog

Lexus is rumored to be bringing back the LS 600h moniker for an LS with a V8 hybrid powertrain.
www.autoblog.com www.autoblog.com

Who would consider a 4cyl LS a replacement for a GS?!

That said, a more affordable LS with L2 self driving would be killer.
yosafbridge
CRSKTN said
They've pulled back the headlights. I like it.
Full size photo:

EDIT: I am sort of getting... GS vibes. Look at the 3/4 profile of the headlight with the front bumper. Reminds me of the GS F. Also the headlight design is going the LS+ route a bit.
Click to expand...

Actually based on the Google translate of the MagX article, there is one sentence that Krew did not translate :

" while direct 4 gasoline vehicles, which are not in the competition, will also be lined up for downsizing. It may be aimed to fill the position of the Lexus GS that disappears from the lineup this summer. "

Could it be that after cancelling the 5GS project and diverting it to the 2nd generation Mirai, Lexus is spreading out the development costs of the 4LS by introducing a Short Wheel Base ( and hence lighter and more nimble), 4 door Grand Coupe version of the LS and rebranding it as the re-imagined GS?????

Makes sense in terms of profit margins and getting the most bang for your buck out of the already sunk costs of 4LS R + D.

So SWB LS Grancoupe as :

Mainstream options:
GS300/350 (2.5LTT 4 cylinder turbo),
GS500h(3.5L multistage hybrid from LS500h/LC500h),
GS500(3.5LV6TT) and

F Variant:
GSF (5LV8TT, shared V8 with the upcoming LS600h which will use the NA V8 version).
A
CRSKTN said
www.autoblog.com

Lexus LS luxury sedan could see a return to V8 hybrid power - Autoblog

Lexus is rumored to be bringing back the LS 600h moniker for an LS with a V8 hybrid powertrain.
www.autoblog.com www.autoblog.com

Who would consider a 4cyl LS a replacement for a GS?!

That said, a more affordable LS with L2 self driving would be killer.
Click to expand...
The more affordable probably won’t come to North America.
Yuan
I
ssun30 said
That's pretty much on point. The 450h doesn't really need to be PHV though since current batteries will have difficulty propelling a car this heavy in pure-EV mode, unless they 'cheat' and only allow blended/EV-auto mode like the 7-series/S-class/A8L PHVs. Also makes it cheaper for ChDM. IMO the 2.4T LS is just an answer to the very popular 730Li in ChDM, and a future four-cylinder A8L as well. The S90L and CT6 also use 2.0T engines but these two aren't direct competitors to the LS.

I would really love to see a 'LS600e' with LF-30 battery (110kWh with 400kW/536hp) considering this technology is readily available in 2019.


Unlikely, the A25A-FXS is insufficient to propel this car. A slightly long gradient will drain the battery and the car is basically powerless at that point. It needs a bigger ICE.
Click to expand...
I don’t think what’s needed or not matters for the LS, the LS should have the best technology TMC has, regardless if the application is needed or not. Or else Tesla never needed to constantly updating their BEV with faster 0-60c nor does Lexus needs to be reliable, nor if the LS could hold champagne glass on its hood while the engine is on.
L
IS is not Lexus' entry level car. UX and NX are, probably 'CX' (Yaris Cross) if they decide to. IS can replace both IS and GS. LS was made with one wheel base only for that purpose. I hope they the facelift adds proper individual rear seats without the middle jumper seat.
Gecko
Airplane said
I find it weird if the only Lexus F vehicle be the LCF coming out in 2022. The RCF will most likely be killed by then, with no ISF and GSF.

Even if both GSF and RCF still exist by then, they would be 6 years old. Even if the LF1/LQ do come out in 2022, the F will probably come out who know? 5 years after? The same time it would take LCF to come out, and by that time, the LCF will probably be killed based on Lexus’s killing spree.

I think Lexus should crack the 500hp mark with their LS hybrid and another LS with over 600hp whether it’s called LSF or LS600. The hybrid would be the crazy luxury car similar to Maybach for S Class but without the longer wheel base.

Based on MagX, the TTV8 LS might as well be the LSF because how I understand it, the TTV8 is the for sure thing and the 600h is the speculation.
I really wish to see a LCF, LSF, and LQF? on the market at the same time, even if for just one generation.
If the LS FCV is dead, then I have high hope that a GS “successor” will become the Lexus FCV based on the Murai.
Click to expand...

I don't personally know how much longer "F" will live on - it was born at a time when Lexus and the automotive industry were both very different. F started as a great idea and had lots of promise, but I think it's safe to say that has not been delivered upon. Losing the GS, the market switch to CUVs and a future that is probably based in FWD platforms make F seem like another project with good intentions and poor execution.

Of course, it could become something like Audi's "S" which is a tweener brand, but even then, we haven't seen any sort of hardware that will allow Toyota to bring FWD platforms to that level of performance.

LC/LS sales have been very low... even harder to justify F packaging. Plus, I have personally lost faith that the "twin turbo V8 with 625+hp" is ever going to come after 13 years of rumors.
Ian Schmidt
Gecko said
I don't personally know how much longer "F" will live on - it was born at a time when Lexus and the automotive industry were both very different. F started as a great idea and had lots of promise, but I think it's safe to say that has not been delivered upon. Losing the GS, the market switch to CUVs and a future that is probably based in FWD platforms make F seem like another project with good intentions and poor execution.
Click to expand...

I'd settle for F being as good as GR is looking on the Toyota side, although obviously F would be lower volume which is exactly the problem.
Gecko
Ian Schmidt said
I'd settle for F being as good as GR is looking on the Toyota side, although obviously F would be lower volume which is exactly the problem.
Click to expand...

Random thought: do we know if F rolls up under Gazoo like TRD, etc?
CRSKTN
The problem is treating the F program like it's another standard options package. They need to treat it like marketing.
S
Gecko said
I don't personally know how much longer "F" will live on
Click to expand...

what are you even talking about anymore. You know about LC-F and LS-F and 600hp+ powertrain.

I dont get it.

blah
Tragic Bronson
spwolf said
what are you even talking about anymore. You know about LC-F and LS-F and 600hp+ powertrain.
Click to expand...
I found the LC-F
View attachment 3928
TurboLag
Gecko said
I don't personally know how much longer "F" will live on - it was born at a time when Lexus and the automotive industry were both very different. F started as a great idea and had lots of promise, but I think it's safe to say that has not been delivered upon. Losing the GS, the market switch to CUVs and a future that is probably based in FWD platforms make F seem like another project with good intentions and poor execution.

Of course, it could become something like Audi's "S" which is a tweener brand, but even then, we haven't seen any sort of hardware that will allow Toyota to bring FWD platforms to that level of performance.

LC/LS sales have been very low... even harder to justify F packaging. Plus, I have personally lost faith that the "twin turbo V8 with 625+hp" is ever going to come after 13 years of rumors.
Click to expand...
The IS-F is probably coming back withe next year third face-lift
www.carsensor.net

5L V8搭載のレクサス IS500が、海外デビュー!?

2020年2月7日にお伝えした、レクサス ISの大規模マイナーチェンジ。登場から7年を迎えようとしている、大チェンジを機に、5L V8モデルが投入されるようだ。
www.carsensor.net www.carsensor.net
CRSKTN
Conflicts with No V8s on cars under $90k, unless they are going to make the IS500 a $90k car with a detuned V8 that's already not on par with competitors?

Who knows, maybe they want to give the current V8 one last hurrah, use it as a more "standard" engine (see LC 500 with the V8), and then transition to more BEVs.
Gecko
spwolf said
what are you even talking about anymore. You know about LC-F and LS-F and 600hp+ powertrain.

I dont get it.

blah
Click to expand...

We have all heard about it for 13 years. Where is it?

We heard about 5GS too, then we know how that went.

13 years of rumors and I am seriously doubting that it will become viable at this point. Time to stop believing rumors and seeing reality, IMO.

I’m happy/hoping to be wrong.
S
The F-line won't live unless they have a solid plan to switch to electrified powertrains by 2023. I couldn't care less how many LS-F/LC-F they sell because I know they will be gigantic commercial failures from Day 1.

Electrification = democratization of power. 500hp is now the starting point for $40k vehicles in ChDM and I expect high power electrified powertrain to proliferate globally in the next two years. A 670hp ICEV has no place in 2022.
B
@spwolf I'm thinking it will be the TTV6 that will fix the issues. I hope it has the 10 speed auto.
mikeavelli
Lexus is by far the hybrid luxury leader so I am hoping if this rumor of a V-8 hybrid LS 600 is true, that is really is something special. I mean 0-60 in 4 seconds flat getting 30 MPG. Something showing technological advancement and superiority. That likely would require a new engine, not sure how much more magic they can get from the current 5.0.

Also will this be a performance hybrid or more in the vein of the current LS 500h past LS 600? I would really love to see a F-Sport version come to the USA and not just the base look.

I think only the Panamera Turbo S E hybrid couples a V-8 flagship sedan with hybrid power. I think the rest of the Germans mix their hybrids with a 6 or 4 cylinder.

The facelift is needed. The ES/LS look too similar up front and the LS styling might have went to far for most people. Its crazy to think arguably the most styled car in this class is a LS.


CRSKTN said
Conflicts with No V8s on cars under $90k, unless they are going to make the IS500 a $90k car with a detuned V8 that's already not on par with competitors?

Who knows, maybe they want to give the current V8 one last hurrah, use it as a more "standard" engine (see LC 500 with the V8), and then transition to more BEVs.
Click to expand...
Whats crazy is a C63 S and M3 with options are 90-105k cars now. I just can't see Lexus having an IS cost that much. I am under the impression that F might be LS/LQ/LC/LX cars only going forward. That is my guess at this point.
B
Morning!! so what do we think this LS600 will be? 3.5TTV6 Hybrid of 5.0V8? if it is the 8 does anyone think it will be a new motor or the current offering but made better? How much HP will the 3.5TTV6 hybrid make?
Gecko
Berto3818 said
Morning!! so what do we think this LS600 will be? 3.5TTV6 Hybrid of 5.0V8? if it is the 8 does anyone think it will be a new motor or the current offering but made better? How much HP will the 3.5TTV6 hybrid make?
Click to expand...

This has all been discussed at length on the prior pages of this thread 😊
B
@Gecko Thanks Sir... I went back and read so let me rephrase. What do you or anyone think what they will do? Whats is throwing me off is they aren't putting v8 in anything below 90k anymore. of course teh 2UR-FSE is in the century but that motor and transmission is old and i went back and reference a older thread about the up and coming motors and there is no mention of a new V8 other than outside of the TTV8 that is coming.

Thank you

Markus
LexsCTJill
Berto3818 said
@Gecko Thanks Sir... I went back and read so let me rephrase. What do you or anyone think what they will do? Whats is throwing me off is they aren't putting v8 in anything below 90k anymore. of course teh 2UR-FSE is in the century but that motor and transmission is old and i went back and reference a older thread about the up and coming motors and there is no mention of a new V8 other than outside of the TTV8 that is coming.

Thank you

Markus
Click to expand...

Who has new V8 engines under 90K?
B
LX-GX
Gecko
LexsCTJill said
Who has new V8 engines under 90K?
Click to expand...

BMW, Mercedes, Genesis, etc.
LexsCTJill
[QUOTE="Gecko, post: 54071, member:
BMW, Mercedes, Genesis, etc.
[/QUOTE]

Genesis has no new engines coming that are V8. Need to spend $85K to get an E class with a V8. $77K for a V8 C class...I have no idea if those engines are new....
Gecko
LexsCTJill said
Genesis has no new engines coming that are V8. Need to spend $85K to get an E class with a V8. $77K for a V8 C class...I have no idea if those engines are new....
Click to expand...

Genesis' V8 was new in 2016.

BMW M550i is from $77k

Mercedes C63 AMG is from $68k. The only E Class with a V8 is the E63S which is from $107k.
LexsCTJill
Gecko said
Genesis' V8 was new in 2016.
Click to expand...

The G90 V8 dates back to 2012...it was updated in 2015
S
there is no chance that LS600h will have UR V8.

S