5th Generation (2018+) Lexus LS 500 & LS 500h Megathread

Gecko

Administrator
Messages
4,933
Reactions
11,903

I should be more specific: There's a mixed crowd on the LC 500 fb groups - younger people, middle aged folks, tuners, etc. Just a number of weird older white men mixed in there too, which I think is to be expected with a Lexus at this price point.
 

Sulu

Expert
Messages
1,098
Reactions
1,356
The non-USDM LS executive has Haku platinum foil and Nishijinori woven fabric door trims. But the USDM model only has the Haku piece and standard black leather. I had a look at a US LS500h with the Haku trim and it doesn't look nearly as good as the Chinese market model I saw before. The Nishijinori piece is there to create a moonlight effect at night and without it the Haku trim looks no different from a basic aluminum piece. Why would Lexus USA decontent their products and hate giving customers options?
View attachment 9378
The non-US model also has full crimson red leather trim with Kiriko glass and red stitching while the US model is standard black leather.
View attachment 9379
Also what kind of people buy flagship Lexus products in the US? Most of the pre-owned cars have interiors that look 15 years old despite having only 10-40k miles. Cracked leather, stains and spills everywhere, scratches on trim pieces are almost standard feature on any pre-owned Lexus. Do people eat fast food in their $100k car, touch all the expensive leather parts with oily fingers and never detail the interior? I've never seen similar levels of neglect with pre-owned European brands.
I think that you have answered your own question.

Why offer good quality, premium materials and trim if the customers do not appreciate them?

I find this quote from the Subaru WRX discussion appropriately sums it up:
screenshot.jpg


Maybe that is why all automakers in North America offer such limited, poor quality interiors in their cars (dour, funereal all-black interiors with low-quality, easily-scratched plastics). We (in general) accept it, we do not complain about it (enough), and we are not willing to pay a few dollars more to get better interiors. But I digress.
 

mikeavelli

Moderator
Messages
7,079
Reactions
15,716
I think that you have answered your own question.

Why offer good quality, premium materials and trim if the customers do not appreciate them?

I find this quote from the Subaru WRX discussion appropriately sums it up:
View attachment 9396


Maybe that is why all automakers in North America offer such limited, poor quality interiors in their cars (dour, funereal all-black interiors with low-quality, easily-scratched plastics). We (in general) accept it, we do not complain about it (enough), and we are not willing to pay a few dollars more to get better interiors. But I digress.

That quote from the other thread speaks volumes. In my opinion the LS interior has been its best feature. It’s beautiful with amazing fit and finish and details. .To me it’s held up after 7 years. It’s rarely mentioned. That interior at the price being sold today is incredible.

VW has dumbed down their entire lineup because they realized Americans just want suvs no matter how half assed or mediocre.
 

Levi

Expert
Messages
2,870
Reactions
3,307
That quote from the other thread speaks volumes. In my opinion the LS interior has been its best feature. It’s beautiful with amazing fit and finish and details. .To me it’s held up after 7 years. It’s rarely mentioned. That interior at the price being sold today is incredible.

VW has dumbed down their entire lineup because they realized Americans just want suvs no matter how half assed or mediocre.
ES has a very close interior too. I hope the new ES will not be “cheaper”.
 

Flagship1

Follower
Messages
495
Reactions
278
while i appreciate the ode to the champagne glasses, can we get some fresh new air on the advertising and not repeat this (akio did this same skit on an ls500 a few years back)?
 

Motor

Expert
Messages
2,448
Reactions
3,447
  • Flagship vehicle that started the Lexus brand turns 35
  • Starting MSRP of $81,685 (includes Delivery, Processing and Handling fee)
1730909618115.png

1730909710780.jpeg
 

Tyronne M

Fan
Messages
56
Reactions
98
"For the 2025 model year, the LS continues to command every corner and carries over unchanged from the previous model year."

sigh ... but I guess we should be glad it was not discontinued altogether.
 

Sulu

Expert
Messages
1,098
Reactions
1,356
  • Flagship vehicle that started the Lexus brand turns 35
  • Starting MSRP of $81,685 (includes Delivery, Processing and Handling fee)
View attachment 9667

View attachment 9668

The high-performance LS 500h continues in 2025 with a twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor...
Really? I thought the Hybrid uses the old naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6, as opposed to the newer TTV6?

I don't know why the LS 500 with TTV6 runs Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 but the LS 500h runs the older Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (yet has Lexus Teammate™ on the LS 500h AWD provides two functions: Advanced Drive and Advanced Park on AWD models). Maybe LSS+ 3.0 has not been configured yet to work with the Multi Stage Hybrid System.
 

Flagship1

Follower
Messages
495
Reactions
278
Really? I thought the Hybrid uses the old naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6, as opposed to the newer TTV6?

I don't know why the LS 500 with TTV6 runs Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 but the LS 500h runs the older Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 (yet has Lexus Teammate™ on the LS 500h AWD provides two functions: Advanced Drive and Advanced Park on AWD models). Maybe LSS+ 3.0 has not been configured yet to work with the Multi Stage Hybrid System.
unless the system output of this new twin turbo motor in the hybrid is the exact as the old v6 from 24, im thinking someone didnt proofread their work.