Facelift for Lexus flagship brings improvements

Lexus has revealed a revamped LS model range, comprising the LS 460, LS 600h and an F Sport version of its flagship model.

The most obvious changes are to the exterior styling, where the new LS adopts the new look Lexus grille design, but the updates include improved driving dynamics, better sound insulation and more sophisticated and effective preventive safety systems.

In all more than 3,000 changes have been made to the current LS.

In a first for Lexus, all lights – headlights, rear lamps and fog lights – are available with LED technology. The new shape vertical fog lights include new L-shaped, seamless light tube daytime running lights.

Changes in the production provess result in a stiffer body, improving ride comfort, while handling has been enahnced with a new four-wheel interlock control in the adaptive suspension, which suppresses roll, pitch and heave vibration at all four wheels simultaneously. Damping response has been made smoother and more highly controlled to give a flatter ride.

Steering is now more responsive and the brake bedal has improved feel.

Drive Mode Select offers five switchable driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport S and Sport S+. These provide easy adjustment of vehicle systems to help deliver the driver’s preferred balance of economy, comfort, performance and handling characteristics.

A number of vehicle systems that were previously operated independently have now been consolidated within the Drive Mode Select for ease of use.

The new F Sport grade combines more sporting exterior and interior design elements with genuine dynamic enhancements, including lowering of the ride height by 10mm, Brembo 6-piston calliper front brakes and paddle shift controls.

The rear-wheel drive LS 460 F Sport model further benefits from the addition of a Torsen limited slip differential and paddle shift controls that incorporate automatic throttle blipping on downshifts.

The F Sport sounds the part, too, thanks to an intake sound generator on the engine that amplifies the vibration of the intake pulse and introduces it into the cabin.

Improvements have been made to engine, road and wind noise sound insulation, and, in a Lexus-first, new hollow chamber noise reduction wheels can be fitted, which cut the amount of noise experienced in the cabin.

The Remote Touch Interface gives control of the car’s infotainment systems, via a 12.3-inch multimedia display – a screen large enough to present two types of information simultaneously.

The Lexus Navigation system benefits from powerful HDD capacity and internet connectivity, making it one of the fastest and most accurate systems on the market. All UK versions will be fitted with a 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround System, and the rear seat entertainment system has been upgraded to include a Blu-Ray disc player.

The LS is fitted with a new Advanced Pre-Crash Safety system with collision avoidance assist. It is designed to help the driver avoid an accident, or if the worst happens, mitigate the consequences of a collision, with vehicles or pedestrians. It can operate across a wide range speeds, and in daylight or darkness.

The Lane-Keep Assist system has been upgraded so that it can respond to external factors such as changes in road camber changes and crosswinds. A Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) system is also available.

The new Lexus LS 460 and LS 600h will go on sale in the UK later this year, with further details of performance, specification and pricing to be announced.