Talk about the cars you like in ONE.MOTORING forum's Road Tests.Click here>> |
 |
"A LEXUS IS really a Toyota underneath." A fairly common if irrational refrain, and one that keeps uppity limo buyers away from the Japanese luxury marque. Which is a bit of a pity. Still, if you you're not aware of what you?re missing, then there's nothing to disturb your bliss.
The thing is, the fact that Toyota has anything to do with how Lexus builds its cars is far more confidence inspiring from an ownership perspective than any other association you'd care to imagine, period. This is why Lexus consistently tops JD Power customer satisfaction surveys.
Apart from reliability, Lexus products are more generally known for refinement and comfort, and in these respects, you'd probably need a Rolls-Royce to best them. What Lexus isn't known for, the latest generations of the IS and GS sedans notwithstanding, is sporty handling.
Which is pretty obvious, sporty handling, and comfort are almost mutually exclusive, and there are precious few cars that blend both with any degree of satisfaction. Better to be supreme at one than to be mediocre at two, but considering that Lexus' tend to start from such a lofty position where refinement is concerned, taking away from that and adding a bit of sportiness shouldn't upset things too much.
The LS 460 shown here replaces the decidedly unsporty LS 430, and from looks alone, there's been a big improvement. The new car is much sleeker than the old, looking somewhat like a stretched GS, but it still comes off as very understated.
A quick look at the mechanical spec list does give you the odd perception that there is a distinct lack of frills.
Frills are of course what differentiates cars at this level from everything else, but where some rival manufacturers boast fancy cross-linked air-suspension systems, the LS makes do with good old steel springs.
The issue is reliability, and air springs do suffer from a bit of sag after a while. A listing Lexus would've been unthinkable.
This sort of calm, rational approach to building cars is actually pretty refreshing, and it's also why Lexus owners rate reliability so high. The company doesn't use customers as a sort of proving ground for its products.
That said, there is plenty of tech. The all-new V8 for instance, uses direct injection technology and more conventional intake port injectors, where most cars have one or the other. It sounds very complicated, but according to Lexus, the benefits are improved fuel consumption and considerably more power.
The LS 460 also boasts the world's first eight-speed automatic gearbox. Having more ratios means being able to make use of the engine's power in a more efficient way, theoretically at least.
The thing is, the fact that Toyota has anything to do with how Lexus builds its cars is far more confidence inspiring from an ownership perspective than any other association you'd care to imagine, period. This is why Lexus consistently tops JD Power customer satisfaction surveys.
Apart from reliability, Lexus products are more generally known for refinement and comfort, and in these respects, you'd probably need a Rolls-Royce to best them. What Lexus isn't known for, the latest generations of the IS and GS sedans notwithstanding, is sporty handling.
Which is pretty obvious, sporty handling, and comfort are almost mutually exclusive, and there are precious few cars that blend both with any degree of satisfaction. Better to be supreme at one than to be mediocre at two, but considering that Lexus' tend to start from such a lofty position where refinement is concerned, taking away from that and adding a bit of sportiness shouldn't upset things too much.
The LS 460 shown here replaces the decidedly unsporty LS 430, and from looks alone, there's been a big improvement. The new car is much sleeker than the old, looking somewhat like a stretched GS, but it still comes off as very understated.
A quick look at the mechanical spec list does give you the odd perception that there is a distinct lack of frills.
Frills are of course what differentiates cars at this level from everything else, but where some rival manufacturers boast fancy cross-linked air-suspension systems, the LS makes do with good old steel springs.
The issue is reliability, and air springs do suffer from a bit of sag after a while. A listing Lexus would've been unthinkable.
This sort of calm, rational approach to building cars is actually pretty refreshing, and it's also why Lexus owners rate reliability so high. The company doesn't use customers as a sort of proving ground for its products.
That said, there is plenty of tech. The all-new V8 for instance, uses direct injection technology and more conventional intake port injectors, where most cars have one or the other. It sounds very complicated, but according to Lexus, the benefits are improved fuel consumption and considerably more power.
The LS 460 also boasts the world's first eight-speed automatic gearbox. Having more ratios means being able to make use of the engine's power in a more efficient way, theoretically at least.
 |
DRIVING IT
Pootling about in the LS is great, I've actually had less relaxing massages. There's the criticism that driving a Lexus is all about disconnection, or being insulated as much as possible from all the sensations that make the experience of driving special in the first place, but it's really hard not to fall in love with a car that's so absolutely willing to pamper its occupants.
It's almost sepulchral inside, except for the engine. The new 4.6-litre V8 is noticeably more vocal than the virtually silent unit in the LS 430. It isn't loud by any means, though, and it does make a surprisingly pleasant, cultured growl.
380bhp makes 100km/h come up in 5.7 seconds on paper, but in truth, the long wheelbase version tested here didn't feel that quick. Weight is the main culprit.
That said, the LS 460 is still a very fast car, and you need the V8 powered versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series to keep up.
The steering doesn't offer any feel whatsoever but it is very accurate. And you can take quite extreme liberties with respect to the handling. There's plenty of grip, and while it's quite easy to elicit a terrific degree of body roll in the corners, the LS can be threaded through any given sequence of corners surprisingly neatly.
What's even more surprising is that you can switch all the LS' traction and stability control systems off. And if you do, 500Nm of torque very quickly overwhelms rear traction and you can make the LS perform very lurid and wonderfully anarchic hooligan-type acts.
No complaints with the LS' eight-speed automatic transmission, and I suppose the greatest compliment you can pay it is that you don't even notice it working.
Shifts are seamless, so even if the box is constantly switching gears, you don't really feel it.
Pootling about in the LS is great, I've actually had less relaxing massages. There's the criticism that driving a Lexus is all about disconnection, or being insulated as much as possible from all the sensations that make the experience of driving special in the first place, but it's really hard not to fall in love with a car that's so absolutely willing to pamper its occupants.
It's almost sepulchral inside, except for the engine. The new 4.6-litre V8 is noticeably more vocal than the virtually silent unit in the LS 430. It isn't loud by any means, though, and it does make a surprisingly pleasant, cultured growl.
380bhp makes 100km/h come up in 5.7 seconds on paper, but in truth, the long wheelbase version tested here didn't feel that quick. Weight is the main culprit.
That said, the LS 460 is still a very fast car, and you need the V8 powered versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series to keep up.
The steering doesn't offer any feel whatsoever but it is very accurate. And you can take quite extreme liberties with respect to the handling. There's plenty of grip, and while it's quite easy to elicit a terrific degree of body roll in the corners, the LS can be threaded through any given sequence of corners surprisingly neatly.
What's even more surprising is that you can switch all the LS' traction and stability control systems off. And if you do, 500Nm of torque very quickly overwhelms rear traction and you can make the LS perform very lurid and wonderfully anarchic hooligan-type acts.
No complaints with the LS' eight-speed automatic transmission, and I suppose the greatest compliment you can pay it is that you don't even notice it working.
Shifts are seamless, so even if the box is constantly switching gears, you don't really feel it.
 |
INSIDE IT
The cabin architecture bears a strong family resemblance to the GS and IS sedans, and is more functional and unfussy than what you normally find in cars in this class.
Every button, and I do mean every button, is meticulously labelled. Not perhaps as neat a solution as the elegant symbols that everyone else seems to use but it's no biggie.
The materials used are of very high quality, as you'd naturally expect. But Lexus seems to have eschewed some of the type of soft-touch surfacing that you find in other cars, probably because these materials are relatively less durable.
The whole interior feels utterly solid, and built to last.
Both the short and long wheelbase versions have huge interiors but the latter is positively cavernous at the back. This version of the car only seats two in the rear, though, which is actually properly indulgent.
The left rear seat is a nearly fully reclining electric job complete with an 'Ottoman' foot rest and a built-in massage function that has to be experienced to be believed. The seat doesn't use air bellows, opting for proper massaging pistons. There?s even a 'shiatsu' function. If you've put your name down for one, chances are you'd be telling your chauffeur to take the long way home from work every day.
You can't quite stretch out full length without moving the front passenger seat forward but there are handy remote controls that allow you to do just that from the back.
Other gadgets include a kick-arse Mark Levinson stereo setup that includes a DVD entertainment system. The sound quality, especially in DVD mode, is properly cinematic. Who needs Gold Class?
Everything moves about electrically and the four-zone climate control system uses infra-red sensors to detect body temperature, adjusting the level of cooling to suit.
It's a bit hard to tell that it's working but the cabin is definitely a perspiration-free zone. As with some other Lexus models, all the seats are air-conditioned.
The cabin architecture bears a strong family resemblance to the GS and IS sedans, and is more functional and unfussy than what you normally find in cars in this class.
Every button, and I do mean every button, is meticulously labelled. Not perhaps as neat a solution as the elegant symbols that everyone else seems to use but it's no biggie.
The materials used are of very high quality, as you'd naturally expect. But Lexus seems to have eschewed some of the type of soft-touch surfacing that you find in other cars, probably because these materials are relatively less durable.
The whole interior feels utterly solid, and built to last.
Both the short and long wheelbase versions have huge interiors but the latter is positively cavernous at the back. This version of the car only seats two in the rear, though, which is actually properly indulgent.
The left rear seat is a nearly fully reclining electric job complete with an 'Ottoman' foot rest and a built-in massage function that has to be experienced to be believed. The seat doesn't use air bellows, opting for proper massaging pistons. There?s even a 'shiatsu' function. If you've put your name down for one, chances are you'd be telling your chauffeur to take the long way home from work every day.
You can't quite stretch out full length without moving the front passenger seat forward but there are handy remote controls that allow you to do just that from the back.
Other gadgets include a kick-arse Mark Levinson stereo setup that includes a DVD entertainment system. The sound quality, especially in DVD mode, is properly cinematic. Who needs Gold Class?
Everything moves about electrically and the four-zone climate control system uses infra-red sensors to detect body temperature, adjusting the level of cooling to suit.
It's a bit hard to tell that it's working but the cabin is definitely a perspiration-free zone. As with some other Lexus models, all the seats are air-conditioned.
 |
DOLLARS AND SENSE
The long wheelbase, fully-loaded model tested here lists for $359,888 with COE. A Mercedes S 500 L costs $408,888 with COE, and doesn't come with half the features you find in the LS, so from a pure value for money perspective, the Lexus is unbeatable.
CONCLUSION
What isn't there to like? The LS is as fast as you'd want a car like this to be. It's superbly built, packed to the gills with equipment, very refined and perhaps most smile-inducing of all, it goes sideways with the best of them.
PLUSES Superb build quality, refinement, plenty of performance
MINUSES Probably could've been made even more involving to drive
VERDICT Terrific value for money, a super smart buy
The long wheelbase, fully-loaded model tested here lists for $359,888 with COE. A Mercedes S 500 L costs $408,888 with COE, and doesn't come with half the features you find in the LS, so from a pure value for money perspective, the Lexus is unbeatable.
CONCLUSION
What isn't there to like? The LS is as fast as you'd want a car like this to be. It's superbly built, packed to the gills with equipment, very refined and perhaps most smile-inducing of all, it goes sideways with the best of them.
PLUSES Superb build quality, refinement, plenty of performance
MINUSES Probably could've been made even more involving to drive
VERDICT Terrific value for money, a super smart buy
 |
NEED TO KNOW
Model : LEXUS LS 460 L (A)
Engine Type : 4,608cc, 32V V8
Max Power : 380bhp at 6,400rpm
Max Torque : 500Nm at 4,100rpm
Gearbox : 8-speed automatic
Top speed : 250km/h
0-100km/h : 5.7 seconds
Price : $359,888 with COE
Warranty : 3 years / 100,000km
Contact : Borneo Motors at 6479-3288
SIMILAR CARS TO CONSIDER
Mercedes-Benz S 500L $408,888 with COE
New 388bhp V8 delivers frightening performance, and the S-Class' handling is also right up there with the best of them. There's also plenty of kit, including various high-tech safety systems, and build quality is good, too.
BMW 750Li $381,000 with COE
The 750Li is the choice for the keen driver, a silky smooth V8 and an agile chassis make for a surprisingly nimble car, especially considering the size of the thing. The 750Li is packed with toys, and there's plenty of room to lounge, both front and back.
Model : LEXUS LS 460 L (A)
Engine Type : 4,608cc, 32V V8
Max Power : 380bhp at 6,400rpm
Max Torque : 500Nm at 4,100rpm
Gearbox : 8-speed automatic
Top speed : 250km/h
0-100km/h : 5.7 seconds
Price : $359,888 with COE
Warranty : 3 years / 100,000km
Contact : Borneo Motors at 6479-3288
SIMILAR CARS TO CONSIDER
Mercedes-Benz S 500L $408,888 with COE
New 388bhp V8 delivers frightening performance, and the S-Class' handling is also right up there with the best of them. There's also plenty of kit, including various high-tech safety systems, and build quality is good, too.
BMW 750Li $381,000 with COE
The 750Li is the choice for the keen driver, a silky smooth V8 and an agile chassis make for a surprisingly nimble car, especially considering the size of the thing. The 750Li is packed with toys, and there's plenty of room to lounge, both front and back.
 |
| Pick up your FREE copy of CarBuyer at all major car showrooms; car accessory and tyre distributors and car service, inspection centres and Shell service stations. CarBuyer is published twice a month, and new issues are available one week after COE results are released. |