The LS is the flagship saloon car within the Lexus product portfolio, sporting various handcrafted elements throughout, with the Japanese manufacturer touting the LS as setting benchmarks in powertrain smoothness, ride quietness, craftsmanship, attention to detail and long-term quality. In 2018, the LS entered the local market with the more dynamic F-Sport variant following suit in 2019. We have compiled this list of features that you should pay close attention to when test driving one of the Lexus LS500 models.
1.Variable suspension
As a luxury saloon car, comfort is high on the list of the qualities that the LS must excel at. The LS models feature the brand’s variable suspension system which includes dampers that are continuously variable through 650 levels as well as a development of the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system which controls the basic longitudinal, lateral and vertical motion as well as yaw, roll and pitch of the vehicle.
2.Potent powertrain
The powertrain in the LS is a first for Lexus, sporting a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 that produces a healthy 310kW and 600Nm of torque which is paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The powertrain is designed to combine both performance and luxury with the smooth nature of a V6 engine, the low-end torque associated with turbocharging and the luxury of choice, having 10 gears to choose from. The LS range also comes with a drive mode selector, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Sport S+, Comfort, and Custom modes.
3.Bespoke grille
As is to be expected, the LS features the brand’s signature Spindle grille, however, the item on the LS is three-dimensional and has been inspired by traditional Japanese etching, with over 5 000 individual surfaces which are calibrated to catch and reflect light. This process took designers a full eight-hour working day over the course of six months, to perfect.
4.Magnesium and wood inside
Lexus has made use of a special ‘The Art of Wood Herringbone’ trim inside the LS500 which includes wood that has been prepared using the same process as that used in the crafting of high-end musical instruments, resulting in a Lexus mosaic design. Lexus has also made use of magnesium for the dashboard accents as it believes that the material provides superior tactile quality.
5.Shiatsu massaging seats
The LS500 models feature 4-way lumbar support on all seats, with the driver’s seat benefitting from a 28-way adjustable electric seat with adaptive feedback, providing support for the hips, pelvis and back. All of the seats provide a traditional Shiatsu-style massage functionality.
6.Semi-autonomous driving functions
The LS500 range comes with a full suite of semi-autonomous driving features, including the Pre-Crash System with Pedestrian Detection, High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Steering Control and Steering Vibration functionality.
7.Mark Levinson sound system
The premium audio system in the LS500 range features 23 speakers, 16 channels, 2 400 watts and the largest subwoofer ever fitted to a production Lexus. The audio system also features 3D audio technology.
