Lexus LS460 L

As a flagship model, Lexus has pulled all the stops to make the LS 460 L as uncompromising as a luxury car can be...

What's New
Lexus' trademark subtlety and understatement might still be in full force with the latest generation LS, but the new car is noticeably sleeker than its bluff and square-shouldered predecessor.

The new flagship gets a '460' moniker, alluding to the car's 4.6-litre engine capacity, and while the shape is considerably more elegant overall, it is nevertheless a very familiar one with most of the curves and details echoing current Lexus styling trends, as seen on the new IS and GS models.

The old car looked very much like a tank, especially from the front. This new one is far less imposing, which is actually a good thing. From a distance, the new LS even appears smaller than its predecessor.

This is only an illusion, though, and one that's quickly dispelled by the sheer amount of time it takes to simply walk round the thing. The trip takes even more time if it's the long wheelbase version we're talking about. For the first time, the LS is now available in both long and short wheelbase versions, which is in itself a fairly significant development as it firmly cements the LS' position amongst other luxury limo stalwarts.

That's not the only big news, though. In keeping with the new LS's more svelte looks, Lexus has also worked to ensure that the car is more involving to drive. Any car with sporty aspirations has to have a powerplant that can shape up, and the good news is that the LS' engine is a real corker.

The LS 460 gets an all-new 4.6-litre V8 powerplant that pumps out a hefty 380bhp as well as a tree stump-pulling 500Nm of torque. What's more, the engine features both direct as well as more conventional port fuel injection. The V8 uses the two fuelling systems in special combination, depending on whether economy or performance is desired.

The LS also boasts the world's first eight-speed automatic gearbox and according to Lexus, its judiciously chosen gear ratios help to make the 4.6-litre engine deliver the performance of a 5.0-litre.

The interior architecture has been spruced up in keeping with the sleeker exterior, and there are tonnes of standard equipment. The centre console is a bit of a button-fest but you do get used to where everything is after spending some time with the car.

Back to the gadgets. Everything that can conceivably be moved about electrically, is. You get fantastically supportive air-conditioned seats, as well as a climate control system that adjusts itself according to the body temperature of individual occupants. The long-wheelbase version tested here only seats four, but in terrific comfort. It also features a reclining massage chair for the left rear passenger that has is an absolute must-try. There's also a high-end optional 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system coupled to an excellent in-car cinema setup.

How it Performs
There's a tremendous amount of performance on tap from the 380bhp V8 engine, and the eight-speed gearbox silkily wrings maximum performance out of every available rev. It takes just 5.7 seconds to reach 100km/h from a stanstill in the LS 460 L and the engine never, at any point, feels like it's about to run out of steam.

Gearshifts are executed without you even noticing. The only way to really tell when you're just cruising is by watching the rev counter needle rise or fall.

The first thing you really notice, though, is that the engine isn't as silent as before. In the old car, there was barely any discernible auditory difference between having the engine on or off. The extra noise is deliberate on Lexus' part, and helps to reinforce the new LS's sportier character.

On the move, you quickly find that the LS' handling makes for a big step up from the old car, but it isn't quite in BMW 7 Series territory. The steering is accurate and quick but it lacks the intimacy that characterises setups on German rivals.

Body control is pretty good, too, but only up to a point. Take a corner too enthusiastically and huge body roll results. Drive it like you would a flagship Lexus, and there's nothing for similar money to touch the LS in terms of refinement and comfort.

That said, if you fully disable the traction and stability control systems, the LS turns into a proper hooligan-mobile. With 380bhp under your right foot and a very forgiving chassis, lurid, full-on powerslides are a cinch to accomplish, and the prospect of an LS going very sideways (in an off road, open space) is probably worth half the sticker price alone.

How it Stacks Up
The LS 460 lists at $295,888 with COE for the standard-wheelbase model, the long-wheelbase version tested here costs $359,888 with COE. In order to match the performance and equipment levels of the top-of-the-line LS, you'd really need an extremely well-equipped Mercedes-Benz S 500 or BMW 750Li, and either of these are substantially more expensive.

That's the biggest weapon in the LS' arsenal; it's sheer value for money. Add that to the wealth of luxury appointments, typically impressive build quality and surprising performance and the whole lot makes for an incredibly compelling ownership proposition.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Lexus LS 460 L (A) ENGINE Engine: 4,608cc 48v V8 Max Power: 380bhp at 6,400rpm Max Torque: 500Nm at 4,100rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic TOP SPEED 250km/h 0-100km/h 5.7s