Good lord that's ugly.
Lexus has become the yin to Mercedes-Benz’s yang. Where the Benz is old money, maybe the Lexus is a dot-com.
For 2018, Lexus has given us a new flagship sedan, the LS 500. New doesn’t have to mean more expensive, though. “With a starting manufacturer suggested retail price of $75,000*, the LS 500 arrives with a base price that is $3,820 less than its current long wheelbase predecessor despite offering more power, comfort and safety than ever before,” the press kit states.
The look might go with the rest of the Lexus lineup, but the chassis is all new. It’s also longer and lower than the previous one.
Like most everyone else in this segment, the model designation no longer jibes with the powerplant–and, even perhaps bigger news, the Lexus flagship no longer gets a V8. The new LS 500 is powered by a twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V6 that produces 416 horsepower along with 442 lb.-ft. of torque. All of that is sent through a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Disclaimer: I have been a fan of these big, rear-drive Lexus sedans forever. They’re quick, they’re comfortable and they have some presence. The new one just continues that trend.
The new V6 is super-smooth. The 10-speed automatic might be even smoother. Amazingly smooth.
The Sport+ setting does sharpen up things a notch. That became my default setting.
The seats feel perfect. Not one complaint from the drivers seat.
Most everything is now controlled via a touchpad. It took me a minute or two to get used to it, but I liked it–probably better than the old joystick.
A few things could have been a bit more elegant, though. Where every control on an S-class seems perfectly integrated and placed, the same couldn’t be said for the Lexus–specifically the driving mode controls that jut out from the gauge hood.
Do they make sense from an operational standpoint? Yes. Yes, they do.
Do they look a little tacked-on, like some sort of aftermarket accessory? I’m going to say yes to that one, too.
This is really my one picked nit on the car. It’s that good.
Is it better than a Benz? It’s different. Both are quiet, very capable luxury sedans. I’d call the Benz a little more polished, while it’s option list allows so much customization. Lexus instead uses option packages–still cool stuff, but just a different way of getting there.
You remember that time you had the fancy Toyota that all your friends wanted to ride in so they could take selfies of themselves riding in the super-luxurious back seat? No, right? Because that's not a thing. Actually, now it can be, thanks to the Lexus LS 500.
We’ve been on a roll lately with luxe-cruiser press cars. I can only imagine that some “lifestyle” magazine shares our pool of vehicles and needed our most recent press vehicles—which have included the Maybach, big Mercedes and, yes, this Toyota—to figure out which massaging rear seat works out the most kinks. Or maybe which wood finish conveyed the most luggsury. And I confess, I was more than happy to spend some time enjoying the LS 500’s creamy power and creamier leather. My friends loved riding in it and I enjoyed driving it, at least I did until I had to try to navigate the controls for the bewildering array of cabin comforts. (Hint: I soon stopped trying and ended up turning the radio off, wasting what was potentially one of the best audio experience I’ve been offered in awhile.)
Good lord that's ugly.
Saw the pic on the side of the forum, came here to say exactly the same thing.
That's disgusting
I think it's interesting and unique looking. Would rock.
looks like a particularly ugly infiniti to me. I don't like it.
Interesting. Not ugly. I too would rock it.
I don't think it is ugly, but it isn't good looking either.
Funny how the LS design has aged over the years. I used to think that the 1st and 2nd generations were boring. I still do, but it was a handsome design, and I'd certainly rock it. The 3rd generation was too boring and Camry like. 4th generation was back to the handsome and boring. I think it will age well. This one, I don't think that it will age well at all.
Toyota has a 400hp twin turbo V6 and no real sports car? I'm no product development guy, but I see an opportunity.......
The front of that car seriously looks photoshopped. Like a fear n loathing in Las Vegas distortion. They did that on purpose?
There are so many new Lexii around here I'm almost becoming immune to the ugliness of the front grille, but the thing about this car that REALLY strikes me is the 4x4 wheel gap. What's up with the Japanese carmakers never seemingly being able to design a car where the wheels look like the are the right size for the wheel wells (or, vice versa). Audi, BMW, even most of the American manufacturers these days - they are doing it right. Japanese cars always look like their first thing they need are some 1" drop lowering springs......
Besides that, most of the rest of this LS500 is pretty ugly as well.
As usual, I find the "it's ugly" crowd faintly ridiculous. Clearly many very-well-heeled individuals disagree. And anyway, that's got nothing to do with the driving experience.
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