Lexus LS460 Issues Challenge To German Luxury Automakers

Motoring Channel Staff - 22/Sep/2006

Aichi, Japan — Taking a swipe at Mercedes-Benz, the luxury German car maker that prides itself on innovations in the automotive field, Lexus has launched the new LS460 in its domestic market of Japan, incorporating a range of advanced features including a world-first four-zone air conditioning system an oxygen-level conditioner that prevents the cabin's oxygen level from becoming too low.

The new LS460 will make its debut in Australia in 2007 alongside its long-wheel based hybrid cousin, the hybrid LS600hL, but for now we have plenty of information on the new model from the launch in Japan.

Representing the 4th generation LS series, the new LS460 is entirely new, displaying a new exterior style, sitting on a new platform with cutting edge suspension, driven by a new transmission and engine pairing, plus there's a number of advanced features that would have been unthinkable in the 1990s.

As well as featuring a next-generation 8-speed automatic transmission and a 283kW 4.6-litre V8 engine, the hulking Lexus limo also features pre-crash safety systems, radar-based cruise control and enough buttons and dials to completely confuse drivers of all ages. 

Lexus is also claiming impressive fuel economy figures with its new 8-speed automatic transmission, which puts the 4608 cubic centimetre V8 engine's 283kW to the rear wheels in a highly effective manner. The fourth generation LS460's engine is a develops its peak power of 283kW (385hp) @ 6400rpm, and the engine features a very high 11.8 compression ratio. The engine feature direct petrol injection, which helps generate peak torque of 500Nm @ 4100rpm.

With all this power and torque at it's disposal, the overly heavy Lexus is still able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

V8 engines are one of the most popular and sought-after types in the motoring world, due to their distinctive sound and smooth power delivery, and now the LS460 features a dual-injector system that combines direct fuel injection with port fuel injection with what Lexus claims to be the world's first electric motor-driven VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent via Electric motor) installed on the intake side of the Dual VVT-i.

The new Lexus LS460's major rivals come in the form of German luxury limousines, including the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And like these European models, the Lexus features a similarly powerful exterior style. According to the Japanese luxury car maker, the 2007 LS460's design is based on the philosophy of L-finesse, which means very little except to the people who designed the vehicle. In practical terms the result is quite impressive, presenting a dominant image of a flagship luxury vehicle that features smooth lines and updates the former model's boxy shape without forgetting its roots. 

The vehicle body, designed to blend a cool beauty with a strength that hints at the power within, adopts a design motif combining sharp outer corners with curving lines on their inner edges to create a purposeful profile. Lexus adds that the headlights, with their resolute appearance, combine with the robust appearance of the hood and front quarter panels to give the vehicle's front a solid presence. From the side it's evident that the vehicle is quite long, and at the rear the combination taillights, with what Lexus calls an L-shaped motif, make for a distinctive rear view.

On the road, Lexus is adamant that few other vehicles will be able to match the LS460's impeccably smooth ride, which is based on a new floorplan for the 4th generation LS series, which features an all-new suspension system. It employs a sophisticated electronically controlled air suspension system (AVS or Adaptive Variable Suspension), which is based on front and rear multi-link suspension, which can adapt to different driving styles, such as high maneuverability or smooth and gentle riding comfort.

Mated to the high tech suspension system are a number of vehicle safety controls including intuitive braking and steering accident avoidance systems. Monitoring a number of sensors placed in every conceivable location across the car, the new VDIM (vehicle dynamics integrated management) system combines most conventional driving aids and can anticipate the onset of a slide or a skid. Once recognising a loss of traction and a developing skid, the VDIM can help correct the situation with a combination of braking, throttle and even steering control, that Lexus says is virtually imperceptible to the driver.

More traditional safety features, such as ABS and ESP, also feature, as do dual-stage SRS airbags covering driver and front passengers heads, knees, and sides, plus there's curtain shield airbags for both front and rear seats.

With its new floorplan and suspension systems and smooth exterior styling, Lexus claims the LS460 travels very quietly on all road surfaces, fitted with 235/50 R18 tyres and attaining an exceptional aerodynamic efficiency. It's drag co-efficient of 0.26 contributes to stability and quietness at high speeds and improved fuel efficiency. 

Lexus has also added VGRS to the LS460, which stands for Variable Gear Ratio Steering. The relationship between the amount the steering wheel is turned and the angle of the front wheels is maintained at the optimum level in relation to the vehicle's speed, which gives the LS460' steering a feeling of stability, says the luxury car maker.

Radar cruise control is another must-have feature on any modern luxury car, and the Lexus LS460 features a new radar-based cruise control system, but also offers an all-speed tracking function, a Lane-keeping Assist system and an Intelligent Parking Assist system with ultrasonic sensors. This last feature is not just 'guidance' but actually steers and reverses the car into the spot you desire. You can almost hear Lexus saying,"Mercedes, it's your move."

Lexus says these systems are designed to lessen the workload of the driver. It also explains that for situations such as traffic congestion, in which repeated stopping and starting is required, a switch-activated brake hold function maintains braking force on all four wheels to lessen the strain of brake operation. For use during parking, a switch-activated, electrically operated parking brake, when set to "AUTO", automatically engages and releases in unison with the position of the gear-shift stick in another world's first.

Having invested hundreds of millions of dollars developing its many and varied advanced driving aids, Lexus has also spent heavily in researching new comfort and convenience functions to keep occupants ultra happy, and the attention to detail is stunning. Lexus says that its aim of delivering discreet hospitality sensitive to drivers and passengers by placing their needs at the center of the spatial concept, were conceived to reflect the essential elements of congeniality and user-friendliness.

As was mentioned at the top of the page, the new LS460 debuts a world-first ventilation system: the four-zone front and rear air conditioning allows independent automatic temperature control for all four occupants, and features a world first oxygen-level conditioner that prevents the cabin's oxygen level from becoming too low [but will it help you breathe if you drive it into a lake? - Ed].

Like all Lexus models, the interior was designed with attention to detail, ensuring the texture and feel of the materials is matched with a unique style. This careful design is apparent not only in the visual friendliness and the feel of the controls when operated, but even in details such as the speed with which the various storage compartments open and close, reflecting a sense of discreet hospitality. Lexus was very pedantic about the materials used in the interior, stating that the processing methods and adhesives used for interior parts resulted in a reduction in the amount of VOCs used, thereby also reducing the discomforting odors emitted from such compounds. 

For audiophiles, a spine-tingling 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference surround-sound stereo system is offered as an option, as are semi-aniline leather seats, a wood-grain and leather-bound steering wheel with steering wheel heater and shift knob, plus an alcantara roof. There's also rear-window power sunshades and rear-door power sunshades, and all security measures and locking mechanisms (doors, boot, etc.) are controlled remotely by an ultra slim card or electronic key, which can be kept in the drivers pocket at all times due to its proximity sensors.

In Japan, a special telematics system called G-Link can be optioned that features a hard disk drive built into the car, that can offer real-time traffic updates and plan new routes to avoid traffic snarls via the satellite navigation, and can even remotely lock the doors, close the windows via a message sent from a mobile phone. Now that's impressive. And if the car gets stolen, owners can request that the car's engine be shut down to aid recovery.

The new Lexus LS460 has just been launched in Japan and will be coming to Australia in 2007. Lexus Australia spokesman Scott Grant said the LS460 has been pushed back from its intended release date of late 2006 to sometime in 2007 because "It is imperative that LS460 and LS600hL both launch with significant feature advantages. The LS460 introduced in Australia must be equal in specification to that in all world markets," added Grant.