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Fourth time's a charmer
When the first Lexus luxury 4-door made its debut in 1989, it generated more than a bit of angst among its competitors in the automotive industry. In fact, at a Mercedes-Benz new-model introduction that took place right about then, I tried to placate my German host by telling him that the LS 400 looked like nothing more than an S-Class clone. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," I said cheerily. "Yah," he replied somberly, "that's what we are afraid of."
History has shown us that he had reason to be concerned. Since its debut, Lexus has become one of the most revered names in the industry. Although some of the company's designs are not what I would call breakthrough, the marque has developed a reputation for being supremely reliable. Above all, Lexus has set the standard for customer satisfaction, something other manufacturers envy to this day.
Back in 1989 the flagship of the Lexus line was the LS 400, a somewhat Teutonic-looking sedan (think Mercedes without the attitude) that some might call uninspired. But priced below the German competition, the Lexus was an instant hit. Affordable pricing, however, was not the only selling point. Rather, it was the attention Lexus lavished upon its customers that made the brand successful and set a standard that everyone else would attempt to follow.
Over the years Lexus stuck with a winner, revitalizing the LS every five years or so by making it more stylish, more powerful and more luxurious than its predecessor. So when designers began sketching the fourth-generation LS, they knew the bar had been raised pretty high. The car was no longer the bargain it had been in the 1990s. And consumers, whose heads were being turned by the likes of Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar and Mercedes, were expecting a lot more from the LS, which had become a bit long in the tooth stylistically.
With visions of declining market share dancing in their heads, the folks at Lexus set out to build a large sedan that, in the words of group vice president and general manager Bob Carter, "still offers all the legendary attributes of Lexus: quality, dependability, value, comfort and...luxury, [but with] more emotional styling, more power, prestige and more high-touch, high-tech features that are intuitive and easy to operate."
That would be the LS 460, which Lexus calls "all new." Personally, I'd call it reengineered, but what the hey! [image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621114.jpgPo-tay-toe, po-tah-toe, right? Anyway, let's give Lexus its due and say that there's a lot that is new about the 2007 Lexus 4-door, which is a tad longer, wider and lower than the LS 430. For starters, the 460's torsionally stiffer platform, whose wheelbase is almost 2 in. longer than the previous 4-door's, features redesigned suspension with two upper and two lower transverse arms up front and a 5-link arrangement at the rear replacing the 430's double wishbones used fore and aft. As before, standard 4-wheel vented disc brakes are linked to a variety of safety/handling devices whose functions are managed by a new and improved stability system that rides herd on the car's braking, traction and yaw controls, all of which are designed to keep the sedan's shiny side up and the black side down. By the way, the LS 460 features electric-assist power steering, which reduces the load on the engine (thus increasing fuel efficiency) and eliminates the need for a hydraulic pump, hoses and drive pulley.
[image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621129.jpgLike the chassis, the LS 460's engine is also "all new." In fact, it's the first new Lexus V-8 since the brand's inception. Equipped with variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing (VVT-iE), this 4.6-liter powerplant, whose fuel system uses both port and direct injection, develops a healthy 380 bhp and 367 lb.-ft. of torque, which translate to a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14 sec. flat — that's quite respectable for a car weighing almost 4500 lb. Enhancing the LS 460's acceleration is an all-new transmission, which earns bragging rights as the industry's first 8-speed automatic. With ratios ranging from a super-low 4.596:1 in 1st to an overdriven 0.685:1 in 8th, this seamless-shifting gearbox delivers both brisk acceleration and laudable fuel efficiency.
Okay, so the underpinnings are great, the engine's terrific and the 8-speed automatic's unique. But what about styling? Most of us don't buy a car because we like the cut of its gearteeth.
Since you asked, let's just say that the LS 460's exterior design, while not breakthrough, represents a refreshing change from models of the past. More muscular-looking than its predecessor, the 460's bodywork, which boasts a CD of 0.26, is set off by narrower headlamps whose shape is repeated in the front air intakes (with integrated driving lights) that are part of the new front fascia. Flared wheel arches, slick rocker panels, a rear end with a shorter overhang, chisel-edged rear decklid and narrower taillights all contribute to a theme that I call "understated aggressiveness."
As interiors go, the look of the LS 460's cabin is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. But that's a good thing, because that means Lexus has taken an already pleasing design and made it better. For example, the broad sweep of the dash is integrated beautifully into the front doors and the center console, the latter set at the same level as the armrests for that extra measure of comfort. The video display with optional backup camera dims for night driving. The dual-zone climate control is way cool (or hot), the radio-cum- sound system rocks (or grooves, depending on your musical tastes). And, as you'd expect from Lexus, the instrumentation is concise, the controls are superb and luxury abounds. There are acres of room too, even in our standard-wheelbase test car (an "L" long-wheelbase version is offered too).
Of course, much of the above becomes self-evident when you drive the LS 460, the best LS yet. Drop down into that 16-way, heated (or cooled) power driver's seat, get comfortable and hit the "start" button (no key to turn here). Somewhere, an engine starts and at the nudge of the shift lever ("Will that be full Auto or Sport Shift, sir?"), the world begins to glide silently past the 460's windows. Yes, the Lexus is that quiet — even at 80.[image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621139.jpg
Which brings us to this car's essence. Namely: that it is a sleek, supremely appointed, luxuriously outfitted freeway flier. You can fingertip-steer this baby down the I-5 from San Francisco to San Diego without straining a muscle. You can even bend it through the twisties on, say, New York's Sawmill River Parkway (where David Letterman gets all his tickets) without working up a sweat. But if you're thinking of taking on the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring, then you may be in for some disappointment. Because at 59.9 mph in the slalom and 0.80g on the skidpad where it understeers heavily, the LS 460 is not a "numbers" car.
Not that this will matter to the average luxury sedan buyer who's looking for a smooth, quiet ride that offers elegance, quality and reliability. Not to mention the solid reputation of Lexus.
Source: R&T Article
Fourth time's a charmer
When the first Lexus luxury 4-door made its debut in 1989, it generated more than a bit of angst among its competitors in the automotive industry. In fact, at a Mercedes-Benz new-model introduction that took place right about then, I tried to placate my German host by telling him that the LS 400 looked like nothing more than an S-Class clone. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," I said cheerily. "Yah," he replied somberly, "that's what we are afraid of."
History has shown us that he had reason to be concerned. Since its debut, Lexus has become one of the most revered names in the industry. Although some of the company's designs are not what I would call breakthrough, the marque has developed a reputation for being supremely reliable. Above all, Lexus has set the standard for customer satisfaction, something other manufacturers envy to this day.
Back in 1989 the flagship of the Lexus line was the LS 400, a somewhat Teutonic-looking sedan (think Mercedes without the attitude) that some might call uninspired. But priced below the German competition, the Lexus was an instant hit. Affordable pricing, however, was not the only selling point. Rather, it was the attention Lexus lavished upon its customers that made the brand successful and set a standard that everyone else would attempt to follow.
Over the years Lexus stuck with a winner, revitalizing the LS every five years or so by making it more stylish, more powerful and more luxurious than its predecessor. So when designers began sketching the fourth-generation LS, they knew the bar had been raised pretty high. The car was no longer the bargain it had been in the 1990s. And consumers, whose heads were being turned by the likes of Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar and Mercedes, were expecting a lot more from the LS, which had become a bit long in the tooth stylistically.
With visions of declining market share dancing in their heads, the folks at Lexus set out to build a large sedan that, in the words of group vice president and general manager Bob Carter, "still offers all the legendary attributes of Lexus: quality, dependability, value, comfort and...luxury, [but with] more emotional styling, more power, prestige and more high-touch, high-tech features that are intuitive and easy to operate."
That would be the LS 460, which Lexus calls "all new." Personally, I'd call it reengineered, but what the hey! [image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621114.jpgPo-tay-toe, po-tah-toe, right? Anyway, let's give Lexus its due and say that there's a lot that is new about the 2007 Lexus 4-door, which is a tad longer, wider and lower than the LS 430. For starters, the 460's torsionally stiffer platform, whose wheelbase is almost 2 in. longer than the previous 4-door's, features redesigned suspension with two upper and two lower transverse arms up front and a 5-link arrangement at the rear replacing the 430's double wishbones used fore and aft. As before, standard 4-wheel vented disc brakes are linked to a variety of safety/handling devices whose functions are managed by a new and improved stability system that rides herd on the car's braking, traction and yaw controls, all of which are designed to keep the sedan's shiny side up and the black side down. By the way, the LS 460 features electric-assist power steering, which reduces the load on the engine (thus increasing fuel efficiency) and eliminates the need for a hydraulic pump, hoses and drive pulley.
[image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621129.jpgLike the chassis, the LS 460's engine is also "all new." In fact, it's the first new Lexus V-8 since the brand's inception. Equipped with variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing (VVT-iE), this 4.6-liter powerplant, whose fuel system uses both port and direct injection, develops a healthy 380 bhp and 367 lb.-ft. of torque, which translate to a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14 sec. flat — that's quite respectable for a car weighing almost 4500 lb. Enhancing the LS 460's acceleration is an all-new transmission, which earns bragging rights as the industry's first 8-speed automatic. With ratios ranging from a super-low 4.596:1 in 1st to an overdriven 0.685:1 in 8th, this seamless-shifting gearbox delivers both brisk acceleration and laudable fuel efficiency.
Okay, so the underpinnings are great, the engine's terrific and the 8-speed automatic's unique. But what about styling? Most of us don't buy a car because we like the cut of its gearteeth.
Since you asked, let's just say that the LS 460's exterior design, while not breakthrough, represents a refreshing change from models of the past. More muscular-looking than its predecessor, the 460's bodywork, which boasts a CD of 0.26, is set off by narrower headlamps whose shape is repeated in the front air intakes (with integrated driving lights) that are part of the new front fascia. Flared wheel arches, slick rocker panels, a rear end with a shorter overhang, chisel-edged rear decklid and narrower taillights all contribute to a theme that I call "understated aggressiveness."
As interiors go, the look of the LS 460's cabin is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. But that's a good thing, because that means Lexus has taken an already pleasing design and made it better. For example, the broad sweep of the dash is integrated beautifully into the front doors and the center console, the latter set at the same level as the armrests for that extra measure of comfort. The video display with optional backup camera dims for night driving. The dual-zone climate control is way cool (or hot), the radio-cum- sound system rocks (or grooves, depending on your musical tastes). And, as you'd expect from Lexus, the instrumentation is concise, the controls are superb and luxury abounds. There are acres of room too, even in our standard-wheelbase test car (an "L" long-wheelbase version is offered too).
Of course, much of the above becomes self-evident when you drive the LS 460, the best LS yet. Drop down into that 16-way, heated (or cooled) power driver's seat, get comfortable and hit the "start" button (no key to turn here). Somewhere, an engine starts and at the nudge of the shift lever ("Will that be full Auto or Sport Shift, sir?"), the world begins to glide silently past the 460's windows. Yes, the Lexus is that quiet — even at 80.[image no longer available]assets/image/2006/Q4/1023200621139.jpg
Which brings us to this car's essence. Namely: that it is a sleek, supremely appointed, luxuriously outfitted freeway flier. You can fingertip-steer this baby down the I-5 from San Francisco to San Diego without straining a muscle. You can even bend it through the twisties on, say, New York's Sawmill River Parkway (where David Letterman gets all his tickets) without working up a sweat. But if you're thinking of taking on the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring, then you may be in for some disappointment. Because at 59.9 mph in the slalom and 0.80g on the skidpad where it understeers heavily, the LS 460 is not a "numbers" car.
Not that this will matter to the average luxury sedan buyer who's looking for a smooth, quiet ride that offers elegance, quality and reliability. Not to mention the solid reputation of Lexus.
Source: R&T Article
