LS [Spy Shots] 2017 Lexus LS

[Giannis]

So are you saying that you come out of sitting in a Lexus feeling refreshed?

Refreshed and lighter.

 

[SKY]

I wish Lexus went back to a more traditional looking front and rearlights. I don´t like their approach on the concept (regarding the lights) but on the production render, they look much better.

 

[Carmaker1]

According to a new report which states that the next generation of Lexus’s flagship sedan, the LS, will be revealed at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show which commences on October 29, 2015. The new LS will go on sale in key markets next year, as a 2017 model.

Clearly this nonsensical report never transpired. To be fair, shortly after my last post in this thread, I discovered the Tokyo presentation would not be the production model, as timing didn't fit. The next LS will be unveiled for the 2018 model year, going on sale in the second half of 2017. It is VERY far away, that I cannot fathom how the current model will survive this. It is no W126, so an 11-year life-cycle is contemptible.

And that clearly wasn't it either. Autobild really seems to suck at Lexus renders, which are nearly impossible to gather intel on due to proximity.

It is finally time for the only true Japanese luxury car maker to step forward with their best car, after almost 10 years of also-ran status. The current LS has been out since 2007. Nothing I can think of other than the current Audi Q7 and Mercedes G-Class have been around that long in the luxury segment, and the MB is intentional. I can't wait to see what they bring to the table. If this car doesn't wipe the floor with the competition than Toyota can forget it. They've had 8 years to develop this car.

This class is so predictable, the S-Class shows the way and then BMW and Audi follow with mixed results and then Lexus comes and then the S-Class leaves them all behind again. Now you have a Cadillac sorta entering this class and a new Eqqus next year.

M

Next year it will be 10 years and the replacement will still NOT be ready. I am just going to laugh in pity, as my dad gave me an earful when I tried to put him in an LS600hL to replace his A8.

They should've given this another mini facelift this year, to tide it over into 2017. Five years with next to no changes on top of a design set in 2003 and intro-ed in 2006 is ridiculous. Even when the W222 was delayed about 9 months, the W221 facelift only had 4 year life-cycle. Not 5 full years.

Unfortunately the Genesis G90 has no chance, IDK about the D5 A8 yet, but our own project is massive. All these stupid XF/XE style renders, are greatly off the mark. Lexus LF-FC is basically the new LS in advanced design form.

If this is the future of progressive luxury then it is vanilla. Soy tofu vanilla. Appealing but with no taste.
Their might be a high tech fuel cell underneath in which case that will be the real interest. But if it looks like this then they have failed visually.

Scott...you know more than you're telling us. Didn't you learn some of their processes on the BMW-Toyota collaboration, then caught them stocking up on W222s for rather obvious reasons? Better monitor sales of G11/12 at BMW Nagoya area and Aichi Prefecture dealers over the next 16 months. I would not put it past them to buy a few 7ers, for testing purposes. That is if they haven't already.

2018 Lexus LS render born from LF-FC Concept

So they decidedly slapped on the AL20 RX fascia on the LF-FC and called it a day? That won't be it. The real article is already in design patent filings, which of course have been deferred until 2017. I have been waiting to see this car since 2009, after seeing the lame-duck Camry-style LS facelift for 2010.

What is here now, should've been 2011 LS MMC instead, even if the Spindle Grille didn't exist in time for it. The new LC took about 6 years overall, since it was a design study. Funny thing is there's been chatter about the LC since 2010, which the LF-LC project started in May 2010.

The new LS was a probably on a design buck in 2013 and the LF-LC was meant to preview the finished car, probably much more than the VFL (w/G11). They really can't give it away yet at this point.

 

[Rolf]

Lexus were on a roll in 2005 and 2006 when they launched new versions of the GS, IS and LS and all three were well designed and stylish at the time. They introduced new versions of the GS and IS in 2011 and 2013 but we all expected a new LS to follow but only a FL which is disappointing. The LS is the flagship model and the original version is the car that put Lexus on the map, surely they should be concentrating on bringing this car out earlier as it is one of their key models?

 

[rollo]

They need to get it right. If that takes another year after all this time, so be it. If they don't execute after all this time and don't meet the high expectations, big time problem.

 

[Rainer271]

2018 Lexus LS will have "cool interior stuff"


Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin has revealed some new details about the next-generation LS.

Speaking to Wards Auto, Templin said the sedan will come with “some cool interior stuff." The executive declined to get drawn into specifics but said the company is focusing on craftsmanship and technology. Templin went on to hint "We’re going to do some things with the next-generation LS interior that we’ve never done with interiors before."

While Templin was coy on details, the LS was recently previewed by the LF-FC concept which debuted at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. It had a high-tech interior with a digital instrument cluster and hand gesture recognition technology which could be used to control the audio and climate control systems. The concept also featured 'floating' front seats, reclining rear seats, and a full-length center console that was equipped with an assortment of touchscreen displays.

Besides talking about the LS, Templin said he expects the new LC 500 coupe will be a big hit in the United States. As he explained, the model will be a "pretty spectacular car for the money." Templin declined to talk numbers but noted the starting price will be less than the typical transaction price of a BMW 6 Series. The 650i Coupe starts at $88,700 and a nicely equipped model retails for about $94,000.

Source: Wards Auto / Worldcarfans

 

[Rainer271]

2018 Lexus LS to be unveiled early next year?

According to a report originating from Japan, Lexus will introduce the fifth-generation LS in January 2017 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Lexus revealed the LF-FC concept (pictured here) at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show and now word on the street says Toyota’s premium marque is gearing up to introduce a production version at NAIAS next year. It will take the shape of the next-gen LS flagship model and apparently is slated to go on sale as early as May 2017. Reports indicate the design will remain faithful to the LF-FC concept, but at the same time it will also be partially influenced by the sleek LC coupe.

As far as the interior cabin is concerned, earlier this year we heard Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin saying the new LS is going to feature “some cool interior stuff.” While that doesn’t actually say anything, Lexus did hint focus will be on improving technology and craftsmanship. Templin also mentioned they will be doing “some things” that have never been done before to an interior.

The all-new fullsize sedan is expected to become the second model after the LC to use Lexus’ new global rear-wheel-drive architecture, with optional AWD available on the pricier versions. A long-wheelbase LS is likely on the agenda as well to better compete with the Germans while for power it will use the familiar 5.0-liter V8 and the new hybridized 3.5-liter V6 seen in the LC 500h.

Taking into account the current, fourth-gen LS has been on sale since way back 2006, a replacement can’t come soon enough. Hopefully, this report is valid and Lexus will indeed have a new LS ready to display at next year’s NAIAS.

Source: lexusenthusiast.com via MAG-X / motor1

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/17/lexus-es-spy-shots/

Don't mind what it says in the URL, this is most definitely the upcoming LS. Off the bat, the proportions are so much better than the previous 2 or 3 generations LS', especially the greenhouse. I am curious to see how much of the LF-FC concept we'll see, keeping in mind that this upcoming LS preceded the LF-FC.

@Carmaker1, since he's a treasure-trove of insight, especially when it comes to Toyota and Lexus, I am curious if he has any additional thoughts.

EDIT: The following article indicates that there's some evidence that the prototype is using some sort of forced induction (turbo or supercharger).

http://www.tflcar.com/2016/05/is-th...ototype-caught-testing-in-the-wild-exclusive/

 

[Merc1]

Clearly that isn't the production body. That is the old/current body (modified) on top of the new chassis.

M

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I think it could be the production body with some padding in the rear and fake lights all around. The hoodline seems lower and the overall car width seems wider than the current gen. It'd seem odd to have a chopped-up/modified body when it's probably 7-8 months from debuting at Detroit.

 

[Sniper]

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2016/07...s-ls-prototype-spotted-during-desert-testing/

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2016/07...s-ls-prototype-spotted-during-desert-testing/

This looks to be the sleekest LS thus far, almost Maserati QP-esqe or Jag XJ-esqe. The front fender appears very similar to the concept.

 

[ThroughandThrough]

The greenhouse looks ... strange.

 

[Rolf]

I hope that Lexus makes the new LS model sleeker with a much more interesting looking front and rear design that makes the car more desirable. It needs to be massive step forward in exterior and interior design, quality and tech to be able to make a decent attack on the 7-series and S-class.

 

[SKY]

The concept car got my attention. It is a pitty Lexus designs those fugly details. I am expecting weird looking front and rear lights and unnecessarily huge grille.

 

[Rainer271]

2018 Lexus LS spied benchmarking against the competition
The old model and a couple Germans join the new LS for this hot-weather test.

Lexus continues to evaluate the next-gen LS on the road, and this time it has some rivals along, too. The engineering team clearly wants to check how the brand’s new flagship sedan performs in Death Valley against competitors like the current LS, BMW 7 Series, and Audi A8L.

The more angular styling on last year's LF-FC is a preview of what to expect from the flagship sedan's new look, but Lexus’ engineers continue to dress the LS in bug-eyed headlights and tail fins during testing in public. Don’t expect either of these hideous styling cues to appear on the production model, though. For a better idea of the rear’s actual shape, check out the photos with the trunk open because it’s a more realistic depiction of the back’s contours.

We haven’t seen photos inside of the new LS yet, but a top exec promised “cool interior stuff”that the brand had never done before. We think tech like a digital instrument cluster and gesture recognition could be possible. Customers should also expect the brand’s latest driver assistance systems.

Lexus won’t do anything too revolutionary with the LS’ powertrain at first. It will carry over the LC’s offerings of a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 now with 471 horsepower (351 kilowatts) and 398 pound-feet (540 newton-meters) torque or a hybrid 3.5-liter V6 with a total system output of 354 hp (264 kW). However, there will be a hydrogen fuel cell version before the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020, according to rumors.

The more futuristic styling and upgraded tech is what the LS needs to get buyers’ attention again. The current model only looks stodgier in comparison to more recent luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and latest 7 Series. Lexus has delivered just 3,768 of them in the United States through August, which was down 22.5 percent from the same period last year. For the entire 2015 calendar year, the brand moved 7,165 of the sedans – a 16.3-percent drop from 2014.

Source: motor1

 

[Sniper]

They forgot the main rival

 

[Merc1]

I'm sure they didn't, they didn't want to be seen testing with a S-Class. Unless they're going for a sportier LS this time around, but then they wouldn't need a 7-Series there, only the A8. Though the A8 is a little old at this point.

I fully expect the next LS and A8 to pass the S-Class in a lot of ways, but come 2020 it's over for them. They'll have about 18-24 months to assert themselves in the market.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Maybe they've already conceded defeat to the S-class. lol

 

[Centurion]

I'm sure they didn't, they didn't want to be seen testing with a S-Class. Unless they're going for a sportier LS this time around, but then they wouldn't need a 7-Series there, only the A8. Though the A8 is a little old at this point.

I fully expect the next LS and A8 to pass the S-Class in a lot of ways, but come 2020 it's over for them. They'll have about 18-24 months to assert themselves in the market.

M

Lexus can chuck as much gadgets into the LS as they want but the facelifted w222 will further improve comfort and refinement.

The trump card for the new LS should be hybrid performance. It's the one area where Toyota has more experience and expertise than rivals.They should make the drivetrain so good that no one wants a V8 diesel or a V12 petrol.