Lexus unveiled their new LS luxury flagship sedan at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, promising updated performance and dynamics to go along with the car’s legendary luxury.
The new LS shares a platform with the LC 500 coupe, but with a longer wheelbase. Called GA-L – for global architecture for luxury – the extended wheelbase version on the LS is actually 1.3 inches longer than the current model.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that produces 415 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. The turbos use the company’s Formula 1 technology.
That extra power is handled by a 10-speed automatic transmission, the same on that debuted in the LC 500. The transmission is designed to fire off shifts as quickly as a dual-clutch transmission, despite having a torque converter.
While the car is all new, the overall design is not a radical departure from the last LS. This might be a nod to existing customers, who don’t want as radical of a design as buyers of other vehicles, including ones in the Lexus stable.
It’s an attractive large sedan, looking a lot like a bigger GS, with the familial Lexus grille and body contours. Even the rear end looks similar to other Lexuses.
Lexus didn’t forget that the LS is first and foremost a luxury sedan, and it has all the requisite touches like 28-way power front seats and rear seats with available Shiatsu massage. It also has an air suspension that, because the new LS is lower to the ground, will raise up for easier ingress.
Pricing and fuel economy figures haven’t been released, but the new LS should be in showrooms near the end of 2017.
Check out the full TFL video from the reveal above!
