The 1990 Lexus LS sedan is a legend in its own time, coming out of nowhere in late 1989 with no history and stealing customers from king-of-the-hill Mercedes-Benz, which had 100 years of history behind it.
To many, it made no sense to buy a large Mercedes sedan when you could get the new, more comfortable $35,000 LS for about $10,000 less. It had rear-wheel drive and a powerful engine, as did top Mercedes models.
Critics complained that Toyota's new, upscale Lexus division was "dumping'' the car on the American market to give it a good head-start. The LS got such a start -- and never looked back. LS sales for the first 11 months this year totaled 28,812 cars, compared with 20,808 in the same year-ago period.
Lexus began development of the LS sedan in 1984. It began intensely studying the U.S. market in May 1985, examining lifestyles and integrating design concepts suited for American customers. Ten months of extensive evaluation on American roads began in late 1986, resulting in many improvements in line with the U.S. environment and customer needs.
Meanwhile, Mercedes made some modifications for Americans with its top-line sedans, but pretty much sold the same ones it offered in other parts of the world. Why worry about some upstart, new Toyota luxury car division?
Millionaire businessman and major racing team owner Roger Penske, who owned America's largest Toyota dealership in California, visited Japan in August 1988 to check out the new Lexus and was convinced he should sell it in America. For one thing, savvy Penske knew the softer-edged Lexus would make American luxury car owners feel more at home than the harder-edged Mercedes.
That November, the new Lexus was designated the LS 400, with "LS'' standing for "Luxury Sedan'' and "400'' designating the car's 4-liter V-8 engine.
The LS 400 was immediately well received after going on sale in September 1989, with nearly 3,000 sold in its first month in this country.
Lexus closely watched American reaction to the car and thus began selling a "freshened'' LS 400 in late 1992 with more than 50 changes in response to customer and dealer requests. A redesigned second generation LS 400 went on sale in November 1994. The third-generation version arrived in October 2000, with many upgrades and a larger 4.3-liter V-8, which led Lexus to rename the car the "LS 430.''
Last year's LS 430 got a bolder front end, suspension and brake improvements and a new six-speed automatic transmission, along with comfort upgrades and a raft of high-tech, but user-friendly, gadgetry.
Despite changes, the LS 430 looked pretty much like previous LS sedans -- it still had conservative, ho-hum styling. However, the extremely aerodynamic car causes virtually no wind noise in the cabin at highway speeds.
An assistance and concierge service no longer is available, and there are virtually no changes to the 2005 LS 430, other than the option of 18-inch wheels instead of the standard 17-inchers. The $220 Sport Package, with its "Euro-tuned'' suspension and wider 45-series tires on 18-inch wheels, should be standard because it improves handling without a comfort penalty to the butter-smooth ride. (The package jumps to $1,920 with chrome alloy wheels.)
The very precisely built, high-quality LS 430 steers, handles and brakes confidently with its standard suspension and tires, although it lacks the sharpness of top German rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. It can be safely driven fast and fairly hard, but lacks the razor-sharp agility of sports-luxury sedans from those automakers. However, it's generally better suited to American driving conditions -- and to American drivers -- than those cars.
The smooth, strong, 290-horsepower V-8 whisks the car to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, but is tuned more for low- and mid-range responsiveness than all-out acceleration. Estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.
Option packages can cause the car's $55,675 list price to soar.
My test car's $4,980 Modern Luxury Package has an impressive Mark Levinson sound system, which lets occupants enjoy optimal sound quality -- no matter where they're sitting. The package also contains heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, front/rear obstacle detection system, rearview camera and a navigation system with voice activation?
That package costs less than the $5,935 Custom Luxury package, which contains items including power door closers and adaptive cruise control, which helps prevent the LS 430 from hitting a vehicle ahead of it.
The LS 430 is a technical marvel in standard form, but is more so with the option packages.
The exceptionally safety minded might go for the $8,185 Custom Luxury Package with a Pre-Collision Safety System that senses an impending crash and activates safety features that provide more occupant protection -- although there are standard curtain side air bags, torso side air bags and knee air bags for driver and front passenger.
The $11,320 Ultra Luxury package contains most of the above items, along with a keyless entry and starting system with a pocket transmitter (also a separate $1,000 extra), self-adjusting air suspension, power rear seats with a massage feature, rear radio controls, rear side window sunshades and even a cooler box in the rear armrest.
You can really go wild and order a $13,570 option package, but let's not get into that because it requires upgrade leather packages that cost $1,460 or $2,100. I mean, enough is enough.
After all, the LS 430 has a wealth of standard comfort, safety and convenience equipment. Get this -- the climate control system uses temperature and sun-sensing intelligent swing registers; if sunlight is concentrated on one side of the car, the registers automatically deliver more cooling air to that side.
There's plenty of room in the unusually quiet, lush-life interior for four to five tall adults, who have comfortable seats and good visibility.
The large trunk has a low, wide opening. But finding the manual trunk lid release button hidden on the lid after pressing the automatic lid release on the key fob is a trial unless you know precisely where to find it.
While the LS 430 isn't for driving enthusiasts, it's easily one of the world's top luxury sedans.
2005 LEXUS LS 430
PRICE
$55,675
LIKES
Posh. Fast. Refined. Roomy. Well equipped. Flawlessly built. High reliability and resale value.
DISLIKES
Ho-hum styling. Lacks agility of German rivals. Costly option packages.
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