It's the model kicking off the Lexus craze.
For those sporting ever-greying hair follicles, it seems only yesterday Asia's largest automaker, Toyota, spun off a separate upscale division aiming to emulate the success of posh German brands, but with a scaled down bottom line pricing. Time flies as Toyota's Lexus division celebrates 26 years of 'quite' success.
Its first vehicle on sale in the fall of 1989, the LS (Luxury Sedan) offered a 4.0-liter V-8 engine with performance-inspired rear-wheel-drive standard. Lexus was not the first up-market Asian automaker on the scene, however. Honda's Acura division made its splashy entrance in 1987. Infiniti, Nissan's entry into the sweepstakes, also debuted in the 1989 calendar year.
The LS remains the Patriarch of Lexus after 26 years. In 2009, LS 460 added an all-wheel drive option. Once selecting a drivetrain, a single trim level helps speed along the process, although a handful of a-la-carte extras and option packages should be considered.
The 'quiet' success reference pays homage to the current V-8 engine's nearly silent acceleration. Lexus' detail to interior silence remains the brand's hallmark and a benchmark for the entire industry. The sole gas-powered V-8 engine in 2015 is the returning 32-valve, 4.6-liter (thus the LS 460 suffix) cranking out a frisky 386 horses and teamed with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. This remains a wonderful long-distance highway car absorbing road imperfection along the way.
While not class leading, the powertrain gets occupants going in ample time. Always tilting towards the 'luxury,' not 'super sporty, enjoy the vibes' end of the spectrum, LS epitomizes whisper quiet smooth luxury. However, for those desiring a differing experience, LS offers several driving modes selectable from a center dial: Eco, Normal, Sport and for upper Midwesterners, Snow. By selecting the Sport mode, both throttle response and electronic power steering provide enhanced driver feedback.
The flagship LS 460 comfortably outsells Infiniti's recently introduced Q70 flagship sedan (Infiniti radically rebadged its entire model lineup in 2014 with "Q" prefixes) and Acura's prominent RLX sedan. All three remain aspirational, rather than high-volume choices. Lexus sold 8,559 LS 460 sedans compared with 3,413 Acura RLX sedans and 5,034 Infiniti Q70 sedans last year. In fact during the 2014 calendar year, Lexus outsold the combined total sales of Acura and Infiniti in the U.S with about 25,000 units to spare.
Germany's BMW outsold Lexus in 2014, but the gap continues narrowing. Total BMW Group U.S. sales in 2014 totaled 339,738 while Lexus slid in with 311,389.
Lexus also offers LS 460 with a slightly 'stretched' body length with limousine-like back seat leg room designated as the LS 460 L. With the 'L' body length expect an extra five inches of wheelbase and overall length. A gas-electric hybrid version (the LS 600h) exclusively is built upon this extended platform with all-wheel drive. Similarly, Infiniti offers an extended length of its Q70 flagship (notably, the Q70 L; nice that many Automakers utilize a universal 'L' designate for 'long' stretched wheelbases.) Even sans the five additional inches, leg and head room in the LS 460 remain spacious for three travelers despite the transaxle floor hump down the middle.
A half-dozen option packages are available including an F Sport Package if additional adrenaline is required. The F Sport package, available since 2012, provides up-level tweaks to already posh vehicles, similar to Cadillac's V-Series and Mercedes-Benz AMG. Expect high-friction Brembo brakes, updated suspension, sport seats with larger bolsters, 19-inch wheels and aluminum pedals with F Sport.
Although not the extended-length edition, our tester boasted a long, lean silhouette with an ample hood and short deck lid. Chrome stripping adorned lower side doors while chrome trim surrounded narrow side windows. Dual chrome exhaust tips come standard.
The most prominent exterior nuance added two years ago is the front 'spindle grille,' integrated into all Lexus vehicle mid-cycle or next-generation redesigns. The spindle design (encompassing grille and lower air dam) leaves little doubt that a Lexus is following when peering into the rearview mirror. It's unique and uniquely Lexus. Resembling a truncated hourglass, the polarizing Spindle Grille has stirred amusing conversations within automotive circles; but in a historically conservative segment, it's a pleasant departure.
Tail lights also borrow a family theme found on other Lexi: streamlined, wrap-around housing with the driver's side illuminating in dual 'L' interior patterns with the right side opting for the mirror 'L' image.
The relatively few 2015 LS 460 updates center around the multi-function, high-resolution 12.3-inch, screen; the most visual being multi-colored guidelines in the backup camera display. Additional updates include enhancements to the navigation system and internet radio tweaks. If possessing a smartphone, a new Enform Remote Application (App) enables owners to control various functions remotely.
Starting price for a rear-drive LS 460 checks in at 72,520 and $75,465 for all-wheel drive. The low-production gas-electric LS 600h sets check books back $120,440. Our all-wheel-drive tester's bottom line ended at $80,630 after factoring in most of the available stand-alone options: a $500 blind spot/rear cross traffic alert, $990 fifteen-spoke 19-inch tires, $550 alcantara headliner, $110 heated steering wheel, $2,000 comfort package with power rear sunshade and $925 destination charge.
Circular push start is right of the power tilt-and-telescope steering column. The stately analog clock centers the entire dash. The 12.3-inch, multi-function screen (with standard navigation and voice command) rates as one of the largest available. Tucked deep inside the middle top dash to detour glare, it's a cog in Lexus' second-generation remote touch interface. This non-touch screen receives commands through a square, mouse-like wiggle pad between supple and supportive front bucket seats. Drivers select from navigation, audio, temperature and Bluetooth screen options by pushing down on the pad. A rearward narrow arch cushion acts as a rest pad easing right-hand wrist fatigue. Often-summoned 'map' and 'menu' buttons reside ahead of the wiggle pad reachable via fingertips. This all may sound a bit convoluted, but works well after a couple dry runs and an improvement over Generation One.
Power front seats move in multiple directions, including up or down; useful for those under-vertically, or over-vertically challenged. The handsome instrument panel includes white backlighting and needles and center, digital info window controllable via a button on the wood and leather steering wheel.
Rather than a digital, neon-like typefaces displaying dual zone temperature settings, each side accentuates inside settings via large, stately, backlit, paneled numerals scrolling up or down a-la 1970's bedside alarm clocks. All dashboard ventilation controls require a push of buttons. For those opting for point and click or a simple push, ventilation functions may also be monitored through the multi-function screen or steering wheel buttons.
The jumbo-sized 22-galon tank requires premium 91 octane fuel. Our all-wheel-drive edition posted fuel average-at-best estimates of 16 miles per gallon city and 24 mpg highway. Add one mile more highway for rear-wheel-drive. Sedan trunks don't get much larger than the 18.0 cubic feet LS enjoys.
2015 LS 460 AWD
Price as tested: $80,630
Engine: 4.6-liter V-8
Horsepower: 386
Wheelbase: 116.9 inches
Overall Length: 200 inches
Overall Width: 73.8 inches
Fuel Economy: 16 m.p.g. city, 23 m.p.g. highway
Curb weight: 4,651 pounds
Powertrain warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Built: Yoshiwara, Japan
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