We drive the Lexus LS460 F Sport

Lexus LS460 F Sport

The Lexus LS was one of those game changing cars when it first arrived in 1991. The original car was initiated by the Toyota chairman himself to be a luxury sedan to beat the best from Europe. The engineers were told not to use any existing Toyota platforms or engines in their designs and what they came out had to beat out their targets and it did. The original car was quieter, faster, lighter and more efficient than the established European competition. It was also more luxurious with more standard features and was less expensive.

It outsold everyone and soon made Lexus one of the top three luxury brands in the US. The current LS is still one of the best in the industry and with the F Sport model, it is trying to be a little sporty as well. We like sporty so we had to see if the new car is as good as they claim.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]There are currently three versions of the LS available in the US. The LS 460 comes in regular and long-wheelbase versions, each with the further choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The ultimate Lexus flagship sedan remains the LS 600h L hybrid with 438 total system horsepower from a 5-liter V8 paired with an electric motor and all-weather drive. Our test vehicle was a standard length LS460 with the F Sport package.

The LS460 is powered by V8 engine with state of the art features. The 1UR-FSE engine features all aluminum construction, four camshafts, 32 valves with VVTiE and direct injection. The engine uses a high 11.8:1 compression ratio to put out 386 hp using premium fuel. If you order AWD, you lose 26 hp and gain some weight due to the additional hardware.

Inside the LS is typical Lexus with lots of luxury and great materials. The feel of the leather used on the seats and the suede on the headliner just yells out luxury and it makes you simile just to touch the smooth textures. We were a little disappointed to find less standard features in the LS compared to some of its contemporary competition.

Still, our car came with a high resolution 12.3 inch navigation system, leather interior, wood and aluminum dash trim, and a 10 speaker premium sound system. We also had several options on the car such as blind spot monitoring ($500), Comfort Package that included cooled and heated front seats, power rear sunshade and power trunk lid ($1650), and an upgraded Mark Levinson 19 speaker audio system ($1580).

A real looker

Once on the road, the LS reminds you that it is a 4200 pound sedan. With 386 hp, the LS accelerates well and Lexus estimates that the LS460 goes from 0-60 in 5.4 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14 seconds on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 130 mph. But it does so without an eagerness that you associate with a sports car.

The F Sport package will cost you an additional $8350 and aims to bring a bit more sports car flavor into the LS. The aim was to add more agility and sharpness without bringing any harshness and Lexus totally met their goal. The F Sport drives as you would expect a Lexus to drive with the word smooth coming to mind often. It never rides harsh and is quiet even at freeway speeds. There is a switch to go from soft to normal to firm suspension but it is very hard to tell any difference between the settings.

The settings also switch engine mapping between economy, normal and sport. The mapping difference is obvious. In economy mode, the car feels very slow to respond while reaction times are significantly improved in sport mode. The throttle is more responsive and the 8 speed automatic transmission is quicker to downshift in sport mode.

The F Sport package also includes a sport tuned air suspension, 19 inch alloy wheels with 245/45-19 tires, Torsen limited slip differential, and Brembo six piston caliper front brakes. Cosmetically, the F Sport adds a unique front bumper cover and body work.

Since the aim was to just firm things up a bit without adding harshness, the F Sport package does not suddenly convert the LS into a track car. It remains a smooth (that word again) and comfortable sedan that can cover long distances while keeping its passengers comfortable.

Interior

We did have issues with the navigation system that seems to have been programmed by very paranoid lawyers. The system will not permit you to do most functions while the car is moving and the voice command is frustrating. It actually makes things more dangerous because you end up so upset with the system.

At least the system should be smart enough to know that you have a passenger on board who is trying to operate the system. The system is also very complex with at least four pages that you must sift through just to be able to turn the AC on or off.

The other negative aspect of the LS is the price. Cars in this league are not cheap and neither is the LS. The base price of our car was $72,520. Add in the few options including the F Sport package and our total bill was $85,525. That is some serious money and there are cheaper cars in this segment and there are more expensive cars in this segment.

The LS remains one of the best luxury sedans in the field. One thing that you will be certain to get for your $85,525 is the top quality that Lexus is known for. Many of the European brands have had reliability issues but Lexus still enjoys a great reputation. That peace of mind is worth a lot of money when you put this much money on the table.

SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle Details for the LS 460 4dr Sdn RWD

$73445 4-Door Rear Wheel Drive Car, 386 bhp, 367 lb-ft, 8-sp Automatic, 16/24 mpg 5 passengers, 4225 lb, 4.6-liter, 8-cylinder engine, 11.0 lb/bhp

• SPECIFICATIONS
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• SAFETY & WARRANTY

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