Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 05:44 pm, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Lexus LS460L Gets Eight Speeds
Lexus is determined to outdo its German rivals -- that much became apparent at the world launch of the LS at the Detroit show, at which Lexus showed the long-wheelbase version of the car. The new vehicle gets a 4.6-liter V-8 with 380 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque, coupled to an eight-speed automatic. Zero to 60 times of 5.5 seconds are promised. Power is up 36 percent from the previous generation with equal or better fuel economy, Press said. "Yes, we've one-upped them," U.S. sales chief Jim Press said during the unveiling. In a dig at rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Press also noted that the five-year-old copies of the LS are more reliable by Lexus' measures than brand-new sedans from the competitors.
The new 203-inch long-wheelbase LS gets a raft of tech equipment that Lexus officials said they would delve into more deeply at March's Geneva Motor Show. They include a 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with an internal hard-drive server that can store 4000 songs, making an iPod seem hopelessly retro. There's also a reclining rear-seat option with extendable ottomans a la Maybach, and a cooler and a separate DVD entertainment system. An intelligent park system will help drivers put their cars into tight spaces with only a little brake assist from the driver, Press added. The "ultimate Lexus," Press promised, will be on display at the New York show in April. it will be powered by a hybrid powertrain.
Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 05:05 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
Don, Will you stop posting pics of stuff I can't afford!!! Bastard.
Interesting point, The Majesta has all LED switchgear lighting, albeit in yucky green except for the blue sills I'm off to see if I can get LEDs in Vlam's beaut door sills.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 02:10 pm, by: David Topolovac(Topola)
This is what's known so far of the new LS, and yeah it's coming as 600 as well.
What We Know: Power comes from an all-new 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine, large high-output electric motors and a newly designed large-capacity battery pack. It's then routed through a new dual-stage electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an all-wheel-drive system. "With 430 horsepower," says Bob Carter, Lexus group vice president and general manager, "the LS 600h L's V8 performance is on par with a 12-cylinder engine, yet its fuel economy rivals best-in-class V8s, and it's expected to receive a Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) rating as well." That means the LS 600h L burns nearly 70-percent cleaner than its cleanest competitors. When it hits North American dealers in the spring of 2007, only the long-wheelbase version will be offered. Lexus says the car and the Lexus hybrid system set new standards for silent running. In fact, when the sedan is operating under electric power, its crafted cabin is so quiet engineers needed to rework accessory motors and switches to a "sub-quiet" level. Coinciding with the launch of the 600h is a newly developed Advanced Pre-Collision System (APCS), a Lexus first. The APCS not only detects vehicles in its forward path, but can also recognize pedestrians and warn the driver before taking necessary evasive braking and steering actions if its interior camera senses that the driver's eyes aren't focused ahead. While this is happening, the passenger restraints are automatically cinched up in anticipation of a possible impact. Lexus' Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) system is also on board to integrate variable gear-ratio electronic steering, electronic vehicle-stability control and electronic brake assist. An air suspension is also standard. The long-wheelbase 600h L adds 5 extra inches of legroom for rear passengers, and luxury conveniences that Maybach should fear. Features include four-zone front and rear A/C with air purification, rear-door power sunshades and rear power headrests, a four-person seating configuration with a fixed rear console and fold-out table, plus a right rear-seat 45-degree recliner with footrest and multifunction massage. There's also a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch fold-down screen and a 450-watt, 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. For the driver there's a navigation system with Bluetooth technology and XM real-time traffic system, plus LED headlights for nighttime and low-beam, which are a world-first. As if this isn't enough, the LS 600h L is also capable of taking the reins when it's time for city parking. An advanced parallel-park-assist function parks the car at the push of a button, requiring just a little brake work from the driver. Ref. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/FVDP/Preview/styleId=100706097
Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 11:37 pm, by: Greg Nikitiuk(Jestr)
Future looks good.....now sucks because we cant drive these babies Here is something for toyota in aus, for treating us like some ugly handicapped cousins.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 07:57 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Surly not Toyota's fault - can't you blame the Aussie government for the huge auto industry beurocracy it has created? I mean how hard would it be to get all this new technology approved by the gov? Combine that with insane luxury import duty and the end cost of the car would mean they probably just wouldn't sell enough of them to break even.