Lexus has always been the darling and most compelling of the Japanese luxury brands since its introduction as the flagship for automotive powerhouse Toyota. Their knack for quality engineered and technology savvy vehicles has kept them atop of middle class and wealthy buyer’s radars for years. After all, it was Lexus and their stately LS which first introduced partial, self-parking systems that eventually caught onto the rest of the auto industry including BMW, Mercedes and Ford. And as evolution has it, Lexus intensifies its LS 460 platform with a 2013 model laden with luxe interiors, exterior style and grace, fifteen contemporary novelties or Lexus firsts and enhanced tech 2.0 gadgetry.
Let’s begin the journey down Lexus’ new path. First and foremost, the front end of a vehicle represents its true identity and is essential to the overall message it conveys to potential owners. It dictates whether the identity becomes sporty or more illustrious. Consider the new “spindle grille.” Similar to the design direction Audi embarked upon a few years ago with their bold, domineering grille, the Lexus fascia is reminiscent of Darth Vader’s mask and finally puts the LS in conversations with the Germans and British. For perpetuating preferences, the LS is offered in a standard wheelbase (LS 460) and long wheelbase form (LS 460L) and also as a hybrid dubbed the LS 600h L.
The interior highlights no lack of specificity either. For example, the long wheelbase can feature the Ottoman Seating Package consisting of Shiatsu Massage chairs and can be ordered with the Blu-ray DVD player Rear Seat Entertainment System. Ivory, Light Gray, Black, Black and Saddle Tan, and
Topaz Brown are your hue schemes and optional Walnut, Shimamoku Espresso (striped wood), and Matte Brown Bird’s Eye Maple are your wood choices. The bespoke Shimamoku Espresso is all new and transitions through 67 processes before a 38-day completion. It stems from the EDO era in Japan and is found in high-class Japanese households. Another LS technology, Climate Concierge, warms up or cools the steering wheel and seats automatically to adjust to passenger’s comfort temperature. The quiet cabin is built around aluminum, leather, Alcantara (faux suede), hand stitching and lovely veneers. A dominant 12.3” multi-information screen with split screens is the central focus of the center stack. It is operated by way of the second generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) which I am not a fan of. Similar to a computer mouse, a major hindrance is the controller is too jittery and time consuming for imputing addresses and locating indicators on the screen.
The F Sport, like the entire non-hybrid LS range, performs with a 4.6-liter V8. It outputs 386 horsepower for the RWD version. However, in AWD versions the horsepower decreases to 360 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission sequential shift transmission is partnered with the efficient V8. Styling is enhanced, technology has increased, and safety has been installed on the new 2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport. Pricing for the RWD F Sport begins at $81,990 and $84,885 for the AWD.
