In 1989, the Lexus LS400 was unveiled at car dealerships in Detroit and in Los Angeles. The car was originally focused on the North American market. Since September 1989, began selling this car in the United States, where he was accepted with a bang.
Good demand overseas gave the Japanese reason to think about the offer of this model on the European market - in 1990, the brand was presented in the Old World. Lexus LS 400 was equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 235 hp. Other power units are not provided. In 1993, the Lexus LS 400 slightly updated. The false radiator grille, headlights, bumpers, etc. have changed.
The power of the power unit increased to 265 hp The rest of the car remained the same. In 1998, the next upgrade occurred. As a result, the power of the power unit increased to 294 hp. The engine had two camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder and a cylinder head of light alloy metals. With this motor, the car accelerates to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds.
Transmission - 5-speed "automatic". Lexus LS 400 received a sophisticated adaptive suspension with electronically controlled ground clearance, which prevents body roll in corners and changes the stiffness of shock absorbers, depending on the quality of the road surface. Front and rear ventilated disc brakes with ABS. Since 1998, the Lexus LS 400 began to install 4 airbags (two front and two side). The first generation of the LS series lasted more than ten years in production. In the spring of 2000, the Lexus LS 400 gave way to an entirely new model on the conveyor, which received an index of 430.
The length and width of the Lexus LS 430 remained the same as that of the Lexus LS 400, but the wheelbase increased by almost 8 cm. The interior is trimmed with leather, wood and expensive plastic. Electric seats, so they are easy to find the optimal comfortable position for passengers of any complexion.
The seats of the driver and front passenger are normally (option for rear passengers) equipped with heating and ventilation with cooling. In the role of the main driving force V8 of 4.3 liters with variable valve timing (VVT-i system) and 4 valves per cylinder. The engine had a capacity of 281 hp.
and let the car accelerate to a hundred in just 6.7 seconds. For the US and European markets, an air suspension was offered as an option. The list of standard and custom equipment Lexus LS 430 includes inflatable curtains, a system of pushing half-closed doors and trunk lid, parking sensors with ten sensors around the perimeter of the body, memory position of seats, mirrors and steering column, electronic ignition key, elite music Mark Levinson and much more.
In 2003, the renewed Lexus LS 430 premiered in Frankfurt. The car has a different shape of the front and rear bumpers, a more “licked” grille, new headlights and “fog lights”. Plus, the new taillights are now made with the use of lamps with LEDs. The rest of the exterior of the car has not changed much. More serious innovations could be observed in the technical stuffing LS 430.
Now, under the hood of the sedan is a 4.3 liter V8 power unit with a capacity of 282 hp. The maximum speed of 250 km / h. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.3 seconds. The engine is aggregated with a new six-speed automatic transmission. The drag coefficient dropped to 0.25 Cx, which directly affected the economy and acoustic comfort.
The interior in the best traditions of the Lexus brand offers an abundance of leather, wood and modern electronics. Basic equipment pleases Intelligent AFS adaptive lighting system, which can change the direction of the beam of light of headlights, depending on the speed and angle of rotation of the steering wheel. Guarding the safety of passengers ten PB, including airbags to protect the knees of the front and rear passengers. In addition, the upgraded air suspension is standard on the Lexus LS 430. A multimedia system with voice control completes the picture, combining a DVD player and a navigation system. In 2006, the next generation of comfortable Lexus LS debuted.
The car was built almost from scratch. Everything is new in it: platform, body, chassis, transmission, engine. At the time of its debut, the Lexus LS460 was the most expensive project in the history of Lexus.
The model has noticeably added in dimensions (45 mm wider and 15 mm (5030 mm) longer than the previous model LS430). Wheelbase increased by 45 mm. This sedan is distinguished by the best-in-class turning radius - 5.4 meters. The Japanese with great attention treated the study of body parts. For example, the chrome edging of windows is integral - without joints!
And chrome polished manually. Headlights are also circled in chrome, polycarbonate optics diffusers are also manually processed. In the process of paint coating, the method of double hand polishing is applied. The manufacturer claims that the Lexus LS460 has the lowest level of noise and vibrations in the class, as well as the highest torsional rigidity - 30% higher than the third generation. The manufacturer has achieved the smallest coefficient of drag in its segment - 0.26. Inside the LS460 is cozy, the interior is designed in a calm classic style. In the interior trim using only the most expensive and high-quality leather, wood and plastic.
By the way, the decorative branch of wood for LS deals with the music department of the company Yamaha. The gaps between the parts are reduced by more than half compared to the predecessor, and in some cases they are only 0.5 mm. Luxury seats are governed by buttons up to lumbar support and headrest position.
All buttons and control keys are located as thoughtfully as possible. The steering system is equipped with electric power, changing sharpness depending on the speed. At low speed from lock to lock - 2.5 turns. On the big one - 3.6. The new index 460 indicates a new power unit. Under the hood of the car is a V-shaped 8-cylinder 32-valve engine with a system of constantly changing valve timing with an electric drive VVT-iE of 4.6 liters. At 6400 rpm, it allows you to develop a power of 380 hp Maximum vehicle speed is electronically limited to 250 km / h. Up to 100 km / h the car accelerates in 5.7 seconds.
The D-4S system provides for two fuel injection nozzles per cylinder, which allows to reduce fuel consumption and at the same time increase the draft by 7.5%. In the combined cycle, the car consumes only 11.1 liters per 100 km. Lexus LS460 equipped with the world's first 8-speed automatic transmission with aluminum gears, two times lighter than the steel. Its response time has almost halved compared with the previous 6-band - up to 350 ms. Air suspension equipped with shock absorbers with adjustable stiffness (AVS) and the ability to change the position of the body, perfectly fulfills any profile of the road.
The undoubted advantage of the LS460 is the integrated vehicle dynamics control system (VDIM), which cannot be disabled. VDIM is steering at low degrees, it controls traction and brakes the wheels. Its action is unnoticeable. The electronic transmission control system controls the accelerator pedal position, and also provides a linear characteristic of the power developed and the smoothness of gear shifting. There is also an elongated (5151 mm) modification of Lexus LS, which received an index of 460L.
The extra space is entirely used to increase comfort and increase legroom for rear passengers. Lexus LS 460L is primarily designed for VIPs traveling with a personal driver. He has more rear doors. Provides for the installation of Ottoman seats with adjustable backrest at 45 ° (in the "normal" model, the figure is thirty-seven degrees) and support for the legs. The long base version also offers a massage function. Multi-zone climate control (Multi-zone Automatic Climate Control) is complemented by sensors built into the ceiling of the car that can determine the temperature of the passenger’s body and adjust the system to achieve the best “climate” indicator.
And the climate may be different for each seat in the car. Lexus LS460 is equipped with a huge amount of tools to ensure both active and passive safety. Even in the case of a heavy rain, the water-repellent coating of the windows of the car’s doors will not allow the driver’s view to be limited, the model’s mirrors are coated with an antiglare compound designed to prevent blinding the headlights of the cars behind you. Energy absorbing deformable areas of the body structure can significantly reduce the impact. In addition to the deformable zones, the design has a number of reinforcing elements.
Airbags in the car a huge amount: two front, side, curtain type, as well as designed to protect the knees of the driver and front passenger, complete the picture of active head restraints. The Pre-Crash Safety System controls radars and cameras from both the front and rear. In 2009, the fourth generation Lexus LS 460 facelift took place.
The car was introduced to the general public at the motor show in Frankfurt. The exterior of the car was slightly refreshed by installing a new grille and front bumper with a different form of air intake and fog. The design of the front optics has changed, and the turn signals have become LED. Inside, the new color LCD display, the Mark Levinson Premium Surround audio system with 19 speakers, a 10 GB hard drive and a Bluetooth connection. The most serious changes were hybrid versions. Lexus LS 600h and its extended version of the LS 600h L got a new battery, which has become smaller and more efficient.
The Lexus Hybrid Drive system is now compliant with the strict European Euro 5 environmental standards. In 2011, the Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition was introduced. From the base model Lexus LS 460, it differs in a slightly modified design of the front end. Including a new front bumper, new side plates, as well as the grille has changed. Sportiness and dynamism of the car give five-spoke alloy wheels 19 or 18 inches. In the cabin, first of all, a little more sport seats, with lateral support, are striking.
Also in the Touring Edition model, a two-tone leather trim and a special matt wood finish are applied. At a special event in San Francisco, Lexus officially unveiled the updated LS 2013 sedan model year, based on the fourth generation, which has been produced since 2006. Initially, it was assumed that the Japanese automaker will introduce a completely new generation of its flagship model, but in fact the Japanese have limited themselves to a refreshed appearance and updated interior. The main external changes Lexus LS 2013 relate to its front and rear parts. The car got a new branded grille in the shape of an hourglass, a different front bumper and embossed hood.
The head optics, which can now be fully LED, has also changed, but only for an extra charge as an option. In the rear, the bumper and lights were changed, a new trunk lid and another chrome lining appeared. The interior of the restyled Lexus LS 2013 has changed more noticeably. Inside, a completely new front panel with a large 12.3-inch color display in the center and a multimedia complex Lexus Enform with Internet access, as well as new front seats. As options for new items are available adaptive optics, tracking systems for marking and blind zones, four-zone climate control, Mark Levinson audio system with 19 speakers and much more.
The basic version of the sedan Lexus LS 460 2013 (as well as an extended version of the LS 460 L) will still be offered with both rear and all-wheel drive. In the first case, the upgraded 4.6-liter V8 produces 386 hp. (497 Nm), and in the second - 360 hp and 470 Nm.
Both are combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Under the hood of the hybrid Lexus LS 600h L was a 5.0-liter petrol V8, which is assisted by two electric motors. The total return of such an installation reaches 438 hp, providing the sedan acceleration from zero to one hundred in 5.5 seconds, spending on the combined cycle an average of 12.0 liters per hundred kilometers (according to the manufacturer). In addition, from now on, the F Sport version will be offered for the flagship LS. Technically, this is the usual LS 460 with all-wheel drive and a 4.6-liter "eight" with a return of 360 power.
But such a sedan sports lowered by 10 mm suspension, 19-inch exclusive wheels, Brembo enhanced brakes and an aerodynamic body kit with side skirts, a rear diffuser, a different grille grid and a front bumper with increased air intakenicknames. High-precision laser welding helps improve body performance in terms of vibration absorption. Unlike traditional welding, laser is able to qualitatively connect larger body parts, and the use of gluing technology makes it possible to maximize the rigidity of joints. This should not only increase stability, but also provide more comfort in motion, while maintaining good handling.
The steering and braking systems have been modified or modified. Improvements in the air suspension were accompanied by changes in the AVS system: there was control over the adhesion of all four wheels to the road surface. In the previous version, AVS tuned the suspension for each wheel individually; in the new version, the system synchronously suppresses vibrations in the longitudinal, transverse and vertical planes on all four wheels.
