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| 2013 Lexus LS |
Twenty years ago, the Lexus LS put the Wind up the Mercedes
S-Class, helping to lunch Toyota's posh division with a bang. Sadly, its cars'
competitiveness has been declining ever since. This heavy facelift does little
to turn the tide, despite the fat it's a thorough re-engineering that stretches
right down to the methods used to weld the chassis together. No stone has been
left unturned. The steering wheel is smaller, the steering column has more
adjustment. The wheel arches have a new type of sound isolation. Seat cushions
are 20mm thicker. The climate control uses infrared sensors to measure
occupants' body temperature and adjust accordingly. Even the analogue clock
hasn't been forgotten-it's now automatically controlled via GPS. Truly
obsessive. This much we expect from Lexus. The LS's newfound style is a welcome
surprise, though, particularly the 'spindle' grille that's becoming a Lexus
signature. It's particularly striking in new F-sport trim, which gets big
wheels, Brembo brakes, lowered ride height and even a torsen rear diff. sadly;
you can’t et it on the 100k Euro hybrid. For several years, this
petrol-electric variant has been the only model on offer in the UK, but sales
have tumbled, so the plain V8 petrol is being reintroduced, lowering the entry
price by 20,000 Euro
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| 2013 Lexus LS |
Saving the cast gets you the better car, the hybrid is
immaculately refined in city driving, but the E-CVT transmission is inept, and
it only manages 32.8mpg. Why so inefficient? And what's happened to the concept
of downsizing? A hybrid using such an enormous engine seems ridiculous- a 44mpg
A8 hybrid has a 2.0-litre four-pot, remember. Four-wheel drive is a boon, the
over-light and disconnected driving experience does come with a decent ride,
plus the Lexus is staggeringly quiet when the CVT isn't flogging the engine to
death, while the rear of this stretched variant is palatial. But it's not good
enough. Today's S-class beats it. Tomorrows will knock it for six
The Lexus LS specs
The numbers: 4969cc, V8, 4WD, 389hbp, 384lb ft, 32.8mpg,
199g/km CO2, 0-62 in 6.1 secs, 155mpg, 2370kg
The cost: 99,495 Euro
The verdict: Hybrid is hopeless here, Save your 25l and get
the LSF-spot. Better still, a diesel S-class
