The all-new Lexus LS 500h is a further manifestation of how Lexus has reimagined the luxury saloon. It presents brave design, exhilarating performance and sophisticated appeal to capture the imagination of forward-thinking, younger customers.

The design of LS successfully brings together the virtues of a long-wheelbase four-door saloon with a low, coupe-like profile, positioning it perfectly across two (saloon and coupe) growing market segments.

The cabin has benefited from an equally new approach. It focuses on progressive comfort, interpreting Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship traditions in the context of an advanced, luxurious and innovative vehicle interior. Notably the new LS was honoured at NAIAS with the EyesOn Design Award for excellence in interior design.

Conceived as the new global pinnacle of the Lexus brand, the LS goes beyond what the world expects from a luxury car. Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi explained: “Developing such a flagship model required a massive paradigm shift. Rather than being bound by conventions that had defined luxury cars in the past, we aimed to create a car with innovative, emotional and sensual appeal that would draw customers’ eyes away from other luxury cars and provide entirely new values.”

The LS 500h is equipped with the new Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, a technology that transforms the performance and driver appeal of hybrid. It provides improved responsiveness and more rewarding, linear acceleration, particularly when moving off from stationary. At the same time, the inherent fuel and emissions efficiency of Lexus Hybrid Drive has been further improved.

The powertrain features a 3.5-litre Dual VVT-i V6 petrol engine and two electric motors, together delivering maximum system power of 354bhp. While the LS 500 will be available in Europe exclusively as an all-wheel drive model, the LS 500h will be introduced in both rear- and all-wheel drive versions.

The LS 500h is built on the new Lexus Global Architecture – Luxury platform, which ensures a low centre of gravity and optimum weight distribution. It contributes to the car’s essential stability and handling agility, which in turn deliver increased driver rewards. The fundamental high rigidity of the chassis allows the new multilink suspension to be tuned to achieve the supreme comfort for which the LS is renowned. In Europe, Adaptive Variable Suspension is a standard feature of higher specification models.

The car’s dynamic performance also benefits from the co-ordination of braking, steering and stability systems through Lexus Dynamic Handling.

Advanced technologies are further used to deliver impressive safety performance. The LS 500h’s Lexus Safety System+ package features the world’s first intuitive pedestrian detection function with active steering among other innovative technologies.

Expressions of Japanese hospitality, omotenashi, defines the LS 500h’s whisper-quiet and luxurious interior. Supreme comfort is provided by front and rear seats with multiple power adjustment, heating, cooling and massage functions.

There is also an optional rear seat arrangement that includes an extending leg ottoman and the most generous legroom of any LS generation. Notably the new LS 500h has a longer wheelbase than the current long wheelbase LS 600h L – 3,125mm overall compared to 3,090mm.

Takumi craftsmanship also contributes to the special quality of the Lexus LS 500h’s cabin, in luxurious new trims, materials and detailing, including a new pleating treatment and Kiriko glasswork on the inner door panels.

Lexus LS outline technical specifications

	LS 500h	LS 500
Drivetrain	Front engine, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive	Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine	3.5-litre V6 hybrid engine	3.5-litre V6 with twin turbochargers
Capacity (cc)	3,456
Valve mechanism	24-valve DOHC with Dual VVT-i
Max. engine output (bhp/kW)	295/220	416/310
Max. engine torque (Nm)	350	600
Hybrid battery type	Lithium-ion	n/a
Battery voltage (V)	310	n/a
Total hybrid system output (bhp/kW)	354/264	n/a
Transmission	Multi Stage Hybrid Transmission	10-speed automatic
Acceleration 0 – 62mph (sec)	5.4	4.8
Overall length (mm)	5,235
Overall width (mm)	1,900
Overall height (mm)	1,450
Wheelbase (mm)	3,125
Front overhang (mm)	940
Rear overhang (mm)	1,170
Wheels	19 or 20in