Sporty Lexus LS 2013

You’ve already been teased and treated to lots of leaked photos, and now it’s official – the new generation 2013 Lexus LS range has been launched globally, making its debut at the glamorously-named ‘Lexus Laws of Attraction’ exhibit in San Francisco.
The LS 460, LS 460L and hybrid LS 600hL return refreshed, but new to the family is the LS 460 F Sport, boasting exclusive features such as tuned and lowered air suspension (by a centimetre), Brembo brakes with six-pot callipers, sport seats and 19-inch forged wheels.
Buyers have a choice of all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive; if you opt for the latter you get a Torsen limited slip differential at the rear. On the outside, the F Sport has a 3D mesh front grille, bigger cooling openings and round fog lamps to distinguish it from its siblings.

The 386 hp, 4.6 litre V8 seems to be unchanged from the previous-gen model’s, continuing to power all LS variants except for the LS 600hL, which pairs a 5.0 litre V8 with two electric motors and remains the most powerful of the group with its combined output of 438 hp.
The LS 460 and its long-wheelbase L variant also come with either all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive, while the LS 600hL is available with all-wheel-drive only.

So what’s really new across the range, apart from exterior changes and the much touted ‘spindle grille’? Gadgetry. We’re talking about Lexus here, so bear with me.
Ever concerned with ride quality, Lexus says its flagship car now pitches and bounces less thanks to new frequency-dependent dampers. It has also improved body rigidity, noise insulation, steering and brakes.

A Pre-Collision Safety (A-PCS) system with Collision Avoidance Assist, which Lexus says is the most advanced in the industry, is a new safety feature. At speeds below 38 km/h, when it senses an impending collision the system brings the car to a halt, not unlike Volvo’s City Safety system.
The Blind Spot Monitor is now offered on the LS, in tandem with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which warns you of an approaching car when you reverse out of a parking space.