Lexus reveals refreshed LS flagship sedan with advanced driving assist tech

by Autocar Pro News Desk , 07 Jul 2020

Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corp, has premiered the updated version of its flagship sedan, the LS, and announced that sales in Japan begin late 2020. Since the sedan’s debut in 1989, it has 870,000 units across 90 countries and regions.

For this latest update, engineers have focused on elevating the sedan's levels of comfort, quiet and overall refinement to help balance a range of new dynamic improvements. This philosophy applies detailed tuning, thoughtful component updates and control surface upgrades to help drive Lexus products to a new standard of vehicle control, balance and ultimately, driver confidence.

Expanding on this, developed with the aim of greatly enhancing the exceptional quietness and comfort that represent the Lexus DNA, is the culmination of thorough craftsmanship applied to even the smallest component ― from the vehicle's powertrain and suspension to the positioning of the stitch points of the seats.

The new LS features Lexus Teammate, which is the latest in advanced driving assist technologies. It also incorporates AI technologies centered on deep learning for predicting and responding to various situations possibly encountered during driving. Lexus Teammate appears first in the Japanese market for adoption later in other markets (timing specified by regional markets).

Furthermore, the new LS is available in Gin-ei Luster, a new exterior panel color that achieves deep shadows and robust highlights, enabled by new paint technology.

According to Lexus International president Koji Sato, “The LS, as a flagship, has constantly pursued innovation and has provided new technologies and value for its customers. In developing the new LS announced today, we furthered the evolution of the exceptional quietness and comfort that has been a steadfast constant since the model's first generation, and, by employing the advanced driving assist technologies of Lexus Teammate, we aimed for a mobility experience that is much safer and more secured than before. This means reduced driver burden from the operation of the accelerator, brakes, and steering, allowing the driver to focus more on overall driving.

“Also, as can be accomplished precisely because we are an automobile company well-versed in the relationship between car and driver, driving assist that achieves riding comfort as if an expert driver was behind the wheel and a human-machine interface (HMI) that enables the car and the driver to converse and to constantly and correctly grasp each other's condition create a sense of security. Furthermore, in the process of developing such, we drastically enhanced and evolved fundamental vehicle performance. Lexus, based on its human-centered approach, will continue to take up challenges, and we intend to keep on delivering experiences that bring abundance to the lifestyles of each and every one of our customers."