Test drive of a new 2009 LS 460 car

The Lexus LS is incredibly quiet and incredibly smooth. The LS 460 is easy to drive and use and is not as easy as German luxury cars. It offers functionality but leans more towards the luxury aspect of the equation than the sporty aspect.

The Lexus LS is packed with luxury and technology. The LS 460 is the first car in the world to feature an eight-speed computer-controlled automatic transmission. The LS 460 L is a long-wheelbase edition that offers heated reclining bucket seats, a cooler ambiance, dual-zone rear HVAC controls, a folding table, an ottoman, a shiatsu massager, and, of course, a DVD with wireless headphones. The list goes on.

The 4. 6-liter V8 can propel the LS 460 from 0 to 60 mph in just 5. 4 seconds, according to Lexus, but it gets 24 mpg highway performance according to the EPA. The eight-speed automatic transmission is incredibly sleek and plays a big role. in fuel economy. The electric guide formula adjusts according to speed. The ride quality is exemplary and the handling is perfectly efficient. It doesn’t get much fancier than the Lexus LS and it ticks all the boxes when it comes to refinement and luxury.

The Lexus LS 600h L uses a hybrid powertrain, a 5. 0-liter V8, and electric motors with a total output of 438 horsepower. The LS 600h L delivers EPA fuel ratings of 20/22 mpg city/highway. The LS 600h L is rated as a Very, Very Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV). The LS 600h L is supplied with all-wheel drive and travels over a long wheelbase.

All-wheel drive is available and has a Torsen limited-slip mid-differential to distribute torque between the front and rear tires. Normally, the front-to-rear torque split is set at 40:60, although it can range from 30:70 to 50:50 depending on driving conditions. The main thing is solid traction in all conditions.

The LS 460 was introduced for the 2007 style year and the LS 600h joined the lineup for 2008. For 2010, the LS receives a mid-cycle update with revised styling, new features, and a handling-focused game package. The new styling includes revisions down to the front bumper grille, headlights, taillights, exhaust diffusers and license plate frame, as well as new wheel styles and side mirrors with built-in turn signals.

The 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport Package adds firmer air suspension tuning, firmer anti-roll bars and shocks, Brembo brakes, aero frame kit, black perforated leather upholstery with gaming front seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel and paddle shifters. A new look The package includes the aero kit and grille from the Sport Package.

The 2010 Lexus LS benefits from several new protection and connectivity features. Safety Connect and Lexus Enform are new telematics formulas with free one-year subscriptions. Safety Connect is popular and Lexus Enform is available with a navigation formula. The collision formula uses two cameras at the front, as well as radar, to detect pedestrians in the car’s path. It also uses a camera that monitors the driver. If the formula detects that the car could hit pedestrians and the driver looks to drive away, it will alert the driver with a caution bell and flashing light and likely apply the brakes. It will also make the steering ratio faster, making it easier for drivers to react.

Other trims for 2010 include a driver’s seat with sliding function for easy entry/exit, a new multi-information program with an LCD screen in the center console, Bluetooth audio streaming and directory download capability, as well as iPod connectivity. The 2010 LS 600h L receives a new battery pack that opens up two cubic feet of trunk space, as well as more popular features such as smart high beams, advanced parking assist, an LCD tool cluster and a popular cold-weather package with windshield. Powerful battery and more efficient heating.

The flagship sedan that as the LS 400 and then grew as the LS 430, is now the Lexus LS 460. The Lexus LS defies competition as the world’s most productive luxury sedan. It competes with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class, BMW 5 Series and 7 Series, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ, among others. Compared to these cars, their value is more affordable while also offering the highest levels of quality, reliability, and reliability. If you prefer a large, stylish, and comfortable luxury sedan, the Lexus LS is hard to beat.

The 2010 Lexus LS lineup includes the LS 460 and LS 460 L long-wheelbase models, as well as the LS 600h L hybrid, a long-wheelbase style with all-wheel drive and gas-electric powertrain. LS 460 styles are forced through a 4. 6-liter V8 with 380 horsepower with rear-wheel drive and 357 horsepower with optional all-wheel drive. The LS 600h L uses a 5. 0-liter V8 mated to a pair of electric motors. The total power is 438 horsepower. The LS 460 is supplied with an eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual transmission option, while the LS 600h L uses an frequently variable automatic transmission.

The Lexus LS 460 ($65,380) and LS 460 AWD ($68,905) come with leather upholstery; dual-zone automatic climate control; indoor air filter; Wood and leather-wrapped telescopic/tilt idler with audio controls; speed regulator; 16-way power driver’s seat; 12-way forced front passenger seat; heated front seats; memory for the driver’s seat, steering wheel and mirrors, windows, locks and heated mirrors; keyless entry and start; sunroof, AM/FM stereo with six-CD changer, exterior, universal garage door opener, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights, fog lamps, adaptive xenon headlights and P235/50R18 tires on alloy wheels. All-wheel-drive models also feature a heated idler and an adjustable adaptive variable suspension that adjusts damping rates based on the road surface.

The LS 460 Sport Package ($6,185) features black and beige perforated leather upholstery, heated steering wheel and paddle shifters, matte dark brown ash interior trim, front bucket seats, front spoiler and grille, rocker panel extensions, an air suspension set package edition, Brembo brakes, 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels and P245/45R19 tires.

Options for the LS 460 come with the Comfort Package ($2,185) with heated guidewheel with front and rear parking assist, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, forced door and trunk locks, rear sunshades, and forced headlight washers; Comfort Plus Package ($5,125) with Comfort Plus equipment, rear side airbags and force-adjustable heated and cooled rear seats with massage and reminiscence features. The Cold Weather Pack ($100) comes with a heavy-duty heater, a windshield wiper defroster, and a heavy-duty battery. Other features include Mark Levinson’s audio formula ($2,080), adaptive variable air suspension with variable ratio force guidance, active stabilizer suspension for the 600h L with upgraded brakes, active suspension and P245/45R19 summer tires, and hands-free car stereo-parking ($700).

The LS 460 L ($70,925) and LS 460 L AWD ($74,450) feature heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated wheels, front and rear parking assist, forced door and trunk locks, forced rear sunshade and auto-dimming headlights. , laminated windows and headlamp washers. A luxury package for the 460 L ($980) updated with semi-aniline leather upholstery, Force sunshades, and Alcantara headliner. The Rear Seat Upgrade Package ($4,865) includes rear side airbags, dual-zone automatic rear climate control and upgraded leather upholstery. , forced-heated and forced-cooled rear seat with memory and massage, forced headrests, rear-seat cooler, rear radio controls, forced sunshades, and Alcantara headliner.

The LS 600h L ($108,800) comes with the navigation formula with voice recognition and real-time traffic information; Lexus Enform Assist, automatic parking function, 450-watt, 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, power side sunshades, Alcantara headliner, LED headlights, adjustable adaptive variable suspension, limited-slip rear differential, and P245/45R19 tires. The business-class seats package ($10,835) adds rear side airbags, dual-zone rear automatic climate control with frame temperature sensors, internal air filters, heated and cooled two-passenger rear seats with memory and massage, forced rear headrests, fixed rear center console, forced right-hand recline rear seat with leg rests and massage, folding right rear seat tray, entertainment formula with rear DVD, rear radio and P235/50VR18 tires.

Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, front knee airbags, antilock brakes with electronic brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control, active front head restraints, tire pressure monitor, rearview and adaptive camera. Formula. Headlights pointing at corners. An optional pre-collision formula ($1,500) comes with adaptive cruise control. It retracts seat belts, warns the driver, closes the windows and sunroof, raises the suspension, adjusts the steering ratio, and prepares the brake to help when computers fail. in a close collision. A complex pre-collision formula ($5,860) also adds lane-keeping aid, driver attention monitor, and object-detection cameras. All-wheel drive improves protection in slippery conditions.

Lexus designers have paid close attention to aerodynamic considerations that ultimately lead to greater stability at top speeds, quieter operation, and improved fuel economy on the road. Still, this has been done without the LS looking like super streamlined candy. . The main points are impeccable, the compatibility and finish are precise, and the overall look is refined and contemporary.

As a flagship, the Lexus LS boasts the thinnest of any Lexus L-finesse style to date. Its smooth lines from its surprisingly intricate glass-shaped headlights, underneath the car, on the roof and around the mirrors, with a short run in from the short rear deck to the built-in rear spoiler. After all those detailed paints on the exterior, they gave the car a drag coefficient of 0. 26, on par with the industry’s most productive for a four-door sedan. Reduced drag not only contributes to fuel economy, but also reduces interior noise levels.

The headlights are self-leveling and also rotate to the left or right to better eliminate darkness from corners, and the taillights are LED arrays that provide greater forward visibility for other drivers.

For 2010, the LS gained new grilles, a new front bumper with other air intakes, revised headlights and taillights, adjustments to the exhaust diffusers, a revised rear plate frame, redesigned mirrors with built-in turn signals, and new wheel models. with the Sport package they have a black grille, while the popular LS 460 has a five-bar chrome grille and the LS 600h L has a four-bar chrome grille. The Sport package also adds an aerodynamic frame kit with a lower front spoiler, swing panel look and lower rear spoiler. The Appearance Package includes the aero kit and 19-inch wheels from the Sport Package.

Stepping into the front left seat of the Lexus LS is like stepping into the pinnacle of luxury cars. The seats are incredibly comfortable and can be adjusted in 16 instructions in terms of travel, recline and recline (12 instructions on the passenger side), with a three-way memory formula for the front seat. All models are supplied with perforated leather seats, with the option of semi-aniline leather. The seat bolsters are wide enough to support your torso without feeling too tight or encroaching on comfort. The front seats are heated in the popular car, and the heated and cooled front and rear seats are added to the L trim.

Optitron is the name Lexus uses to describe its LELUMINESCENT displays and displays, and they’re illuminated via bright white LEDs for easy reading, day or night. Almost all hands are gently raised, governed by the giant hands of the rev counter and speedometer. Each transfer car interior is illuminated for convenience. A thin-film transistor (TFT) multi-data color display provides up to thirteen data presentations and settings while driving.

For 2010, the LS 600h L gets a new LCD tool cluster with a giant central speedometer flanked by oil temperature and tachometer graphs on one side and fuel gauge and force gauge graphs on the right. The data is easy to see, but attractive on the surface.

The four-spoke leather and wood telescopic tilt guide wheels (with heated trim) feature redundant controls for audio, information, cruise control, radar cruise control option, phone and a brake hold function. To use the brake hold feature, simply stop. , press the brake pedal, press the guide wheel button, and the brakes will remain engaged regardless of the vehicle’s attitude until you touch the accelerator pedal.

The centre control console is superbly integrated, as are any and all interior details, and while there are plenty of buttons, they’re obviously marked in giant print and illuminated, so there won’t be any confusion after a few trips. The navigation screen is giant and bright, and the graphics are crisp and crisp. An auxiliary input for MP3 players is planned, and a USB port for iPod connectivity will be added this year. Your iPod can be controlled via the audio controls mounted on the guide wheel or radio. The popular ten-speaker audio formula sounds wonderful until you check out the optional Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound sound formula, with 19 speakers and 450 watts, which we think might be the most productive car audio formula on the market.

The LS is a large, spacious and luxurious sedan, with generous interior dimensions and 18 cubic feet of trunk space, enough for 4 sets of golf clubs.

The long-wheelbase L models offer approximately five inches more legroom, due to their increased length, and the option of a sumptuous rear seat configuration with two heated reclining bucket seats, a refrigerator, sunshades, more ducted air conditioning and dual-zone rear HVAC control. In its configuration, the Business Class Seating Package adds a folding table and a right rear seat with an integrated ottoman section, a shiatsu massager, an additional airbag, as well as a 9-inch DVD screen fixed to the rear roof and two sets of wireless headphones. No automaker in this aspect of a $350,000 Maybach offers this type of backseat configuration.

New for 2010 are the Safety Connect and Lexus Enform telematics formulas with free one-year subscriptions. Safety Connect works like GM’s OnStar formula, offering a measure of protection with automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, an emergency assist button and enhanced roadside access. Lend a hand. Lexus Enform offers two unique tactics for getting directions to a destination. Destination Assist provides directions to a call center, and eDestination allows drivers to submit destinations to their navigation formula from a website. Enform also comes with Lexus Insider, which allows the factory to talk to owners through audio streams that offer tips, event information, and other information the owner may need.

Regardless of trim, the Lexus LS is fast, smooth, quiet and efficient. To such an extent that there is a slight sense of speed. The car feels underworked at overall highway speeds, with a huge reserve of power for overtaking and highway driving. A BMW 7 Series sedan offers more accurate handling, but its larger wheels and lower-profile tires allow more road noise to pass through the cabin and more vibration to the wheels. The Lexus is smoother and quieter. Handling on the base models is capable but annoying, and the car isn’t prone to flapping on the road or leaning too far into corners.

While in the past we wouldn’t have considered the LS fun to drive, the new Sport package makes driving the car much less difficult and satisfying around corners at top speeds. While the shocks and anti-roll bars are firmer than on the base model, it’s the specially tuned air suspension that likely gives the Sport package its impressive handling. The Porsche Panamera uses a similar formula and is one of the most maneuverable giant sedans on the market. In the LS with the Sport package, we were able to qualify in the corners, brake and kick the rear with a kick of the throttle. You can probably do that on the base car as well, but you wouldn’t need to. The Sport package makes driving the LS much more fun.

The LS 460 has a base curb weight of 4,350 pounds and its engine is smaller than that of some German competitors. Still, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5. 4 seconds and is smart for an EPA-estimated 24 mpg score. on the road. But acceleration is only a small component of the story here, and the engine is only one component of it.

The LS 460, the world’s first car to offer an eight-speed computer-controlled automatic transmission, a transmission that delivers excellent acceleration with nearly imperceptible top and rear shifts, manual or automatic shift control, and increased highway mileage in 8th place. Overdrive. .

Acceleration turns out to be very simple for the LS 460.  The engine, transmission, and transmission make the popular LS 460 quiet and smooth. We found the LS 460 to be very quiet and almost vibration-free. It feels much quieter than the competition, whether it’s at 30mph or 130mph, its most responsive speed regulated.

The electric guidance formula is great. It doesn’t look at anyone else from the hydraulic guidance and its assistance is progressive that decreases with speed. Guidance, brakes and engine are combined in Electronic Stability Control, which Lexus calls Integrated Dynamic Vehicle Management (VDIM) and encompasses all anti-lock braking, traction and stability functions to help the vehicle continue where the driving force needs it to and reduce the risk of skidding on a slippery surface.

All-wheel drive is available on all models. The operation and driving feel of Lexus’ all-wheel-drive formula is as smooth as it gets. There’s no impression that you’re rummaging between the front and rear wheels, and you don’t have any. of the steering torque that comes with almost all front-wheel-drive cars and many with all-wheel drive.

Parking and manoeuvring are strangely easy on the length of the LS 460 L and LS 600h L. Thanks to a relatively short turning radius and electronic forced steering. The complex parking and wayfinding formula can be used to allow the car to park itself. We tested the formula, thinking that anyone who knows how to park in a niche will consider it an unnecessary ornament and a bit insulting. However, it actually works. In fact, it works very well. We found ourselves using it over and over again. The trick is to scan the exact length of the parking area and then keep one foot on the brake while the car automatically maneuvers to the spot. It takes about 10 seconds, which can be more than doing it yourself. In addition, it costs $700 for the car to take on responsibilities that each and every driver deserves to have the ability to perform.

The LS 600h L, on the other hand, is even smoother. The hybrid system, in which the 5. 0-liter V8 and electric motor work together, can offer functionality on par with other V10 or V12 engines, and smoothness to match. 389 horsepower, coupled with massive torque from the electric motor, means this 5,360-pound car can, according to Lexus, accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5. 5 seconds, and it’s rated at 20 mpg city. more than you’d expect from a midsize sedan with a V6. While hybrid powertrains offer adequate fuel economy, their biggest advantage is emissions relief. According to Lexus engineers, the LS 600h L produces approximately 70% cleaner exhaust emissions than its cleaner competitors.

The hybrid propulsion formula uses two powerful electric motors and a battery. The formula is capable of driving the car solely on the petrol engine, in electric-only mode or with a mixture of petrol engine and electric motor. The battery formula is made up of A 288-volt DC nickel metal hydride pack is located in the rear seat. In the trunk is a 12-volt auxiliary battery to power the audio formula, navigation and lighting. Electric motors, referred to by Lexus as MG1 and MG2, come out of the car. Ass Express Service. Each can serve as both an engine and a generator. MG2 is the drive motor. The MG1 is used as a starter motor and acts as a motor-driven generator to power the battery or supply more power to the drive motor, MG2, as needed.

The LS 600h can operate in EV mode, in which the vehicle will remain in electric-only mode at speeds below 25 mph for about part of a mile. This feature can be useful for quietly entering the garage if you’re home late or for driving to a fuel station if you’re running low on fuel or for use in stop-and-go traffic.

Although the hybrid features regenerative brakes, which recharge the battery when the brakes are applied, the braking feel is typical of a popular car equipped with sturdy disc brakes, an impressive technical feat.

However, keep in mind that the value of the hybrid is much higher than that of the base model, making it more of a social and environmental value than a value. It includes other popular equipment, such as all-wheel drive, but fuel economy will never go down. Offset the extra cost. Honestly, the LS 460 is the most productive option.

The Lexus LS lineup is perhaps the quietest and most serene luxury car available. It offers a perfect combination of comfort, space, tranquility and functionality. It’s also the most electronics-hungry luxury car we’ve ever experienced, and if it were, it’s not a Lexus, it would give us pause. The LS 460 offers everything you could need in a luxury car and at a price that can’t be exorbitant. The long-wheelbase models offer enough legroom in the rear, while the LS 600h L is supplied with a hybrid powertrain that delivers improved fuel output with comparable strength and particularly low emissions.

NewCarTestDrive. com correspondent Jim McCraw reported from Detroit, John Stewart reported from Southern California and Kirk Bell from Chicago.

Lexus LS 460 ($65,380); LS 460 AWD ($68,905); LS 460L ($70,925); LS 460L AWD ($74,450); LS 600h L ($108,800).

Nagoya, Japan.

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