German Car Zone

New Lexus sedan: fast, classy - and dull

I drove a Lexus for the first time on the German autobahn at 150 miles an hour. The year was 1989, and Lexus was launching in front of U.S. journalists.

For the unveiling of the latest Lexus flagship sedan, the 2007 LS 460, my introduction was a lot less dramatic: It came on the leafy streets and well-policed highways of the New York City suburbs. But that didn't seem to matter. Quality and craftsmanship, not speed, are what have propelled Lexus to become the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. - and made it a classy, comfortable car for meeting and chauffeuring clients.

Because it competes with top-of-the-line models from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the LS 460 is crammed with enough new technology to claim bragging rights.

The eight-speed automatic transmission - nobody else's has more than seven - delivers smoother shifts and improved fuel economy. A user-friendly navigation system provides real-time traffic information with alternate routes around bottlenecks. And a much-promoted hands-free parking system gauges the size of the space using sensors and turns the wheel to guide the car into it. The driver controls the speed of the process with the brake pedal (although if you try to park on an incline, as I initially did, it won't work).

As with most Lexus models, the LS 460 is loaded with thoughtful details. As you approach the car, the key signals a sensor in the door to set the interior lights aglow. And sensors in all four tires - plus the spare! - trigger a warning light when air pressure is low.

Still, a charisma transplant wouldn't hurt. The exterior sheet metal lacks chrome trim, while inside the leather seat coverings don't have any piping or exposed stitches - admirable restraint to some, plain and uninspired to others.

Lexus designs famously quiet cars, but this one is almost too quiet. Passengers are sheltered from obtrusive noises, but also from the mechanical music of its V-8 engine.

The 380-horsepower motor propels this sedan to 60 miles an hour in 5.4 seconds - faster than a Porsche Boxster - and gets 27 mpg on the highway. That kind of performance deserves more aural fanfare.

The LS 460 began arriving at dealerships in late fall at a starting price of $61,000. Considering all the new technology, that's nearly as good a value as the original 1989 model, which cost $35,000 ($57,500 in today's dollars). Yet my emotions remained curiously unmoved. Perhaps I missed the autobahn more than I thought.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/12/01/lexus_review.fsb/

Lexus articles are always appreciated by me, even if they say the LS460 is "dull"

Which i can not argue to the extreme, it's not as if the LS460 is the most interesting vehicle on the planet, I, even as a Lexus fan find the exterior quite plan, not the most interesting design, but i still really love the exterior design. It's better Lexus is "boring" rather than "ugly" (SC430.. - IMO of course)

As i've said before, the LS460 is my saloon of choice.

Anyways, thanks!

i also am a big fan of this car and all i can say is who cares if it is dull. If you want your exciting car get an m5 or similar car. This car does what it is suposed to very well.

Right on!

From what I have read it seem like the new LS is more chauffeur oriented than the Germans which is some people find it dull.

I think its a great car, and overall a world wide winner. imo. As for flash, well, thats to each individual, my dad loves the LS and would get one over any car, he just loves the drive and says its the most comfortable for him...

BOTTOM LINE!

To each his own!

I agree 100% , btw your dad is awesome, like mine (he loves the LS too)

I actually like it, heres some pics of one

Another example of the supposed "automotive chasm" between Japanese and European cars... turns out that notion is really nothing more than subjective conjecture.

The Lexus may be uninspired, unimaginative or whatever other non-complimentary "un" you'd care to insert but the fact remains: Lexus owners and fans swear by them. This is a fine, albeit not too original, luxury automobile and a viable alternative to the German triumverate.

I just read this on CNN and wanted to post it here, but Yannis beat me too it.

I think what they mean with "dull" is the fact that the engine is so quiet and the ride is somewhat isolated. Granted, most buyers in this class may want this, but there are also a ton of buyers who would like to hear the engine as it adds character to the car.

My family at one point owned a 1998 Nissan Cefiro Elite which had a 2.0 V6 VQ engine. This engine was so smooth and silent, it made the good-looking Cefiro drive like a sleeping pill. You couldn't hear the engine, even at higher RPM's. Some people like this stuff, others don't. I'm part of the crowd who want excitement behind the wheel, who want to hear the engine, who want to feel the road through the steering wheel etc.

The LS is no doubt a technological achievement, but Lexus has created this car for the crowd who want isolation from the outside world. Think about it. All the German and British brands have a high degree of sporting character in their cars; not the Lexus. When you drive the European competitors and then drive an LS afterwards, of course the car will appear a little dull.