Lexus’ LS 500 F Sport delivers cutting edge performance and luxury
It’s fair to say that for more than 30 years Lexus has carefully shepherded the development of its flagship sedan, the LS, in what I would call a deliberate and evolutionary manner.
Way back in 1989, the company’s inaugural LS was an expression of some of the company’s best design and engineering thinking. Ever since its introduction the vehicle has helped set the standards in the modern luxury sports sedan segment.
Recently, Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, offered to let me spend some time with its LS 500 F Sport edition. To say that I was impressed with the vehicle would be an understatement.
The sheet metal is sweeping and sculpted — yet subtle. Lexus’ famous spindle grill continues to visually communicate that the car is also athletic and all business out on the road.
My tester came sitting on gorgeous 20-inch darkened finish steel alloy wheels.
Now I’ve driven LS 500’s before and I’ve been consistently smitten with them. It’s hard to find fault in them. The newest iteration is no different.
Under the hood of my “Matador Red Mica” tester is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine that generates 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. That powerplant is mated to a performance-oriented 10-speed automatic transmission that is capable of squeezing every ounce of energy out of this engine.
Inside the well-appointed cabin, drivers will find fine supportive leather seating — front and rear — and touches of glossy wood trim and tastefully muted brightwork throughout.
A 12.3-inch entertainment and navigation display and touchpad controller will be found on the center console. In the F Sport tester an unbelievable Mark Levinson audio system awaits the chance to just knock your socks clean off.
Arguably the only downside is that Lexus still requires us to manipulate the main screen via the touchpad which is difficult to use — even more so when the car is in motion.
My tester was compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offered two USB ports in front and two in the backseat armrest.
Out on the road, the LS shows that it’s no rolling land yacht. Mash the throttle and an involuntary stupid grin will come across your face as you are pushed back into your seats by the acceleration.
My tester took a scant and thrilling 4.6 seconds to reach 60 mph from a dead stop.
The Lexus 10-speed is admirably responsive whether you stomp the accelerator or operate the steering wheel’s shift paddles. Driving modes include Eco, Normal, Comfort, Custom, Sport S and Sport S Plus.
Inside the quiet cabin, the sounds coming from under the hood stay muted — that is unless you want to hear them and then the Levinson audio system will pipe sexy engine noise into the cabin. Personally, I found myself keeping in the “stealthy” Sport S Plus mode (without the engine noise assist) most of the time.
Steering was nimble and responsive and body roll was kept to a minimum thanks to the optional active stabilizer bars which come with the F Sport package. Cornering was absolutely confidence-inspiring
With the F Sport trim level comes beefy six-piston brake calipers and 15.7-inch discs to the front brakes. Rear brakes feature four pistons and the discs are an inch larger the non-F Sport LS.
My tester also featured a ton of safety gear via the 2.0 Lexus Safety System, including rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, rear auto braking, and pedestrian protection. A 24-inch color head-up display (HUD) projected safety information onto the windshield, including flashing arrows showing from which side of the vehicle a potential threat was coming. Gas mileage was 23 mpg overall, 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg out on the highway.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for my Lexus LS 500 F Sport, as optioned, is $101,685.
Final thoughts: You can tell that Lexus proudly continues to pour its heart and soul into the LS 500 F Sport. You owe to yourself to get to a dealer for a test drive. I guarantee you’ll be impressed by the experience.
Jeff Mitchell is a Los Angeles-based automotive writer and reviewer. Contact him at j.edward.mitchell@gmail.com