The 2013 Lexus LS lineup debuts in San Francisco

The “Lexus Laws of Attraction” event in San Francisco was chock full of people that claims are fashion celebrities but honestly, I’ve never heard of any of them so the real star of the evening was the sporty new 2013 Lexus LS sedan lineup. The changes to the 2013 model year Lexus LS lineup are not that elaborate but they are hard to miss – both inside and out – with a sharpened exterior and even more luxurious interior than the current Lexus LS sedans. As expected, the 2013 Lexus LS lineup begins with the LS 460 followed by the LS 460 L (long wheelbase), both of which are available in either rear- or all-wheel drive. Next, the hybrid version returns with the 2013 LS 600h L which is available only with all wheel drive and a long wheelbase (shown on the right). Finally, the new 2013 LS 460 F Sport brings the aggressive design of the F Sport package to this sexy new flagship sedan along with features to add as much performance as style. Lexus promises that the 2013 LS 460 F Sport is “the most engaging LS ever”.

The biggest change for the 2013 Lexus LS lineup on the outside is the arrival of the spindle grille design that has already shown itself on the new ES and GS sedans but on the 2013 LS, the spindle design realizes its boldest application. We got our first look at the 2013 LS grille on the LS 460 F Sport teaser image that appeared on Facebook last week and surprisingly, the sporty grille design of the F Sport carries over in very similar form to the rest of the 2013 LS sedan lineup. All of the 2013 LS sedans have a thick black bar separating the upper and lower grille openings with the main difference between the F Sport and the other 2013 LS sedan’s grille is that the black mesh filler from the F Sport is replaced by horizontal bars in the LS 460 and the LS 600h L hybrid. The 2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport also has a lower front fascia that is a bit more aggressive than the front end of the other 2013 LS models, even though all of the new flagship sedans have vents mounted towards the outer edges of the front fascia with fog lights integrated into the outer edge of those openings. The LS 460 and LS 600h L both wrap their fog lights in a chrome trim piece where the F Sport has the lights mounted in the larger, blacked out vent opening.

In addition to the sharpened front end, all 2013 Lexus LS sedans wear a new hood design that gives the new flagship sedan a very sleek look with a bold ridge running down the middle and a raised edge design that really accents the shape of the car beautifully. The side profile of the new LS sedan doesn’t look all that different from the current (2012) models but out back, the 2013 LS wears new LED taillights that follow the design scheme of the front end – providing a far more aggressive design than the outgoing models. A chrome trim piece combines the two darkened taillights across the middle of the trunk face and all models pack integrated chrome exhaust tips into the lower rear fascia – although the F Sport also gets a splitter design to emphasize the sporty nature of this new package.

All of the 2013 Lexus LS sedans have had their chassis rigidity improved that improves stability while also improving the overall ride quality. New shock absorbers across the entire lineup have been tuned to improving handling without compromising comfort; a revised steering system improves responsiveness and a new braking system helps to ensure stronger and smoother stopping power.

Inside, the 2013 Lexus LS lineup includes a gorgeous 12.3 high resolution infotainment screen that is controlled by the computer mouse style “Remote Touch” system on the center console – standard on all models. I have used this system before in the new Lexus GS sedan and it is a great design and great looking setup. This infotainment package works with the Lexus Enform system and includes goodies like Pandora radio, I Heart Radio and access to a Bing-powered search feature.

There has been no pricing offered for the 2013 Lexus LS sedan lineup but based on the changes made to these new flagship luxury sedans – the LS will continue to be among the top large luxury models in the US market. Check out the gallery on the right for a closer look at the new 2013 LS 460 and the LS 460 F Sport.