2018 Lexus LS 500 Has Two Big Surprises

The all-new 2018 Lexus LS 500 flagship departs from tradition in two important ways.

Lexus took the wraps off its all-new 2018 LS 500 flagship sedan today and revealed two unexpected surprises. First, the LC 500 will use Lexus' first twin-turbocharged V6 engine, moving away from the V8 it has always had in the past. The new engine will produce just as much power and speed as a traditional V8 engine, but will have less vibration and higher efficiency. Horsepower is pegged at 415. Lexus promises a 0-60 MPH time of about 4.5 seconds. That is well under what can be put to use on public roads in America. The new engine will be coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The second surprise is the design. Although it is an open secret that Akio Toyoda has mandated that Toyota and Lexus be more exciting, the LS has always been a traditional (sedate) sedan. No more. The new styling features perhaps the most extravagant spindle grill design yet on a Lexus. Jeff Bracken, Lexus Group Vice President, and General Manager, says that the updated grill has 5,000 individual surfaces.

The LS 500 for 2018 will also have an all-new silhouette. Now a "4-door coupe" the LS 500 is also lower, longer and wider. The grill and the new aggressive body shape combine to bring the LS 500 into the modern age with a look that is more dynamic than that from Mercedes, Audi and BMW.