2018 Lexus LS 500
Written by Marco Carvajal
The 2018 model, the new 5th generation LS500 flagship sedan is available, offering more power, comfort and safety than its predecessor.
For about 3 decades, the LS Lexus has been recognized as a very successful car for its great reliability, smoothness, luxury, and quality. Besides its great qualities, the LS is available at an affordable price for its segment.
LS 500
The LS name means Luxury Sedan. The LS has set industry standards for craftsmanship, performance and long-term quality.
The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that have been available for sale since 1989. In the past all LS models used V8 engines, however the new 5th generation comes with V6 engine standard. The first LS, the original LS 400 was very successful and helped to establish the brand Lexus, almost 30 years ago.
The New 2018 LS 500
The new redesign LS sedan is longer, lower and wider than the previous versions, the new LS is designed with bold lines blending into a coupe-like beautiful silhouette. Lexus reimagined its global flagship full sedan creating the completely new 2018 LS500.
It is attractive, beautiful, original, safe and powerful, very Lexus!
These are some of the highlights of the new LS 500:
- A new design with coupe-like silhouette, but with large interior space
- A new platform for the best agility and comfort
- A new twin-turbo powerful V6 engine with 416 horsepower
- A new 10-speed automatic transmission
- A new Lexus Safety System A (Advanced) Package available for safer and better driving
The new LS500 is build using a brand-new platform, the all-new premium rear-wheel drive platform (GA–L) first used for the 2018 LC 500. This new GA-L platforms offers a dynamic experience on the road with an outstanding level of comfort and luxury.
The power of the LS is provided by a standard new 3.5-liter, twin turbocharged engine V6, with a high 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Very powerful, strong and exceptional compared to similar cars. The previous LS models delivered less than 400 hp and 400 lb-ft, using a V8 engine. The new VS engine is superior and more powerful.
The new 2018 Lexus LS 500 was named 2017 EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Interior Design, at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit
Models:
- LS 500
- LS 500 H
- LS 500 Sport
Price:
Base prices for the LS500 starts at 75,000 dollars, increasing to $84,220 dollars for the top trims of the LS. There are packages and options available for an additional price. The 75K base price is still very affordable compared to other cars on the same segment.
According to Lexus, the 2018 Lexus LS will provide car buyers more for their money. With a starting base price of $75,000, ($3,820 less than the 2017 model), but offering more power, comfort and safety.
| Model | Starting MSRP Price |
| 2018 Lexus LS 500 | $75,000 RWD / $78,220 AWD |
Hybrid
I am always in favor of hybrid and electric cars as most of us agree that is the future of cars.
The 2018 hybrid version, LS 500H, with a base price of $79,510, comes with an amazing 600 miles of range on a single tank. Unbelievable! you can drive 600 miles without having to stop to refill the gas tank!
The LS500 hybrid is powered by a compact, lightweight lithium-ion battery and a new Multistage Hybrid System, that combines a naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with two electric motor/generators. This hybrid technology can deliver around 354 horsepower, and creates the feel of a 10-speed automatic transmission for a more responsive driving experience.
The LS not only offers unsurpassed performance, style and luxury, its competitive pricing makes it a great value as well,” said Lexus Group Vice President and Division General Manager, Jeff Bracken.
The interior ambient lighting of the LS 500 is modern and beautiful, inspired by Japanese lanterns. The interior wood patters feature strong contrasts of light.
For those who want more pleasure for their passengers on the road, you can add the optional Executive Package providing more luxury in the rear seats, with optional heating and massage
Advanced Safety Features
Every LS 500 includes a comprehensive Lexus Safety System.
This standard Lexus Safety system includes:
- Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection
- Intelligent High Beam headlamps (IHB)
- Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and
- All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Also available an enhanced safety package called Lexus Safety System A (Advanced) that adds the following safety features:
- Pedestrian Alert
- Active Steering Assist
- Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)
- Road Sign Assist (RSA)
- Lane Departure Alert with road edge detection and Lexus CoDrive, which bundles Lane Trace Assist and All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) together.
Conclusion
The new 2018 Lexus LS has been created with the luxury inspiration of Japanese architecture, with harmony in design, comfort for all passengers, providing a feeling of driving-flying a private airplane on the road. The new 5th generation comes supercharged with several innovations and a new design with a silhouette similar to that of a coupe but with the spaciousness of full size sedan, a luxury mix of design and quality.
Driving the LS500 around Miami, let me enjoy this luxury sedan along the beautiful ocean, beaches and nature of Miami. Driving through the congested highways of Miami allowed me to test the performance of the LS more in deep, having to maneuver, use the breaks or compression more often, changing speed often and changing lanes to understand the real power of the LS500. As I finalize my drive my main thoughts are of loving the LS. It is a great luxury machine.
The 2018 Lexus LS500 can compete back to back with all luxury European, American and other International cars. Each car has its own pros and cons, if we were going to compare each detail of the LS500 with some of the most prestigious European cars, it will be a very hard match.
My conclusion is that the LS500 is a great car to drive, luxury, fun and responsive, safe and smooth. Not only luxury but also very efficient and versatile, a great car to drive on the city or highways.
