AAB today repeated history by announcing the launch of the all-new, fifth-generation LS500 & LS500h flagship sedan for 2018 in Qatar. Equipped with several world-firsts and Lexus’ first performance, design, and safety features, the new premium passenger car is set to not only win the hearts of the region’s luxury enthusiasts, but also redefine luxury driving in a more stylish manner. Combining painstaking craftsmanship with Lexus’ expertise and attention to detail, the flagship sedan embodies Lexus’ evolution as a luxury lifestyle brand committed to surprising and delighting its customers.
The event was attended by Dr. Nasser Abdulghani Al Abdulghani AAB Chairman & His Excellency, Seiichi Otsuka, Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar along with Mr. R.K Murugan AAB Chief Operating Officer-ACEO in addition to senior delegation from Lexus International and AAB Senior Management.
Setting yet another benchmark in driving dynamics, customer experience, and comfort, inside and out, the new LS reflects a strong, uniquely Japanese identity and approach to luxury, and offers innovative technology with a human touch. The all-new LS was designed to be the brand’s latest global citizen, available in over 90 countries.
“Not only will the LS symbolize the Lexus brand, but it will also become the definitive new-generation luxury car embodying Japanese tradition and culture. Developing such a flagship model required a massive paradigm shift. Rather than being bound by the conventions that had defined luxury cars in the past, we aimed to create a car with an innovative, emotional, and sensual appeal that would draw customers’ eyes away from other luxury cars and provide entirely new values,” said LS Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi.
Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “Considered to be in a new league of its own, the all-new LS sedan builds on the flagship vehicle’s enduring DNA for smooth and powerful performance, which in combination with its remarkable quietness and exceptional comfort, symbolizes the true essence of the LS. In addition to its styling that delivers a bold coupe silhouette while offering a spacious interior, the fifth-generation LS offers an emotional driving experience and is equipped with a host of cutting-edge technologies. In many ways, this LS flagship sedan exemplifies our new approach to create amazing experiences for our customers, and ignite their emotions through innovation that promises a truly engaging driving experience.”
“We express our deepest gratitude to our customers in the region for extending their constant support in the form of their utmost appreciation for Lexus models, which has encouraged us to push the boundaries of automobile design and engineering. We are confident that the LS flagship sedan will resonate strongly with luxury automotive enthusiasts in the region for whom driving is an emotionally enriching experience,” added Yoshitsugu.
The LS is built on the new Lexus Global Architecture―Luxury (GA-L) platform, which ensures a low center of gravity and optimum weight distribution, contributing to the car’s essential stability and handling agility, which in turn, deliver increased driver rewards. The high rigidity of the chassis allows the new multilink suspension to be tuned to achieve an excellent handling performance and the supreme comfort for which the LS is renowned.
The 2018 LS Hybrid takes an entirely different approach than the previous LS Hybrid model. The new state-of-the-art Multi Stage Hybrid System combines a naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with two electric motor/generators and uses a compact, lightweight lithium-ion battery. The combined system output of the internal combustion engine with the electric traction system is 354 hp.
The new system is based on the electronically controlled Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) transmission of Lexus Hybrid Synergy Drive, coupled with an all-new four-speed automatic gearset at the output stage. The two systems work together to expand the overall range of gearing and increase operation of the V6 engine across a wider speed range than previous hybrids. The result is impressive fuel economy, low emissions, and excellent on-road performance that will satisfy even the most demanding driving enthusiast.
The new LS will be available also with two engine options; a 3.5-liter V6 engine naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle producing 311 hp and 380 Nm of torque, and a newly developed 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 416 hp and 600 Nm of torque, and both mated to the first-ever 10-speed automatic transmission for a premium passenger car.
A common thread across all the LS models is Omotenashi; the concept of Japanese hospitality, and the all-new LS flagship sedan is no exception. In terms of a luxury automobile, it translates into adopting a human-focused approach to the vehicle, taking care of the driver and passengers, anticipating their needs, and attending to their comfort in every way possible. Some of the features through which the new LS achieves this are front and rear seats with multiple power adjustments, heating, cooling, and massage functions, rear seat arrangement that includes an extending leg ottoman and the most generous legroom of any LS generation, and a rear seat entertainment system with 11.6-inch screen auto-tilts to the optimum viewing angle.
As a flagship vehicle, pioneering a new age and aiming for the best safety performance in the world, the new LS unstintingly employs the latest safety technologies including the brand’s innovative Lexus Safety System+, in addition to a comprehensive array of safety features to protect its occupants, such as 14 SRS airbags, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA), among many others.
Furthermore, the 2018 LS debuts two new 19-inch wheel designs and three 20-inch wheel designs, two of which are also new, and feature run-flat tires designed to elevate vehicle and ride comfort. The 20-inch premium wheels employ a brilliant appearance created using an electroplating technique known as sputtering. All the new wheel designs feature a hollow rim structure that helps reduce resonant sounds generated by the tires.
The LS will be available in 13 distinctive exterior colors, including two new developed colors; Manganese Luster and Sonic Agate, which represent boldness, luminosity, and sophistication, to let customers express their individuality. On the other hand, the interior comes in a total of nine color schemes with nine choices of interior trim.