Saturday, August 11, 2012

First Drive: 2013 Lexus LS [w/video]

First Drive: 2013 Lexus LS [w/video]:
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Japan's Premier Luxury Cruiser Now Comes With An Enthusiast Option



2013 Lexus LS



In 1990, Nissan and Toyota both entered the luxury market with two new brands, each boasting a flagship premium full-size sedan. The Infiniti Q45 was aimed at the enthusiast with a powerful V8, limited-slip differential and a multi-link suspension. The Lexus LS 400, on the other hand, was all about luxury. The automaker surrounded its buttery-smooth V8 with aerodynamic (if banal) bodywork and lined its cabin with premium leather and fine wood.



Thanks to a clear message, a strong advertising campaign and a product solid enough to back both, Lexus sold more than 40,000 units that first year. Infiniti, in sharp contrast, was never able to capture the same momentum. By 1995, Lexus had introduced an all-new second-generation LS, followed by an all-new third-generation model six years later - and each introduction only served to drive the nails deeper into the Q45's coffin. By the time the fourth-generation LS arrived in 2007, the Infiniti Q45 was gone, and Infiniti nearly with it.



The Lexus LS continued to develop. What was originally a rear-wheel-drive sedan evolved into a model range of rear- and all-wheel-drive sedans, short- and long-wheelbase, with a choice of gasoline or hybrid drivetrains. The automaker's flagship continued to lead with technological innovation and unsurpassed luxury - but it still lacked a sporty quotient, a model seemingly necessary to run head-to-head with the Europeans.



All that will change in 2013. After a minor update in 2010, Lexus has unveiled a significant refresh for the new model year that encompasses all seven models in the lineup. But most importantly, the LS range now includes its first-ever performance-oriented model, the F Sport.
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2013 Lexus LS [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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