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Lexus LS 430 flagship sedan scores with world-class luxuries
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. -- In the real world, no one would take a two-ton luxury sedan -- particularly one as sophisticated as the new LS 430 Lexus flagship packed with high-tech mechanical hardware, elaborate safety gear and sumptuous appointments in leather and wood -- and toss it around on the curclicues of a race course.
But the twisty loop at Wisconsin's Road America track in Elkhart Lake enabled us to push the big Lexus to its limits in relative safety while we profiled its performance in triple-digit speeds on long straights, like the aptly named Speed Trap, and tested its agility through broad sweepers like the Carousel at turn nine and quick-cut corners such as the twelfth turn in Thunder Valley.
What these track laps revealed is that Lexus in this latest iteration of the LS series has created a large sedan of supreme quality, functioning conventionally as a cushy limousine-like hauler yet also able to act up with sporty tricks like an assertive touring car.
It's a dreamboat design, stretched to provide more space for riders and equipped with elaborate luxury and comfort features, then armed with advanced mechanical systems linked to smart computer processors that can out-think and out-perform other vehicles.
Previous editions in the LS series, which trace back a decade in the history of Lexus, scored benchmarks for the quality of construction and customer satisfaction, but this version -- a new generational treatment featuring world-class aerodynamics and incredible production quality -- sets new records with fast performance figures and a long list of equipment that removes all vestiges of work from the experience of driving.
There's only one version available in the new design and only one powertrain, but that's all you need.
The high-tech aluminum engine, displacing 4.3 liters and equipped with four cams, channels 290 hp and as much as 320 lb-ft of torque through an electronically-controlled five-speed automatic transmission.
It launches the Lexus from zero to 60 mph in six seconds and through the quarter-mile mark in under 15. The top speed, capped electronically due to tire constraints, reaches 131 mph.
A special Intuitive Powertrain Control module for the engine analyzes various performance figures such as throttle demand, vehicle speed and engine load before calculating and delivering a precise amount of torque for changing driving conditions. Essentially, the intelligent system can tame the driver's varying throttle commands and deliver a smoother flow of power.
Don't try to hear that engine, though, because this LS surpasses earlier editions in damping mechanical vibrations and insulating the passenger cabin from external noise. No automaker matches Lexus in fostering such a serene and rattle-free environment.
The new design extends the wheelbase by three inches and raises the roof by an inch and a half to hew more room inside for riders while also holding the overall length of the vehicle to the figure of the earlier edition. These structural variations result in a large cabin tucked between the extended hood and curt tail, although shapely new skin makes the LS look longer, lower and, with its chiseled face adding a bold grille and stepped hood design, substantial.
A bright bead of chrome rings the trapezoidal grille, set between large triangular headlamp clusters that extend around each front corner. Below, a chin-forward bumper also contains a thin strip of chrome above the broad air intake port and corner fog lamps. Hard edgework beside the grille forms stepped creases that run up the hood to the windshield and elevate the central hood section above side shoulders.
Other body shapes seem subtle in a conservative course with shoulders bending into flat side panels. The tilt of front windshield pillars is not severe, center pillars fade to black to imitate the lines of a smooth coupe, and curvaceous back pillars descend seamlessly into flanks. A conventional rump, with the flat deck squared against a vertical rear panel, contains enlarged corner taillamps and conceals what amounts to generous space in the trunk.
Even with the subtle linear styling, streamlining is so slick that the LS achieves the lowest aerodynamic rating of any production vehicle. It cuts through the air so smoothly that it virtually eliminates wind noise.
The smooth exterior form is also enhanced by the remarkable fit of body panels, with mesh tolerances now ten times more precise than on the previous sedan.
Inside an expanded cabin, the LS 430 rates as one of the most luxurious environments in the world of cars. Yet it's also a sophisticated space stocked with high-tech equipment and power-activated gadgets designed to make the experience of driving and riding safe, comfortable and sometimes even sensuous.
The layout contains two front bucket seats and a center console where the automatic shifter gate stands. In the rear, a three-person bench has sculptured sections for two flanking a fold-down armrest with padded storage bin and a control panel that operates heated rear seats, a compact disc player and the rear climate system.
An optional Ultra Luxury Package applies extra equipment like a laser-guided cruise control system, sonar-based parking guide and a navigation system with DVD-ROM database and dashboard touch screen.
The navigation system also incorporates controls for climate and audio systems. All variables and instructions show up on the screen as bold and legible icons that simplify operations, and you can also use voice commands to direct the action.
Further luxury touches with the package include an internal blower in front seats to circulate heated or cooled air, and a heat element for the rear bench with back massager and seatback power adjustments. A power-operated sunscreen stands at the rear window, with manual screens in rear doors.
The Ultra Luxury Package also applies adaptive variable road-sensing suspension damping to further isolate the passenger compartment from changing external conditions, while an optional Euro-style touring suspension sets shock damping to the firm side for a sporty feel.
Elaborate safety systems go into the LS 430, beginning with frontal and seat-mounted side air bags plus curtain side air bags concealed above the four side windows.
High Intensity Discharge headlamps, rain-sensing windshield wipers and front side window glass that repels water -- all help a driver see more clearly, as daytime running lights enable others to see the Lexus on the road.
Vehicle controls include anti-lock brakes with extra brake force automatically added during panic stops, and an advanced vehicle skid control system unites the anti-lock brakes and traction controller with a computer that can correct oversteer or understeer when cornering.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 LEXUS LS430 Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size luxury sedan
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| Model Options: |
Full-size luxury sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
115.2 inches
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| Overall Length: |
196.7 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 4.3-liter V8
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5
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| Drive: |
Rear
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/EBD/
TCS/VSC
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
+ 4 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
18/25 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 54,000 to $ 68,000 |
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