2007 Lexus LS Review

The all-new 2007 Lexus LS 460 is more powerful (by 37%), more luxurious, and more refined than the best-selling LS 430 it replaces. And thanks to its standard eight-speed automatic transmission, it's more efficient as well.

Lexus's flagship sedan comes in standard and long wheelbases, both being equipped with the usual top-end luxury features: alloy wheels, HID headlights, a sunroof, power everything, rain-sensing wipers, heated seats with memory, and automatic climate control. The LS 460L adds headlamp washers, heated rear seats, satellite radio, a rear sunshade and a navigation system, as well as increased rear seating room.

Safety is more than covered on both styles, with front and side air bags, front and rear curtain bags, and even front knee bags The four-wheel disc brakes not only have ABS, but also electronic control braking, electronic brake force distribution, and brake assist to help stopping power.

Most of the features that come standard on the L can be added to the base style, and both cars can order the Mark Levinson surround sound system that now comes with a 30G hard drive and 19 speakers.

Options specific to the long wheelbase are the much-publicized Advanced Parking Guidance System (which enables the car to park itself), larger alloy wheels, and air suspension. An Executive Class Seating Package is available as well. This $12,675 option turns the rear interior into a top-of-the-line luxury car, adding climate controlled seats with memory and a massager, a reclining seat, a DVD entertainment system, rear door sunshades, a chilled storage compartment, an air purifier, and a wood-trimmed table.

Lexus has never directly copied the German way of building a top-level luxury sedan. Instead they trade a bit of road feel for a quieter and more comfortable ride. Add in Lexus's renowned reliability and customer service and it's no wonder the LS is perennially one of the top-selling cars in its segment.
The Lexus LS 460 is all new for 2007. The regular wheelbase LS 460 sedan comes equipped with a moonroof, HID headlights, and electrochromic heated power mirrors, along with the usual standard items found on high end luxury autos. The LS 460L offers almost five more inches of length, with most of those five inches being added to the rear seat leg room as well as more interior features.

The 4.6L V8 engine (a step up from the 2006 LS 430's 4.3L) makes 380 horsepower and puts out 367 ft-lbs of torque thanks to double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and a dual fuel injection system. It is backed up by the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission. The available Advanced Parking Guidance System also claims to turn the LS 460 into the world's first self-parking car. see less