Lexus dream team

THERE ARE 3,000 new reasons to like the LS, and the spindle grille is foremost among them.

The buzz of that particular moment was the American dream team of superstar basketball players competing thousands of miles away in the London Olympics on a hot and humid August afternoon in Silicon Valley, San Francisco. The timing was perfect.

Inside the ritzy Four Seasons Hotel, right at the heart of the technological hub, the men in their dapper business suits wasted no time rattling off to wide-eyed Asian journalists the merits of their own power-packed dream team: the new 2013 LS model range of Lexus including the LS 460, the LS 460 L (long wheelbase), LS 600 hybrid and the all-new F Sport.

Based on the predilections of the Lexus top guys, this new lineup is a cinch for a victorious run with the form and substance that the Lexus brand stands for. Not to forget that the LS is the flagship Lexus brand, the same car that started everything in a blaze of glory for the Japanese company back in the days when the exports from Europe was firmly entrenched as top-of-mind brand.

On the heels of the high-profile launches of the GS and ES models, it’s a given that this new iteration of the large luxury sedan considered a car of choice among company CEOs, business tycoons and, well, those who have been so lucky in life, should draw attention for all the heritage and historical success it carries: more than 730,000 units sold so far in its 23-year, four-generation existence.

Americans, being the most wide and discerning users of Lexus, and those from the rest of the world will be glad to find out that there is much more to the new lineup of the LS than hype. There is solid proof to the claim that the LS, powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine so meticulously crafted by Lexus engineers, is among the most quiet and most comfortable cars in the world.

Kiyotaka Ise, president of Lexus International, attests the internal and external changes of the LS, saying  at least half of its 6,000 parts are new, including three world first, and at least 15 Lexus first, features and technical innovations.

“The LS has evolved with the times and the bold new design reflects how Lexus is evolving,” he said.

INQUIRER motoring editor Jong Arcano (left) with television host David Celdran, Lexus Asia Pacific head Paul Carroll, C! Magazine editor James Deakin, and Toyota Motor Philippines vice president for marketing Sherwin Chua Lim at a dinner during LS’s launch.

So true, and the group given an exclusive sneak peek of the new LS simply got tired counting the 3,000 new ways this evolution was perfected.

The spindle grille becomes the most visible change in the LS and for a reason. As it now carries the fascia of the entire Lexus lineup, the spindle grille provides a literally bold face and frontal look that complements the new hood design of the LS. The spindle’s three-dimensional form gives instantaneous recognition at first glance for a Lexus, a masterpiece that is bound to endure the test of time.

While every car manufacturer is getting into LED lighting, the LS raises the bar with not just a full-LED projector headlamp but an all-LED exterior lighting that is another first-time feature for a Lexus.

There is reason to fall in love with the LS dashboard as the 2013 Lexus LS lineup now boasts a 12.3-inch high resolution infotainment screen—the industry’s largest so far. Another unique feature is that it is controlled by the computer mouse-style “Remote Touch” system on the center console.

The bottom line in every executive sedan lies on how the so-called big boss inside the cabin gets his money’s worth. And it’s in the confines of the rear seat that the LS earns its well-deserved gold medal.

Rear seating in the LS was designed with the pleasure of the occupant foremost in mind as different variations and adjustments with the fully retractable ottoman seat come in handy. Instant massage is also available after a tiring day at work for the passenger, the kind of air-assisted massage system carried by the most sought massage chairs in the market.

Ever heard of a climate concierge? It’s that thing that is usually accorded to guests of the most expensive hotel suites operated by a flick of the finger. Lexus engineers have made it a prominent feature on the LS as 13 sensors ensure automatic adjustments on the climate for the thermal comfort of its passengers at the front and rear seats. On the walls of the cabin are 20 individual outlets distributing the choice of warm or cold air.

Add to this the marked improvements on the engine, road and wind noise sound insulation (made possible by the Lexus-first, hollow chamber noise reduction wheels) and anyone inside gets that feeling of ultimate indulgence.

There’s more to the cabin nirvana as the LS’s beautifully crafted interior is complimented by the world’s first Advanced Illumination System (AIS), featuring new, Champagne White interior lamps and dynamic LED instrument panel lighting. Enjoyment beckons with such perks as the Lexus Navigation System and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson.

A business-class feel and ambiance awaits the privileged passenger of the 5090-millimeter long vehicle. The chauffeur just needs to do his job of obeying the traffic rules and all the technological innovations of the LS from the improvement of chassis rigidity, to tuned shock absorbers and better steering and braking systems will take care of the pleasure ride on board the LS.

All things considered, the LS’s 2013 lineup launched at Silicon Valley was about the idea of rivaling the star of the moment.

That brings up the significance of bringing the guests of the LS launch to an exclusive tour of the Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto.

Maybe that “Like” is now one of the world’s most used and popular word nowadays, at least for the netizens?

Add that word to the thumbs-up logo of Facebook and the free-wheeling working conditions inside the social media company and they should all represent the symbolism of what Lexus desires for the future of the LS.

It’s just that the LS is the Lexus Star.