Lexus LS (XF40): The Fourth-Generation Flagship and Its LS 600h Hybrid

The Lexus LS (XF40) was the fourth generation of Lexus's full-size luxury sedan, and it served as the company's flagship from 2006 until production ended in October 2017. It introduced the L-finesse design language to the LS and was offered with a petrol V8 and, from 2006, a hybrid V8 that paired a 5.0-litre engine with electric motors. The car won the World Car of the Year award in 2007.

When did the Lexus LS (XF40) launch?

The LS 460 debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006. The LS 600h L followed at the New York International Auto Show in April 2006. Series manufacture began at Tahara, Aichi, in August 2006, and the car remained in production until October 2017.

The XF40 succeeded the XF30 LS. Development began around 2001, and it was led by Takeshi Yoshida, Lexus's managing officer for research and development, with Satoru Maruyamano as chief engineer. Approximately 2,000 engineers were involved in the project under the codename XF40.

Lexus planned to sell 30,000 LS 460s a year in the United States, with about 65 percent of those expected to be standard wheelbase cars. The LS 600h was projected to contribute around 1,500 sales a year. Five years after development began, the car reached showrooms.

A 2006 flagship with L-finesse styling and a hybrid V8 that reached 439 hp.

How was the XF40 designed?

The XF40 was designed under Yo Hiruta, who worked with the L-finesse design philosophy first introduced with the GS in 2001. The LS was the first model in the range to carry L-finesse styling cues. Its drag coefficient was Cd 0.26, the same as the previous LS.

The body was offered in two wheelbase versions. The short wheelbase car was the LS 460, and the long wheelbase version carried an L at the end of its name. The LS 460 L was 121.9 mm (4.8 in) longer than the LS 460, and its rear passenger doors were noticeably longer to match.

Design patents for the exterior, including the front and rear fascias, side windows and lights, were filed on 3 October 2005. The car was also designed with a fastback rear decklid, a grille set slightly below the headlamps and chrome arrow-shaped trim.

What was special about the XF40's build and finish?

The fenders were pressed using a 5200-ton press, which was the strongest stamping press in the world when it was introduced. Both window frames were die-cast in zinc, chrome plated and polished by hand. Adaptive headlamps sat in hand-polished surrounds.

Body panels were prepared by a six-axis buffing robot with 3D movements, and the paint finish was wet-sanded twice by hand between layers. The steering wheel was buffed for three hours during production, which gave the leather a smoother finish than earlier models.

Interior wood veneer was laminated to aluminium rather than fibreglass by Yamaha's piano craftsmen. A 16-way heated and cooled driver's seat was available, and the car was offered with an Executive seating package on long-wheelbase models.

What equipment did the XF40 offer?

The interior included a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, with a 30 GB hard drive capable of holding about 2,000 songs. Keyless SmartAccess with push-button start and an Optitron instrument panel with a TFT multi-information display were also standard.

Driver-assist features included Intelligent Parking Assist, which could park the car at the push of a button, along with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and a Brake Hold button. The Lane Keeping Assist feature was not available on the LS 600h because of its LED headlamps.

Safety equipment included the next-generation Pre-Crash system, which first appeared on the fourth-generation LS. The rear Pre-Crash system was the first active rear collision safety feature fitted to a car. The Driver Monitoring System debuted on the LS 600h L and used a camera on the steering column to track driver attention.

How did the LS 460 engine perform?

The LS 460 used a 4.6-litre 1UR-FSE V8 producing 283 kW (380 hp; 385 PS), with 498 N-m (367 lb-ft) of torque on tap. It introduced the first production eight-speed automatic transmission, and it also featured an automatic parking system.

The standard LS 460 reached 97 km/h from rest in 5.4 seconds, a figure that the heavier long-wheelbase car did not quite match. The long-wheelbase LS 460 L added up to 113 kg (250 lb) of weight to the standard car.

How did the LS 600h hybrid work?

The LS 600h used a 5.0-litre 2UR-FSE V8 with two electric motors and nickel-metal hydride battery packs. Its total system output was 327 kW (439 hp; 445 PS), which was not a simple sum of the V8 and motor figures. The second motor-generator produced 165 kW (221 hp; 224 PS) on its own.

The powertrain used a two-stage continuously variable transmission, with a three-mode power switch for hybrid, power and snow modes. An additional EV mode allowed silent driving under electric power alone. The first motor started the petrol engine and charged the battery and the second motor.

The hybrid was the first production V8 full hybrid vehicle. It was launched at the New York show in April 2006 as the LS 600h L, and the standard wheelbase LS 600h followed in Japan in May 2007 for Asia and Europe.

How did the LS hybrids compare on emissions and tax?

According to EPA tests and the European combined cycle, fuel economy was slightly higher than the lower-powered non-hybrid LS. The LS 600h L also received a US Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle rating.

The LS 600h was listed in the United Kingdom's Vehicle Excise Duty band F. Japanese drivers paid the top level of road tax, the same amount that Toyota Century owners paid.

Hybrid-only features included the first production low beam LED headlights in the US market, a leather-trimmed dash and blue-tinted badging. The standard key fob could be swapped for a thin wallet-sized smart card.

Who bought the LS 600h and what did it cost?

Lexus announced in April 2007 that the base price of the LS 600h L would be over US$104,000. That made it more expensive than the V12-equipped Toyota Century as the most costly Japanese flagship sedan ever built. It was the first Lexus to enter the United States ultra-luxury segment.

Demand was strong. By March 2007 the initial US allocation was nearly sold out, with 1,850 preorders placed months before the car arrived. Lexus had targeted 7,000 hybrids worldwide for the first year, and as of October 2007 it had sold 6,093 LS 600h models worldwide.

Corporate buyers purchased the hybrid for emissions reductions, and it also served as an official state car. A redesign of the rear battery area in 2008 increased trunk space by 20 percent.

How did the XF40 change in 2009 and 2013?

The 2009 update, for the 2010 model year, added redesigned front and rear fascias, an updated interior and an active Eco Mode. The Sport version, the LS 460 Sport, arrived on the rear-wheel drive standard wheelbase model with sport-tuned air suspension and Brembo brakes.

The 2013 update was the most significant of the car's life. It incorporated the new Lexus corporate fascia, with the spindle grille, a redesigned hood, reshaped front fenders and headlamps, and a new bumper. The sport package was renamed F Sport and was offered with all-wheel drive as well as rear-wheel drive.

The 2013 refresh involved 1,000 engineers and replaced 3,000 out of 6,000 new parts. Production ended in October 2017, when the XF50 LS took over.

Were there any special or concept versions?

Neiman Marcus offered 100 LS 600h L Launch Edition cars. For the 2009 model year, a 50-unit Pebble Beach Edition was built in partnership with the Pebble Beach Company. In 2011 an LS 600h L was converted to a landaulet for the wedding of Albert II of Monaco.

The LF-Sh concept was shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show and previewed the design of the XF40. The LS TMG prototype, built by Toyota Motorsport GmbH, was spotted testing on the Nurburgring. Its 5.0-litre V8 was rated at 478 kW (641 hp; 650 PS), and it made 710 N-m (524 lb-ft).

What awards did the LS win?

The LS 460 was named World Car of the Year at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. Judges said the car was the embodiment of the Lexus pursuit of perfection. Other honours included the SAE 2007 Best Engineered Vehicle award and Luxury Car of the Year at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

The LS 600h won Top Gear's Limo of the Year in 2006, and the LS 600h L received the CAA Pyramid Award for Safety Innovation. Forbes listed the LS 600h L among its top ten least-polluting luxury cars.

What are the Lexus LS (XF40) specifications?