Competent in most areas, the big Lexus is phenomenal in the powertrain department.
This department has only two employees but needs no others. The 4.6-liter V8 is rated for 380 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 367 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm, and it's paired with an eight-speed automatic that drives the rear wheels.
Ordinarily, the powertrain employees go about their tasks unobtrusively, as the V8 scarcely makes a sound and the transmission short-shifts through its gears. But press the accelerator pedal to the floor and you'll whip them into a quiet frenzy.
The LS 460 L accelerates to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and reaches the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds. This performance doesn't seem particularly noteworthy until you realize the L model is not only as quick as the standard-wheelbase model, but also quicker than both the BMW 750i and Mercedes-Benz S550.
Fact is, you won't find a faster extended-length luxury sedan unless you consider a car with something really exotic under the hood.
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