2010 DETROIT AUTO SHOW: Detroit Or Bust! Part II - Is The Lexus LS AWD System Up To Snuff?

It's the first chance we've had to review the AWD version.

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I'm kinda curious about all the reports and my own (many) encounters of Audis with half of their LED daytime running lights broken. I wonder if there's a warning that shows up between the speedo and the tach.

Lexus detuned the engines for the AWD LS by a lot. Apparently, it's still the same multi-port fuel-injection, yet it has less horsepower than the 4.6L without direct-injection that Lexus sells in the Middle East.
Why is that?!
Don't they have AWD systems for the LS hybrid that has more horsepower and the LX 570 that has more torque? Is it that the new AWD system is very delicate? This is weirder than Lexus' not offering GS 460 with direct-injection and AWD and the IS 350 with AWD.

It is to keep the fuel economy on par with the other LS models

Agreed, why can't we have an IS 350 with AWD?

I was expecting your review of the system. Why am I being asked for my review. I dont know. (lazy)! lol

I asked for anyone who had experience with their personal vehicle to speak up. Not laziness.

You will get the review but exercise some patience before posting ;)

p.s. the highlander vs audi video was stupid.

1) there is substantial video editing and after it shows the audi being stuck for a while, magically, the snow looks like there was a paved track letting it pull out easily.

2) the presenter failed to show the badging of the toyota so the audience could see if it was really AWD, like he zoomed in on the quattro badging of the audi

3) from the looks of that biased review, it seems like the highlander was indeed only fwd

I dunno, it looks like the audi plowed itself that "magic" area in front of it when it was going back and forth.

Took an A8 4.2 TDI from Frakfurt to Berlin/ Berlin to Warsaw {Poland}/ Warsaw to Poznan/ Poznan to Munich. All in Dec 2009 and there was decent amount of snow and Black Ice on the roads.

A8 tracked straight and true all the way there and back and even gave me the confidence to do deliberate oversteers at Entry and Exit Ramps at night when roads were less busy.

Clocked 250kph on Polish Motorway with Outside temp at 0c and medium rain so no complaints.

Also Drove A6 3.2 Quattro from NY to Toronto and Back in Jan/Feb 2008 and again Horrible Wintry weather and Black Ice on the roads in Upstate Ny, Never had any problems and was overtaking Suvs and Police Vehicles sliding all over the place { For once they could not pull me over for speeding as 60mph was all i was doing, all they could muster without crashing was 35-40mph}

Have not had a chance to test BMWs X drive or Mercs 4-Matic on their Sedans so can not comment.

Look a German magazine Autobild tested the Lexus AWD against MB and BMW I drive and Audi Quattro in Germany and found it was as useless as tits on a bull and quite awful and cheaply done, and sends very little power to the front wheels and has open differentials and is downright horrifying. My dad's lawyer has a Lexus LS460 and it has been to the shop about 10 times in the past year for electronic failures and issues and he hates it and misses his old Infiniti M35X!

Come on, an LS in the shop 10 times?
The AWD in the LS is not bad, but it is not great. I would have to say the BMW Xdrive system is superior
after driving both on the same day in similar snowy
conditions. I also have experience with Subaru's system and would say it drives very well also, but the BMW system inspires more confidence in the bad weather.

Yep 10 times...had the whole navigation system replaced and some other tranny computer and engine computer issues. Car kept going into limp mode...even the japs mess up and build a lemon once in a while. My favorite sedan of the bunch is the New Maserati Quattroporte, it is a simpler electronics package then the others and major mechanical failures are nill since they have a Ferrari beefed up motor and a new ZF gearbox. Who would have thought a SIMPLER Italian car could be more reliable then a gadget laden Lexus! Less parts...less things go KAPUT!

I have drive the 4matic, Quattro, and X Drive. IMO, the X Dirve react faster and allows more traction, the Quattro seem more assuring but it seem to do so by using the ESP system more. The 4matic is well, adequate but feels a generation behind.