2007 Lexus LS460 Breakthrough or near-miss?

The broader shoulders of the LS460 are subtly familiar, bringing to mind the new Mercedes S-Class. But BMW is clearly also a strong influence in the rear, with the 460's high decklid unmistakably reminiscent of the 7-Series' "Bangle butt."
===================================================

^This^ will provoke a flame war.

The 460's safety package is extensive. Mercedes introduced the concept of Pre-Safe several years ago, and Lexus has taken it a step further. The concept is designed to not wait for an accident to occur, but to actually predict when one is imminent and then take the necessary steps to either avoid it or protect the car's occupants.
===============================================

This is incorrect. The Mercedes Pre-Safe system "doesn't wait" for the accident to occur. Upon sensing a loss of control, Pre-Safe engages. Whoever wrote this got the MB Pre-Safe function wrong.

This is the difference. The S-Class only protects, the LS tries to either protect OR avoid.
==================================================

No. The Pre-Safe system of Mercedes PROTECTS as well. The seat belts tighter, the front bumper extends outward etc. Also, if there is a crash, Pre-Safe apparently sends out an SOS message to the nearest hospital.

BOTH the LS and S-Class systems protect. Anyway, let's go argue in some other threads. We've already added 7 comments to this thread. ;)

Will, I can read. The S-Class system "tries to avoid" as well using ESP to reinforce braking etc. Sure, the LS might have that extra something in its safety system, but I was merely correcting the mistake of the editor of this article.

The LS is a near miss, no doubt.

No they're not. You try to use every positive statement about Lexus we German car fans post to claim we are contradicting.

I never said either one was better, I firstly corrected the mistake about MB's Pre-Safe, and secondly, acknowledge that the Lexus' system offers "that little bit more". My God, I am a Lexus lover!

My comments about Lexus are nothing more than some of the comments from your fellow "unbiased" Lexus trolls here. I am merely giving them a piece of their own medicine - and lowering myself to their level in the process.

And I don't think there were implications in my post that favored the S-Class system. None whatsoever. I first off corrected the mistake of the editor. Period.

Ladies, LADIES!! Can we please just get along :-)

Anyhow, I think this new LS is going to be a hit. Why? Because Toyota looks for what people like, and gives it to them and them some! Some people call it copying, I call it genius. This is a business, and all business owners would like to umm...you know...make a profit.

well well,
to those who say lexus pioneers everything and both the sun and the flat earth revolve around the ls series:

just another 10 mins please then you can take your foot out of your mouth, and pat yourselves on the back. anyone who can say this car is crap or overrated, or a bad vehicle is also a moron.

its really a double standard to say that this car company copied everything they do off your fav car company, and then say its a pos. thats like saying your car is a pos if this is a "mirror image".

they took what every1 liked about the diff companys and combined them into one fabulous car. and i dont like lexus. but it is a nice car and priced 10-15k under the 7 series.

i dont think their saftey system is any better than mercedes either. its practically the same thing. and the sos thing has been out for a long time, its called EARS at chrysler and onstar at gm etc.

Coming off of your egotistical BMW high now?
===============================================

No. I am not a BMW owner who is a snob. But I could name you a few Lexus owners who are total trolls. Guess what? Some of them even post here: in this thread.

Technically, isn't a near-miss a hit? I mean if you nearly missed something then you have actually hit it, correct?

I must say, you BMW people aree full of "magic" aren't you?
=======================================

Before we can buy a BMW, we have to go to magic school...

The LS460 will be extremely successful judging by the amount of deposits I have from current Mercedes owners who are extremely tired of the seemingly endless problems they have with their cars, and the arrogance of the dealer/manufacturer when they try to have the situation remedied.

Logical, is it really wise to take these three statements: a miss. Clearly. derivative style (BMW) and clinical approach (Whirlpool) with marginal and idiotic technology (self park) make this a wannna be. And believe you have summed up a monumental achievement by millions of man hours to take the LS concept and go beyont it from virtually every perspective? I think the car deserves more than this. Have you driven it? I have.

The Lexus is no BMW. We can clearly say that.

Thank god, otherwise we'd be stuck with I-drive.

that car looks waaaaaaay too much like the 7.

Then the 7 is bland if the LS is bland. Or is it.

Wait, how many of you have actually seen this car in person. Driven it? Lexus cars do not look as great in pictures as they do in real life. I believe the LS is going to be a very understated but "nice" looking car. I personally really like the look of the Audi A8L as well because it designed under the same philosophy, understated but beautiful

Toylexus LS460 looks a lot like the new Camry. BORING!!

Toylexus LS460 looks a lot like the new Camry. BORING!!
==================================================

Looks better than the 7-series IMO. ;)

BMW530i.....

I'm so confident the Toylexus LS460 doesn't even come close to looking better than the BMW 7 series. That I will guarantee the 7 Series will out sell this car and take home the most appealing large luxury vehicle in it's class!!!

Near miss.

It was a good effort from Lexus, but there's a piece of the puzzle that's still not there with this car. I have no grudge against Lexus. But I just don't desire this car in the least bit. The three from Germany are just so much more compelling.

Perhaps when I see one on the road I'll think differently, but this car just isn't doing a thing for me. S550, any day.

BM3W-

But then the new A8 will come out a year later to trump the 7 Series (like it has in the current generation), and then the S-Class will come, etc, etc...

^^^absolutely nothing^^^

No, Will. It's the style. I want a luxury sedan to have a distinctive style; the LS lacks this more than any other car in the class.

The last-generation LS430 was hideous to some and inoffensive to others. It wasn't a standout besides the fact it could go 90mph silently; but then again, so could the A8 and S-Class. I thought Lexus would take this as a chance to truly show the world that they can design cars. I was left coldly disappointed.

If I hated Lexus because of "prestige", don't you think I'd have a Mercedes instead of an Audi and the wife would have a Range Rover instead of a Lexus?

You can't use that against me with the article I just wrote, Will. You just can't.

And if I really cared that much about "prestige", I would have blown my $65K off on an E500 and go off to be arrogant.

But you along with everyone else has said it yourself! "Even Audi is more prestigious than Lexus." Right?



you are right indeed, will.

what planet is this guy from? most audis are just GUSSIED UP VWs. and the volume models (not sold in the u.s. lest they "dilute the image") are just econoboxes.

even mb and bmw make econoboxes too, in europe and their home market.

but now EVERY LEXUS car is a LEXUS. even the ES series, from a generation back, is NOT a camry derivative anymore. it was designed FIRST, and the camry instead is based on the ES. (which explains why it is so successful)

m-b, more than the others, is so concerned about "image dilution" it doesn't offer the less prestigious models in the U.S. nor it's busses. nor its trucks.

LEXUS doesn't have to worry about that. the ONLY thing the germans have (aside from captive ex-brit brands) anywhere comparable to lexus in EXCLUSIVE PRESTIGIOUSNESS, is the Maybach.