peteharvey

I'm sure it will change, and 2024 6LS will bounce back - just like the 2017-23 Camry became a much smoother riding and quieter car than the Akio sporty inspired 2011-17 Camry...

spwolf

I would argue two things - 2017 Camry is even more Akio inspired, and 2020 LS is already quieter

spwolf

p.s. I still remember article in Auto Bild in early 90's about LS400 - they called it cheap barge that is imitating S class miserably, and that it wallows so much that it might be unsafe to drive on windy roads.

mmarshall

Well, no, it didn't ride or corner like a Mazda Miata LOL.....but I wouldn't consider the 1Gen LS400 to be an excessive barge-wallower. In fact, its suspension was an excellent compromise of ride/handling....one of the car's numerous selling points. Back during that time period (early 90s) If you wanted a real wallower or classic barge, you looked no further than the Buick Roadmaster, Cadillac Fleetwood, or Lincoln Town Car.

SW17LS

I would be shocked if we saw a 6LS in 2024. Refresh 5LS sure, but I bet we dont see a 6LS until closer to 2027.

spwolf

i wouldnt be so sure... supposedly facelift of some kind is coming next year. but who knows really. I would guess that aside from LS-F coming, next gen will cater more to Chinese market that still buys sedans heavily.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I dont think we will see another LS. Maybe an abortion like a very souped up ES bearing the LS badge, but Lexus is no longer committed to building a true flagship.

SW17LS

I don’t think they will cancel the LS. The LS is iconic for Lexus, and even if they don’t sell great here they do elsewhere.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

if they cancel the LS the brand is done imho. moving the LS away from going head to head with S and 7 was already a weak move

mmarshall

I agree with Henry that keeping the LS is critical, although there is little question that the brand's bread-and-butter vehicles have become the ES and RX, not the LS. But the LS basically defined the Lexus brand for the first several years of its existence.

Stroock639

but wasn't it late because they tried to add extra features at the last minute after seeing how much the LS came with? also if all these years of watching top gear has taught me anything, it's that europeans will always have a bias toward defending the european product lol

i remember clarkson criticizing the LS essentially for being 'too good' and therefore lacking the unreliability and poor build quality soul of european cars at the time

but believe me i'm definitely not only relying on wikipedia for that, if you google wolfgang peter w140 you get a few results saying that he was fired over how the w140 was excecuted, although like you said that could've all stemmed from the original incorrect myth

SW17LS

The point is if the ES and RX define the brand, then the brand is no longer competing with MB and BMW

Stereorob

although its nice and everything, i think the LS500 is kind of a weird car and if history repeats itself it could end up like the LS430 with only a 5 year cycle.

i predict a next generation LS in 2024, hopefully looking like the LF-FC concept with a V8 under the hood.

tex2670

How is this different than any other lux brand? The flagship vehicle is never the "bread and butter" seller. What's the "bread and butter" seller for MB? C-Class and GLC? No one would say those models define MB--the S-Class does. Porsche sells way more Cayennes and Macans than 911s. Would you say the Cayenne "defines" Porsche? Or the 911 or even the Cayman? I would argue that the iconic 911 is what "defines" Porsche.

COOLIS

The LS is not what it used to be and that was done intentionally by Lexus. It still outsold all competitors in 2018 with the exception of the S-class. I am not a fan of the current car not having a V8 and having a smaller interior volume than the outgoing LS, but it's still an excellent car. Not sure what Lexus' sales projections were for this car, but I'm sure they're somewhat satisfied considering the current market for large luxury sedans and sedans in general. If the G90 ever starts to outsell the LS, only then will Lexus maybe revert back the original DNA of the LS.