CaliLuv

Just got word from the wife who was taking the RX300 in for service that Lexus is completely redoing the LS and plans a to offer a V12. She said the sales rep showed her a picture and she said it somewhat resembled the ES. Is this old new? It is new to me! Does anyone have any pictures?

Higuma

V12 - fugettaboutit...... Japan doesn't have a workable V12..... Perhaps a 4.7 litre in a new design but a V-12 has NO market in Japan... Your dealer is blowing smoke up somebody's buhtt...... Typical......

Check out any Toyota website - all & I mean ALL of their development money has been poured into V-8 technology.... besides there is SO much room left in the current V-8 for development that they need not discard a well engineered working design.....

harris10101

no i think there is one japanese v-12, for a big *** lux car there, not sure tho

Higuma

That I am aware of there is "NO" consumer type production vehicles with a V-12 here in Japan... Certainly nothing as common as the Celsior / LS430 - even the "custom build only" Nissan President and Toyota Century don't rate such a motor... and those are big *** luxury "Limo" type cars........

If you can find the make and model let me know - I would love to scope it out... Lots of Merc V-12s here though... mainly s600 bi-turbos and Barabbas specials.........

harris10101

i think i was referring to the century

so its considered a limo there, not a car ?

Vik

Toyota Century

Sedan.
5.0L
Engine
1GZ-FE
TA-GZG50-AESGK(X)

XeroK00L

Toyota Century sure looks like a very nice "car" to me.
Conservative, yes, but it's got more gadgets and creature comfort than LS430 (and it's more expensive than LS430 too).
I'd say it's indeed quite possible for Lexus to improve the existing V12 and fit it into the LS in order to compete with the high-end offerings from the German competitions.

http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All...ineup/Century/

Here's the V12:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All...ism/index.html

Luxurious interior:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All...avi/index.html
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All...ity/index.html
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/All...ty/index1.html

harris10101

i want it

Higuma

[QUOTE]Originally posted by XeroK00L
Toyota Century sure looks like a very nice "car" to me.

Yes it is... it is a "Custom Order Only" auto.... not available on the sales lots anywhere... you must place an order and wait for delivery... It is considered much the same as a Rolls Royce here.. this is not a typical or even special Consumer car it is a VERY small market niche car - hand built or at least finished for the select few who can afford it....

Conservative, yes, but it's got more gadgets and creature comfort than LS430 (and it's more expensive than LS430 too).

Conservative - yes - in spades - - it may look good on the web but up close it is definitely a acquired taste... quite frankly this is a 70's styling car that was meant to reflect a small European private chauffeur driven limo type car.... It is quite expensive - if memory serves correct it starts at 12 - 14,000,000 yen or $ 100,000 to 125,000 usd....

I'd say it's indeed quite possible for Lexus to improve the existing V12 and fit it into the LS in order to compete with the high-end offerings from the German competitions.

But why... the current V8 has lots of room left - want more power add a factory turbo or belt driven supercharger - the V12 is from a niche market leftover from 10 years ago in the custom built end and it is horrendously expensive to produce and - likely - to maintain... I also think that the current configuration competes quite well with the German offerings - even better, according to JD Powers and other reviewers...

The LS is considered one of the best appointed and kitted out cars in the world and most reviewers including the automotive press consistently rate it higher than Mercs...

I say if you want a over-priced German car then GO BUY ONE....

Let's not turn the LS into another wanna-be BMW / Merc / Audi design... I - for one - think we they doing a pretty good job of competing with them already.....

REMEMBER -

" Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it ! ! ! ! ! "

Cheers

{-.-}

I see them everday Toyota Century....... I dont like them. I like the Celsiors & Majestas better they use as a limo here.

XeroK00L

Nope...I don't like Century either. The appearance is way too conservative and outdated looking.
But I was just saying it is indeed THE top of the line of Toyota as it has a V12 and has the widest array of gadgets.

harris10101

def does look outdated, but look at the interior

XeroK00L

Yup
BTW where's the shifter?

harris10101

u tell me

Higuma

Here it is... Standard NA but RHD column shifter...