Faheta

I know Lexus bragged about the industry low of 0.25 coefficient of drag for the current LS430.
I wonder if the new LS460 will better that number? They've been quiet about it.

Speaking of "quiet", the current LS is also a benchmark. Did Lexus say anywhere that the LS460 will be quieter? I'm kinda worried about the direct-injection knocking noise that people have been complaining in the new IS & GS engines.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

good question, read nothing about the drag coeff. wonder if it's still that good huh?

about the quietness. lexus has already said that the new ES is going to be as quiet as the current ls430, so you can imagine about the new ls460 i suppose

encore888

It also seems like they're on the verge of claiming the LS 600h L will be the 'quietest automobile in the world.'

'subquiet.'

Gojirra99

Actually I remember the coefficient of drag was reported as 0.26 when the LS460 was unveiled, Xerokool had complained about it being 0.01 more than the 0.25 of the LS430UL , but it was brought up that the Cd for the LS430 is 0.26 & only became 0.25 when the UL was running lower with it's air suspension , so we may not know all the details on the LS460 yet . . .

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well i guess either case the car is going to be too quiet anyway

sometimes i think it could be dangerous that it's so quiet inside the car, you don't know what's going on out there

Gojirra99

Well, you won't hear anything outside with the ML on either, so either way, you won't know what's going on outside

Gojirra99

. . . from lexus.jp, Cd = 0.26

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hahhaa very true, i already have that problem with my sc430

and thanks for the note on the drag, guess lexus is still making very good use of the tunnel

Threxx

I doubt the ES350 will be as quiet as the LS430 - I remember driving 03-05 ES300/330s as loaners and then getting back into my 99 GS400 and the GS seemed noticably quieter. I know the LS is even quieter than my GS. I guess what I'm saying is that if that's the case then it would be a HUGE improvement in terms of noise level, and know people are saying the new Camry is somewhat quieter but not THAT much quieter than the old one.

I kept hearing them compare it to the benchmarks that the original LS400 set, not the 430.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well there is only one way to find out how quiet the new es is it's weird though, i have driven a lot of es loaners. as long as you don't try to push the es (reving the engine high) the car is pretty damn quiet. of course, it's not match to the ls430

Threxx

Yeah the ES300/330 is definitely quiet, but my old 99 GS4 seemed noticably more quiet. Or maybe it was just the 'vault' factor... the way the GS felt quite a bit more isolated and controlled over bumps (especially with all my chassis bracing)... the car just felt more substantial.

Maybe the engine noise just gave me a nosier perception of the vehicle. Here's to hoping they quiet that down a bit with the new 3.5L, though with direct injection there's the potential that it could just get worse. Oh well, at least I think the transmission behavior and power curve will be MUCH improved.

Rockville

drag will usually correlate with a quieter car. The new ES350 has a .28 drag coefficient which does not tell the whole story about quietude. There is a lot of sound suppression added to the wheelwells, floorpans and windshield laminate. The offset mirrors will remove the hiss of air the driver hears at highway speeds. The spray-on wheel well coating has the rubbery feel of silicon caulking but does not come off on your fingers like the tar type of the past. You certainly will be able to hear your own thoughts in either of these finely designed vehicles. all the more reason for the 19 speaker Mark Levinson 7.1 surround sound system to show its prowess. The timing chains will make some noise and so will the mechanical fuel pump on the LS460 but you won't perceive it inside the cabin. The GS450h is eerily quiet inside. I can only imagine what the flagship 600hL will be like. You would probably notice the servo motors of the climate control as the only audible equivalent of a pin dropping.

Rock