Johnny

A number of years back when I was ogling the LS at that time, a salesman pulled out a sample and told me that the LS was a silent car because the bodywork was skinned with two thin steel sheets sandwiching an equally thin rubber layer. This he said dampened any external or ride induced vibrations and resulted in the quietest cabin in the business.

Is Lexus still doing this?

rominl

iTrader: (4)

umm interesting, first time i hear about it. i know about the laminated windows but not the body. would love to read more about it

edit: a search on google only comes up with the side glasses

Johnny

Other manufacturers have dabbled with this technology for years. Mostly in the engine compartment or floor pans. It has been resisted somewhat though, as an excessive application can effectively dampen sounds that you might want to be aware of, such as emergency vehicles or even car horns.

I held a piece of laminated metal in my hand, but did not question the sales guy too deeply, and wonder now if Lexus was using it in selective areas only.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...02/ai_14941955

encore888

Interesting, I have not read too many details about the extent of the lamination/special layering on the LS in all generations. However, the improvements from generation to generation have resulted in lower dB sound levels, IIRC, so it's quite likely improved methods are used from model to model.

Nextourer

Interesting! Didn't know about laminated steel panels.

MSMLexIS

I remeber reading about buicks quiet steel and how they got the idea from Lexus LS400. Thats as much as i know.

GFerg

Yea, I remember reading or hearing about this as well. Cant remember where, but it was either from an article I read or from my local dealership.

encore888

Wow, 460LEX, that really is complete and thorough detailing on the LS specs! Thanks for those!

So, based on the second file, it's apparent that:

1) The body structure features "Asphalt Sandwich Sheet Steel" and "Asphalt Sheet with Plastic Sheet" for the underbody.

2) Rubber seals everywhere have been optimized against wear and noise.

3) Sound-absorbing foam and plastic fittings are used in the roof, body, dash, wheel wells, etc.

flipside909

Alot of this is not new to the LS. Actually all these materials have been available since the first generation LS.

Luxofreak

That's interesting indeed. But here in Seattle where the asphalt is grainy as gravel the tire noise is very high, even inside the LS-460. I then took a ride in a Rolls Royce and didn't hear ONE BIT of tire noise. I asked the sales person how was that possible and the answer was simple: double pane steel at the wheel wells plus acoustic treatment.

For obvious reasons (cost) I think Lexus doesn't use double pane steel at all.