Rhambler

What are your guesses for the MSRP?

I do believe the price, more than anything else (yes even the V6 engine), will dictate how many are sold imo.

Here are my guesses and I'm assuming only one wheel base, although a "regular" wheel base would be nice and two flavors, RWD and AWD. I'm ignoring the hybrid because I don't care about the hybrid as with the F Sport or Type F as there's little information about those potential models (although I do care about the latter).

RWD: $79,000
AWD: $82,000

I left the AWD off the poll for simplicity's sake, but feel free to write in what you think it will be.

superdenso

$100,000

corradoMR2

LS will be close to the LC as it's based on the same new GAL platform.

Rhambler

Well, while that's a reasonable assumption, consider this:

Mercedes S550 Sedan: MSRP $97k
Mercedes S-class Coupe: MSRP $123k
Difference: $26k

However, these two share the same engine and a V8, even without turbos, is considerably more expensive than a V6 with two turbos based on cursory knowledge of crate engine costs. Although I admit I have no idea on the costs of Lexus' engines.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2018 LS guess (keeping in mind the LS base power is significant over the BMW)
$82,000 RWD
$85,000 AWD

2007 Base LS460 - $61,000
2007 Base LS460L - $71,000

2017 Base LS460 - $72,520
2017 Base LS460L - $78,820
2017 Base LS460L AWD - $82,305

$81,500 BMW 740i sDrive
$84,500 BMW 740i xDrive

Rhambler

Also consider the 750i is $95k, most of which is due to the higher engine costs (with a markup I'm sure) and it kind of gives you a perspective. That's a $15k premium.

For example, a Ford 5 liter V8 crate engine at 500 HP is $15k-$17k whereas a Ford 3.5 V6 ecoboost turbo at 365 HP/400+ LB-FT is $7k, crate.

I'm sure the Yamaha 5 liter is more expensive. I wouldn't doubt it costing $20k and maybe the V6 retails for half that.

And considering, at least based on past precedent, Lexus undercutting the Germans, I think or at least hope they aggressively price this below the V6 German counterparts.

This will allow them to say, hey, we offer a V6 flagship that not only outperforms the BMW and Audi V6 flagships, but can do it for less. This will be their selling mantra or should be.

I think it will be a big mistake to tout and compete this with the German V8s, regardless of the 0-60 times. To me they are not the same.

SW17LS

One thing about the 750 though, it starts much better equipped than the 740, so the premium is not just for the engine...

imrankh24

Yeap whatever you can say to make the Germans look better, you claim to be such a Lexus fanatic but all of what you say on the car chat forum points other ways. So keep doing your thing bashing Lexus. You keep saying "oh the ls will always be a step below the Germans" be original and stop copying whatever you think the majority thinks if you hate Lexus so much go get another car!

SW17LS

Do not start this again. The rest of us would like to have an enjoyable discussion about this car and other cars it relates to free from this childish brand worship.

The comment of mine you quoted doesn't even have anything to do with Lexus at all, it was a comment about how the BMW 750 starts better equipped than the BMW 740 and that the difference in price between those two cars is not only for the V8. How you twisted that into a disparagement of Lexus I cannot understand.

Rhambler

Yeah, I'm sure that's the case, but I would imagine the bulk of the differences lies in the engine. That's why I think the GSF and RCF are so dang expensive because that engine is expensive.

The point being is that the V6 engine found in the new LS is possibly significantly cheaper than the Yamaha, which leads me to my belief that they can aggressively price this. Heck, I bet the 4.6 liter V8 costs more than the new V6 (on an initial production year cost basis). Again, I'm just guessing.

In my opinion, if they price this like the German V8 counterparts, it will not go well and just won't move.

SW17LS

I actually would expect the TTV6 in the LS to cost more than the V8 if you were simply purchasing the engine, it has a lot more technology in it. The MSRP of a car is not the sum of the cost of the parts within it.

Go to BMWusa.com and play around with the build tool. The cost difference between an optioned 740 and a similar 750 is not all that much. Look at Genesis, the V8 is $1,500 more and it comes with the power reclining and massaging rear seats.

I don't think Lexus is going to take engines into heavy consideration when pricing the LS500. They didn't choose to use a TTV6 because it was "cheaper", in reality using the V8 they had in the LC and RCF/GSF would have been much cheaper than developing an all new TTV6.

Rhambler

A lot of the costs of a V8 versus V6 is simply due to 20% more material costs and more manufacturing costs. Especially when you're talking about special metals and all of the additional machining. Even base metal iron alloys, aluminum, titanium and magnesium can add a hefty price when you add two cylinders.

Now im not saying turbos are cheap, but they're not $10k more expensive to what many consider bolt on parts.

High horsepower naturally aspirated V8 crate engines are very expensive. The only turbo example I could find, though, is that Ford engine and I would imagine the Yamaha engine is signifantly more than a big block LS.

1BlinkGone

I'm wondering it the crate engine price doubling (V6 vs V8) has something to do with profit margins being more generous to the company regarding the V8.

jzqj55

The g90 is creating strong pricing pressure.
Not quite the level of performance, but all of the features and a great warranty.
I think many potential LS customers are turned off by the crazy grill. Looks like it should be on a scion

Look what current new LS's are selling for (low low low). They raise the price significantly, they will soon be doing the 20% discounts

It's been awhile since I was on this site. I expected more LS500 posts. Good indication that the number of people actually writing the check will be small.

SW17LS

You'll see more LS500 posts as it gets closer to launch. Once you have people able to put deposits down, etc you'll start seeing more posts. Right now most of the LS posts are in the CarChat forum.

The G90 is a great product at a great price, but I don't think it's going to make Lexus adjust their pricing strategy for the LS. They have no dealer network, and most of the buying product is unaware they exist. My guess is the LS500 will start around $80k and most will be about $90k. Fully loaded they will be around $100k as the LS is now. This will still be cheaper than the competition by a wide margin, other than the G90. I think the LS should reasonably be more expensive than an upstart Genesis G90.

There will be discounts. S550s sell for 15% off, that's just the nature of the segment now. 6 months in they'll be 10% off.

FWIW I recently looked into getting into a 2017 and found the discounts not that compelling. I didn't have any dealer get anywhere close to 20% off on an LS460L. The best I got was about $10k off, which is what I got off my cheaper LS460 in 2015. So that's not going to be the case on an all new LS500 either.