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The nomenclature “LS” in this four-door sedan’s name pretty
much nails it: “Luxury Sedan.” Lexus started with an LS back in
September, 1989. That was the LS 400. The digits refer to the
engine displacement of the V8, with an imaginary decimal point
after the 4. So the LS 430, which is the third generation in the
series (first introduced in 2000, with a major refresh—such as
the addition of an electronically controlled six-speed automatic
transmission—in 2003). The LS brings to mind the S. As in the
Mercedes S-Class. Visually, there is an overall similarity,
almost as though the imposing, sedate, serious, sophisticated
lines are the archetype of what a high-end sedan is supposed to
look like. (Which may have something do to with why the BMW
7-Series provokes such wide-eyed reactions.) Given the legendary
Lexus quality performance and compared with the problems
vis-ŕ-vis electronics that Mercedes is forthright about, when it
comes to vehicles that sticker in excess of $70K, the LS 430 has
a lot going for it: all of the amenities with fewer, presumably,
of the inconveniences.
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I’ve spent a good amount of time in various Lexus products
during the past few years—crossovers, trucks, and cars. Yet I
must admit to being more surprised at one aspect of the LS 430
than I would have anticipated, given this experience. While
driving home from work the first evening that I had the
car—comfortably positioned on the powered adjustable seat, that
offered cooling, in addition to heating; listening to the premium
Mark Levinson audio system; having the conditioned and filtered
air waft my way from the sweeping air vents in the center stack;
occasionally monitoring my progress on the 7-in. DVD-based
navigation system; admiring the bona fide wood trim and acres of
leather—I happened to glance down at the speedometer. And
realized that I was traveling 15 mph more than the 40 that were
called for. The thing is this: sure, hitting the accelerator to
take advantage of the 290 hp (@ 5,600 rpm) and 320 lb-ft of
torque (at 3,400 rpm) is not what I was doing. I was simply on a
regular commute. Yet the LS 430 is so smooth, commanding,
powerful, and otherwise driver comforting that I’m glad I became
aware of the performance before the local constabulary did.
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If you want to get a sense of what “Lexus quality” means
without having recourse to J.D. Power stats or pulling out a pair
of calipers (Lexus claims to measure body panels to 0.001 mm),
simply look at one aspect of the interior trim. On the
passenger’s side you can follow a seam long the side of the
center console, across the front of the glove box, and then along
the door. Each of these segments is positioned such that they
form, in effect, a single straight line. That’s attention to
detail. Nowadays, all vehicle manufacturers talk about the seams
on the interiors of their cars (and trucks), often calling
attention to the “French seams.” That stuff is ready-to-wear.
We’re talking couturier here.
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When you have a large vehicle—the LS 430 has an overall length
of 197.4 in.; a wheelbase of 115.2 in.; a curb weight of 3,990
lb.—you sometimes refer to it as a “land yacht.” Implicit in
that statement is a certain ungainliness. If the LS 430 is a
yacht, then it is like the Hyperion owned by Silicon Valley player (high stakes: Silicon
Graphics, Netscape) Jim Clark in The New New Thing by
Michael Lewis. First off, it is comparatively slippery, with a
0.26 coefficient of drag. But more to the point, it is
integrated with the type of technology—electronic throttle
control, LED brake lights, laser-based dynamic cruise control,
Bluetooth capability, etc.—that is characteristic of those who
are looking for functional tools at the leading edge.
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Admittedly, the Lexus LS 430 isn’t for everyone. But isn’t
that the point?