Lexus LS to receive a smaller V6 engine

Article is a bit decieving because it is rumoured for the Asian market if at all, not North America.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 1:15:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Good move. LS350. I always said Lexus should give more power/engine choices just like the competiton. Nice, now give more options on GX, LX, ES...etc too.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 1:25:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I think luxury car makers should bring their 6 cylinder powered high end cars to the US it makes sense same car good performance, and better fuel economy, like the 320hp twin turbo new 7 series plenty of power, or 6 series, even the 6 cylinder CLS with most producing 280+hp why not.

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 1:30:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

While better mileage looks good from a corporate standpoint, in America, when you are at this pricepoint, a V-8 is the only thing acceptable.

— stevenv1999 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 1:59:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

I wish Lexus would have made a fixed roof, V6 version of the SC.

For those mentioning prestige, just debadge your car like all the V6 S Class owners have been doing for years. Problem solved.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 2:29:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Forget about the old trend. This V6 LS will come to U.S.
The new trend is that America prefers more efficient engine.
Lexus V6 engine is no sluggish either; GS weighs almost the same as LS, and GS350 runs 0-60 in 5.7 sec while GS460 runs in 5.4 sec.
Once V6 LS is offered at mid-50k price tag, it will steal significant sales number from e-class and 5-series that GS hasn't been able to compete. Do you think Lexus still believes in the old trend and will pass by their biggest market? They're not the Europeans.

— TopGear (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 2:44:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

There should be a lower-end hybrid model using the same drivetrain as the GS450h instead of the V6 for the US.

— SanJoseDriver (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 2:56:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

great move. they need more engines especially for Europe. Looks like they are really serious about expanding big time outside of U.S.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 3:50:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

1. Charles is (finally!) right. Lexus interior is inferior to, say Audi A8. It's feels less "rich" and the gray center console with button panels seems just a bit cheap, doesn't fit in the top end model. 2. This V6 is a freaking good engine. It does haul ass. It accelerates the GS as quickly as 5.2 FSI V10 accelerates the Audi S6. 3. This V6 will do little or nothing in the EU. LS is good value there yet no one buys it. Judging from used cars ads ratios, in the < 300 HP powerband of A8/7er/S 81% are 3-litre diesels. 4. Toyota do have a 4.5 V8 diesel from the Land Cruiser V8 to put into the LS. 5. Charles, you're dead wrong about hybrids. These are more energy efficient means of transportation than similarly powerful diesels. Period.

— downtoearth (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 10:05:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

downtoearth, I OWN an A8 and the interiors are quite close in quality simply because the D3 A8 hasn't really changed since 2004. Trust me, when the D4 A8 comes out my interior will look quite dated nonetheless.

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 2/3/2009 10:15:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

@ChuckG37

No Lexus has got the EU market wright. Because if they put a diesel in the LS or GS it will become a damn taxi in Europe. What sets lexus apart from mercedes, BMW and audi in Europe, is that there models have much higher prestige because they aren't used as taxi's.

People in the US and cananda don't understand that, until they have seen the streets op the EU!

— STJ88 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 4:42:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

It's a new world, but it wasn't long ago that we had 6 cylinder 7-Series and S-Classes. It's time to bring them back, as long as the real world fuel economy is actually better than that of the V8's. They offer plenty of power for most people.

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 5:11:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

not bad, i smell oversea money $$$$$$...FACT

— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 5:27:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

So in other words, the Lexus LS is nothing more than a big fat @$$ed Camry.

I knew it !!

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 6:58:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Correct me if I'm wrong (which I'm not :) but at www.bmw.co.uk, the omnly 730 is a diesel that makes 245hp, the 4L V8 makes 326hp.

I'd prefer the LS450h using the GS450h's hybrid system. Won't out mileage a 3L diesel, but will leave it in the dust. Almost as efficient as the 730d but just as fast as the 740i and a hell of a lot cleaner than both.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 7:46:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

EL34,
Bit fat ass Camry is getting ready to eat BMW's lunch, Lexus is actually putting in some serious effort to hit them where it hurts.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 7:49:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

this brings up another good question..../


why doesnt Mercedes upper the anti for their 350 engines?... they seem like they are getting jizzed on by everybody else such as the bmw turbo charged 3.5 liter

— shabaru (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 8:56:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

who cares

— Jordanski (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 10:38:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Chuck,
If Nissan were to pay more attention to what Lexus is doing instead of simply rebadging Nissans, they'd be taken seriously. The GT-R garners more respect than Infiniti's entire lineup.
The Europeans have been given a free ride by Lexus in the small engine segment, that's about to end if this report is true. BMW's going to have to find a way to lower their lease payments even further.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 10:56:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

btw, I was referring to BMW's pocket book. Funny that nuts were the first things to came flying out of your mouth.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2009 10:57:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I CALLED IT!!! I said Lexus should offer lower displacement engines in their GS and LS sedans. Read my post from a month ago about how to improve Lexus. This makes sense to expand the product portfolio.

— 3pointstar (View Profile)

Posted on 2/3/2009 2:10:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2