The fifth-generation LS will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month
It's official: Lexus will unveil the all-new 2018 LS at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2017.
The LS nameplate is central to Toyota's luxury brand, as Lexus' first ever model was the LS 400, launched in 1989 in Detroit. Fast forward 28 years and the LS has reached its fifth generation, which promises to be "a world-class car" that will be sold in more than 90 countries around the world.
The teaser photo released by Lexus does not say much, but it highlights the fact that the new Japanese luxury sedan is based on Toyota's all-new global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA–L).
This new rear-wheel drive platform is an extended version of that used in the LC 500 coupé, which means the LS should offer a more dynamic experience on the road. It also means the LS should offer the same engines as the coupé: a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid setup from the LC500h, and a 5.0-liter V8 gasoline unit from the LC500 mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
The 2018 Lexus LS will also debut "a bold new look with a coupe-like silhouette," according to the company's press release. What Lexus' illustration allows us to see is a front end in tune with the brand's latest offerings, dominated by a large spindle grille and headlights that appear similar to those from Lexus' smaller sedans.
In standard guise, the all-new LS is expected to to sport a length of 5,225 mm and a width of 1,900 mm, plus a wheelbase of at least 3,000 mm. Those dimensions would make it slightly bigger than the current LS in long-wheelbase configuration, which means there will be no shortage of space in the cabin.
The 2018 LS is also said to offer luxurious appointments and "visionary technology," according to Lexus.