...from AutoNet, a Taiwanese online magazine, whose source was not disclosed, but AutoNet is a very reputable online magazine in Taiwan that never made up data. They have good connections to insiders of many automakers and there could very well be much truth to what they report here. As usual still, take everything with a grain of salt.

Here's the original article (could be restricted to paid members only):
http://www.autonet.com.tw/cgi-bin/ne...i?qry=a5060200

Now, my summary of the report:

LS460:
Development code name: 070X
Production code name: 250L
Length: 5,100mm (vs. 5,025mm of LS430)
Width: 1,850mm (vs. 1,830mm of LS430)
Height: 1,480mm (vs. 1,490mm/1,470mm (air suspension) of LS430)
Wheelbase: 2,980mm (vs. 2,925mm of LS430)
Engine: 4UZ-FSE 4.6L V-8 (vs......well we all know)
Horsepower: 350hp @ 6,000rpm (vs. 290hp @ 5,600rpm)
Torque: 48.0kgm @ 3,300rpm (vs. 42.5kgm of LS430)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic ( )
Fuel efficiency average: 9.5km/l (=22.35mpg, vs. 18/25mpg of LS430)

You heard these here first.

The original text for those who read Chinese:
AUTONET記者：蔡至兼

雖然距離LEXUS LS系列大改款還有一年多的時間，但日本方面卻為了導入該品牌，已經針對新車型作測試，就連車身尺寸與動力規格都有明確的資料，當然AutoNet又以最快速度取得相關訊息。

開發代號070X的LEXUS新LS，進入量產階段後代號更改為250L，雖然離正式推出還有一年時間，但基本上外觀造型與動力設定都差不多定案，就尺寸來說整體較現行款來得大，長度將近5100mm，車身寬度也增加近20mm為1850mm，車身高度則是1480mm，為了營造更寬敞舒適的空間，軸距增加了40mm為2970mm，幾乎快到達3公尺。由這些數字來看，新一代LS的車室空間絕對大到嚇人。

在動力方面，已經確定採用代號4UZ-FSE V8引擎，由於排氣量增至4.6升，所以新車型將不再稱為LS430，而是LS460。據了解這具4.6升V8引擎為直噴設計，功率輸出最大馬力將突破 300hp，為350hp/6000rpm，扭力值更逼近50kgm達到48.0kgm/3300rpm，縱使車身重量增加，引擎排氣量提升，但油耗成績卻相當優異，平均每公升可行駛9.5公里。

此外，LS460還有一項最大武器，就是採用密齒比的八速自排變速系統，這也較M.BENZ的七速自排來得更為精密，對於性能和經濟效益有正面影響。

 

HAHAHAH, I'm sorry for the luagh, but 8 speed automatic caught me off guard and is actually really comical to me. I'm not saying that ur full of it(cause there might be some truth to it like you said), but 8-speeds?? Am I driving a Mack truck?? And that 350hp range souds about right. But you never know, it might be more. My guess would be a nice 375-380. Thats a lot of info though.

 

Thanx for the post
350 hp sounds about right , max. torque will be about 362 lb-ft., both within expected range IMO. That's the first time I' ve heard of a 8 speed transmission from Lexus though . . .
Is the length given for the regular wheel base version BTW ?

 

Both of you probably not good in Mathmetic.

8 speeds auto means: 6 speeds in forward+1 in Nuetral+ 1 in reverse= 8...

 

Why doesn't the rest of the world just do what America is doing with measurements

Sorry, being Bush-like with the measurements, can someone convert from the metric system

 

So the one in my SC is actually a 7 speed auto then
Actually, it did say in Chinese in the last paragraph that the 8 speed auto is a major weapon & is superior to the 7 speed of the Benz's tho . . .

 

Sounds sexy!

 

hahhaa, funny on the tranny gear calculation. and neutral is counted as a gear? i thought that means just nothing

anyway, the hp pand tq numbers are right, the 460 with around 350hp and the future 500 will have about 400hp

and i love it getting bigger

 

So does park count? LOL, then I have a 8-speed auto

But seriously though, the 7-speed Benzo tranny has 2 different gears for reverse.

 

btw i made this copy here. the original thread is in the car chat but i think it belongs here too

 

If I remember correctly 1 in = 2.54 cm. So here you go:

Length difference: +75 mm (7.5 cm) ~= 2.95 in
Width difference: +20 mm (2 cm) ~= 0.78 in
Height difference: -10 mm (1 cm) ~= 0.39 in
WheelBase difference: +55 mm (5.5 cm) ~= 2.16 in

I believe the original article also mentions the 4.6L has direct injection.

 

8-speed?? This is getting crazy. At some point the car's going to be shifting so much it's going to be losing more performance than it's gaining and also potentially wearing the tranny out faster than it should due to the heat buildup from so many gear changes.

I expected to see CVT/IVT transmissions become standard fare before we ever saw anything beyond a 7-speed trans in a car.

 

Let's just hope that supposed 8 speed doesn't shift like the tranny in the RX330!

 

Yeah... hopefully not. But all the Lexus/Toyota V8s I've driven have always had a great tranny feel with one minor exception: when you decelerate down to 5-10 mph it tries to start in first gear instead of just hanging in 2nd gear and torquing its way up no matter how easy you roll onto the gas. Just makes the motor feel weak and gives a bit of a hesitation as it tries to rev up and catch up with the torque converter. I've heard many people complain about that, at least with the GS4s around my years and similar years of LS.

But the LS/GS/SC has always had a great tranny feel. It's been the ES/RX that needs work. Maybe when they switch to the GR-series V6 they'll completely redo the tranny? One can only hope.

 

Well 60HP is a drastic change itself, and I'm sure we were all wanting 350+ but imagine how much faster it's going to be with the 60 horses. The first generation was what? 265? And they got to 60 in about 8 seconds. All they did was add 30 horses in 1998 and it shot from 8 seconds to almost 6. So I'm sure it's going to be quite a change in performance.