the idea of a 4 cylinder LS is sad to me, but i guess mercedes did this a few years back with the s-class, realizing the emission regs gave them no choice.

looks like only 4 cyl s-class in uk though is a hybrid:

S300h Diesel – 2,143cc, 4-cylinder,204hp/150kW, Electric motor – 27hp/20kW

Well 2.0 litre turbos can produce up to 250hp, no? Isn't that close to the output of the original LS' 1UZ-FE? Granted, the new LS has put on weight but for places that tax based on engine displacement, it can save the owner thousands in taxes and/or registration fees.

A smooth V6 could be offered and the UR further refined for those that want a V8.

Well since renders are few and far in between I will periodically post my own sketches:



I think the headlights came out too Audi A8-esque which I'm not too happy with.

But basically what I'd like to see in a big lux sedan is:

- Strongly defined beltline positioned high along the doors.
- Door handles positioned high along doors
- Strong horizontal themes up front emphasizing the width of the car.

The rest can be filled in with the Lexus design language.

Wow, you drew that Mr Burns? That's awesome!

4cyl in the LS? No thanks. I'm sure it will have basic V6 power which is bad enough. It's not about power, it's about smoothness and refinement. Having owned every Lexus V6 and V8, the 8s are significantly more refined.

That's some beautiful sketching. On a Wacom tablet I presume?

I think it looks too close to an A8, especially the how the headlights and big grille come together. I would prefer an RX style hard jawline with a swoopy coupe roof, a bit like the ES, but I don't know if Lexus will remain conservative with the LS or if they'll be more adventurous.

i don't think it will look anything like that sketch (great sketching that it is!) and if it did, people would go mad about how similar it is to an audi.

True but I cant imagine they didn't design and build this engine to accept more boost and produce more power. Its already moving a tall vehicle weighing over 2tons with AWD in its current form. A few extra psi of boost wont affect it.

Oh Mr. Burns, that is just beautiful!

You are first person to make a real guess at the next LS, as not even Japanese magazines have really tried to at all. This is what we're all looking for in terms of creative insight, whether accurate or not.

Why is it that you have "artists" rendering future S-Classes 5 years ahead of launch (terrible to good), yet nothing of worth on an LS that is merely 1.5-2 years out? I won't make accusations, but there is hint of disinterest borne out of lingering prejudice towards Lexus or anything non-German in automotive media. The fact that I see renders of German brand models that are even finished with the design process (next generation 4-Series), tells me this greatly.

No one can be bothered to even correctly render our next Jaguar redesign, which is nearly our biggest in 30 years.

This new Youxia X Concept (save for the grille area), minutely gives me a hint of future LS somehow, which I hope isn't true. The Tesla Model S is/was of great concern to the 5LS development programme, that one only wonders what was incorporated in the first half of 5LS development (pre-2014).

We won't have to wait much longer, it would seem.

http://wot.motortrend.com/1508_we_he...auto_show.html

Doesn't get more special than debuting the line that started it all in their home market for its 25th anniversary

I'm expecting to see a LS500 and LS500h, with the possibility of a LS350/V6 model somewhere down the line this generation.

Interesting. So if we have a Oct 28th Tokyo debut, I wonder when we'd see it on the market? Makes me wonder if it will be a year and be a 2017 model, I wouldn't think so.

uh, wouldn't the 25th anniversary of the 1989 show be 2014?

I mean...I'm not a smart man but I would think so as well lol

Think they meant 25 years of LS. Debuted as a 1990 model at Detroit '89

i think no matter how you slice it it is still 2014? if it's 1990 model, then 2015 model is 25th?

damnit paul, stop stirring things up!