Rhambler

I would have dispensed with the pleasantries and grabbed him by the lapels and said, "WHERE IS THE V8 IN THE LS????"

I find it funny that the whole "edgier" styling is targeting the "millennials" and younger buyers in general, yet, IRONICALLY, Audi--the most conservatively-styled luxury maker--probably attracts more yuppie millennials than any other brand outside of the BMW bros.

Hey I'm relatively young, low, low 40s, and got a new LS, listen to me: put in a V8 and make sure the V6 model starts with a $7...if you want to attract those yuppie millennials.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

^ this

i am ok with v6tt if that's going to help with them meeting emission or price point, etc... but not having any v8 option at all is a problem. and i will also say that the 5l v8 from rcf/gsf/lc is not ideal but ok. if they have the technology for v6tt, they should have enough resource to build a v8tt already, something competitors came out some 4 years ago

gengar

Also, a V8 is implicitly better balanced, and this has implications not only for reliability but NVH. I'm confident Lexus can do a good job with the V6TT, but bottom line they could do even better with a V8.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

The bottom line is, a tad over 400hp is not enough for a car of this caliber, especially if that is their only engine offering. Maybe several years ago, not today. This is their flagship.

V6 TT is the motor the GS should have it wants to have an edge. The LS should have a V8 TT.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The LS500 is just the first model. The last LS lasted 10 years, they aren't going to release every powertrain planned at once hah

Rhambler

Yep, my thoughts exactly and that's why if they price it towards those V8 TT competitors, it won't sell very well, at all.

This thing has to be price-centered around the V6s and even less so if history has any precedent. It has an edge and leverage over the other V6s, but not the V8 tt, in my eyes.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

Okay, but in those 10 years it still had the same 4.6L V8 that it had with the first model year 2007 (Aside from the 600h).

Lexus doesn't exactly have a history of changing up their power plants mid-cycle.

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

They've done it once, in 2007 with the 3GS. I think that was the fastest engine upgrade in automotive history LOL

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2006 325i and 330i >>> 2007 328i and 335i around the same time as the 3GS 300/430 >>> 350/460

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

Hoovey, you got any insider news about new engines, or have any new product training coming?

Mr. Burns

Yeah see that's the wrong way to do it.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Late January and probably March/April, though I imagine focus will be on the LC before the LS. Fingers crossed, stay tuned.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yup that was just a horrible year imho. and keep in mind, in japan there was NEVER a 3gs300, they came out with gs350 right away. really makes you wonder what made them think gs300 was a good idea here

Toys4RJill

Not exactly true. You have to look at Toyota as a whole and not just Lexus. Land Cruiser 80 got an engine upgrade mid cycle, Camry too many to count, ES300 into ES330, RX330 into RX350, GS430 into GS460 well after the 4.6 was already on the market, Tundra gen 1 3.4 into 4.0, Tundra gen 2 4.7 into 4.6. Is250 into IS200t. Numerous transmission upgrades sprinkled in there as well. It just happens last 10 years was not much.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

they still had some of those engines in a warehouse. "ship 'em 'over there', they'll take anything, bwahaha"