Toys4RJill

2018 Lexus LS 350 variant unveiled in China

Lexus officials have said that the LS is under review for India.

After introducing the 2018 Lexus LS 500 and 2018 Lexus LS 500h this year, Lexus expanded the all-new Lexus LS range with the addition of an F SPORT variant at NYIAS 2018 in April. In the latest, the company has introduced the LS 350 model in China to make the car more accessible with a lower entry price.

Unveiled at the 21st Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao International Auto Show, the 2018 Lexus LS 350 is the new base model of the flagship sedan, and it is powered by a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine good for 237 kW (317.82 PS) and 380 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. With Lexus not mentioning the availability of an all-wheel-drive system, it’s safe to assume the LS 350 is a rear-wheel-drive model.

Lexus has announced the 2018 Lexus LS 350 only in China, and it is unknown if this model will sell in other markets. It is expected to have a starting price of 1 million yuan (INR 94,69,936.74) and will compete with the Mercedes S-Class S 320 L which starts at 9,38,000 yuan (INR 88,82,800.66).

The fifth generation Lexus LS is based on the GA-L rear-wheel drive platform which debuted in the Lexus LC. The LS 500 measures 5,235 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,450 mm in height, and is powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that produces 310 kW (421 PS/415 hp) and 600 Nm of torque and sends power to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The LS 500h gets the Lexus Multi-Stage Hybrid System consisting of a 3.5-litre Dual VVT-i V6 petrol engine and two electric motors that work together to deliver a combined output of 264 kW (354 hp). A continuously variable transmission is standard. Lexus will offer the LS 500 and LS 500h both in Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.



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mk416

Good times for luxury automakers except for Audi after that distribution crisis.

Although MB, BMW, and Porsche are still the dominant market caps in China, I think Lexus can pick up some of that dissented buyers from Audi.

Toys4RJill

I believe Buick is huge in China too. It will be interesting to see how this model sells.

mk416

American makers are faring really well in China - there is still the image of success if you own something imported (except Japan and Korea).

grabber2

I hope the China only LS 350 is not a lesser quality version. China have a lower safety regulation on automobile and I hope Lexus don't take advantage of it.

Vladi

And here it is, 2017 flagship with 2005 engine in it.

Toys4RJill

I don't think Lexus is going to take advantage of lower regulations. I imagine the car will be a fully loaded model with the lesser HP engine.

GFerg

How are they still using this same old engine!? And in heavier vehicles.

Sulu

Outside of North America, many countries tax their cars based upon engine size, forcing automakers to put the smallest engine possible in the models they sell in those countries.

RXSF

In a way, they are taking advantage of the lower emissions regulations in China by using this old engine. No need to put some advanced engine if the Chinese have lower air pollution standards.

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

Chinese version of every car have lower and older engines, I can't believe manufactures can get by with it in China.

mk416

They weren't too happy with people buying North America versions of their cars here in the U.S. and then ship those back to China as imported used cars. A few dealerships and FBI actually shut down a few companies that handled this importing. Also, China has since blacklisted vehicles imported this way into China.

To comment on your response - lower regulations are perceived as lower standard, which is apparently the standard as perceived by the consumers in China.

mmarshall

Roughly 80% of all worldwide Buick sales are in China. According to management, they also, besides smaller engines than the American versions, use firmer suspensions in China......why, I don't know, unless the roads are smoother there and more tolerant of firmer springs.

mmarshall

Perhaps one reason the LS350 is being offered in China (besides the engine-displacement tax) is that the Chinese consider the LS an executive-level car, preferring to have a chauffeur rather than do their own driving. That means the car's owner will usually be riding in the back seat, and relatively unconcerned about the size of the engine up front.

chromedome

Yeah, imported cars with engine displacement above 3000 cc have a huge import duty slapped on them, hence why cars in China tend to use smaller engines. It's the same with a lot of East Asian countries. That's why the Chinese market gets the ES200, NX200 (no turbo), RX200t, GS200t. Car specs and quality are the same as for other markets because they're all built in Japan.

It's also kinda funny that the Cadillac CT6 hybrid for the American market is built in China. More Caddies for the Chinese...