I live in Studio City, CA and see lots of camo vehicles all the time. Just today I saw a new Ford Expedition, a smaller Ford SUV (maybe an '07-08 Escape), a BMW something or other, and the LS. It's remarkable how many test mules run around here.

Anyway, the LS was right-hand drive and had every badge removed with tape over the holes. There was tape all along the edges of the hearlights and the car had no tail lights. It just had square red lights sticking out of the holes for the wires. Very, very unfinished looking, but very clearly an LS460/600. It was silver with very dark painted wheels...again I think to look camo.

The car could have easily passed for some beater that nobody would notice. It looked good though when you looked past the mule decor.

 

interesting, especially about the RHD version. wonder why they would bring that car over here?!

 

You got me...I couldn't understand why it was so unfinished as well. Everyone in the world who cares what the car looks like has at least seen pictures already. It seemed very strange.

 

maybe they were testing something else already? lol

it's defintely weird, when they have more than a few "complete" prototypes already

 

Yeah that was my guess too. Hybrid testing maybe? It certainly didn't look like it was high performance upgrade model ala AMG or M. It just had 18" wheels, no special brakes, exhaust in stock location.

I wish I had my darn camera, I could probably make a living spotting prototypes and sending pics to magazines! I always, always, always forget it.

 

lol, for sure socal is heaven for it man. my wife works in gardena, which is right by torrance, and she spotted the new IS long before release

 

Wow, that sounds really cool. You should get a cellphone with a camera so next time you can get some pics! I usually do that, because I rarely carry an extra device (camera etc) around.

Anyhow, sounds fascinating but the 'unfinished' bit is decidedly un-LS-like...not to mention it was a JDM model it seems. Perhaps shipped over recently with a batch of New ES 350s?

 

RHD? Interesting indeed. Could they be sampling the performance and dynamics of the LS600h that we don't get in the US?