LEXUS LS460

This is the fourth-generation of the Lexus flagship. When the original LS was launched 17 years ago, taking aim at Mercedes, BMW and Audi, some in the industry didn't take it seriously - including the Germans.

If they weren't watching then, they're certainly watching now. The LS460 has just been crowned the World Car of the Year by a panel of international motoring journalists and analysts and its sales are inching ever closer to the European benchmarks.

The original LS brought cut-price luxury but with each new model Lexus raised the bar and the price. The new LS starts from $184,900, which is not cheap, but it is loaded with equipment. It has more airbags, more speakers and more gear ratios than any other car tested here. Despite having a lower price tag than the Germans, it is the best-equipped vehicle here and does not have a single option. Even the proximity key (which automatically unlocks the car as the driver approaches it) is standard.

Inside, the LS460 continues the Japanese trend of creating a fuss-free environment but typically it lacks emotion and a sense of occasion. The instrument binnacle ahead of the driver has large dials with easy-to-read, modern graphics.

The LS460 is not the roomiest of this group but it's hardly cramped. The seats are soft yet supportive. There are plenty of cubbyholes and pockets for storage throughout the cabin.

Everything that opens and shuts has been engineered to open and shut at the same speed and the doors were designed to close with the solid thud of a wooden door.

Lifting the lid on the rear seat centre armrest reveals a control panel for the LS460's four-zone climate-control and remote controls for the roof-mounted DVD player. The heated rear seats also have an electric reclining feature for each outboard seat which slides the seat base forward at the same time. This eats into leg room, however. Also in the rear there are six air vents, two roof-mounted, illuminated vanity mirrors, individual reading lights and electrically retractable shades on all windows.

Those who wish to be pampered will no doubt enjoy such opulence and, given the way the LS drives, it is evident that Lexus is targeting a slightly different type of buyer than the German brands.

The Drive team was divided on the Lexus's variable ratio steering (it automatically adjusts sensitivity according to speed and road conditions). Some testers felt the steering was remote and overly light, others liked its ease of use in parking.

The LS460's suspension, too, is biased to comfort rather than dynamics. The air suspension has three settings - comfort, standard and sport - but none is as comfortable as the Mercedes or as sharp as the BMW or HSV.

In an attempt to inject more character into the LS, Lexus tuned the engine and exhaust to be heard discreetly (previous LS models were almost silent). The resulting tone is still not as overt as the Germans.

In this company the engine may lack capacity and outright power but it has one big advantage: the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission. This was done to improve acceleration and endow better open-road economy. The LS460 delivers its power in big, syrupy serves and never seems stretched or breathless. It is not the quickest of this group - our 0-100kmh time of 8.1 seconds puts it in the middle of the pack - but it is the most economical (with the Audi) and has the cleanest emissions.




THE VERDICT

The judges preferred the Lexus LS460 over Europe's finest because it is brimming with equipment and technology, has impeccable quality and - now that its resale values are comparable with the Germans - represents incredible value. Indeed, given that the Lexus is better built and better equipped and has more technology than its rivals, we're beginning to wonder how long the Germans can continue to command such inflated prices.