Ok. Mystery is solved. Car is in the body shop, so I called Lexus Canada with my VIN. They told me my color code is 217 starlight black mica or starlight black metallic.

 

Then that color was only available in Canada for the LS, it was never available in that color in the US (I can think of a few other colors over the years where that has been the case). Very cool, that's a great color.

 

Cool color! I am glad the mystery is solved. I am guessing that just like Black Sapphire Pearl and Starfire Pearl, that this is a triple-coat paint.

I truly learn something new every day... While I had recently seen slight differences in Canadian vs. US models (e.g., LX570 had available paddle shifters in Canada but not in the US), I did not know this could apply to colors (again, not recently, anyway).

 

It is very hard to capture the true color by camera. When I look at some pics of my car I took previously, I am very surprised to see the pics show little blue, or smoky granite depends on the background, But to my eye, it is always true glossy black with no sun, glossy black with light metallic sparkles under sunlight.

When I bought my 2011 LS460 starlight black mica this summer, I parked it beside a 2010 LS460 obsidian black. After 5-6 years, the obsidian black somehow lost its glossiness a little bit and looks a little dull comparing to the startlight black. The startlight black still holds its glossiness pretty good and stands out more. If I buy a brand new LS next time with that limited color choices, I will still choose startlight black mica.

 

How well the Obsidian holds up depends a lot on how its cared for. It requires a lot of work, and any marring or hazing on the surface will really reduce its appeal. Well detailed though, the obsidian looks really great.

I would absolutely choose a metallic black like that color over a straight black just for ease of care.

 

why they don’t offer that color to US? If it cost more to paint that color, they can always pass down the cost to consumers. Even apple has difficult time to make jet black casing for iphone 7. It is reported that the black casing production yield rate is only 60-70%.

My piano black finish of Wilson audio Sophia speakers

 

All carmakers have weird packaging differences between countries and even within regions, but Toyota/Lexus is specifically extra strange with this. For whatever reason it made sense to them that color could be sold in Canada but not here. That color exists on other models here, just not the LS.

For instance my LS460 is a 2015, for 2014 Lexus came out with a color called Atomic Silver that I really like on the LS. For 2015 it spread elsewhere in the lineup, including the LS...but only in Canada, the LS was not available in the US in atomic silver at all for 2015, but was for 2016.

When Lexus came out with the 3IS everybody loved a color called Ultrasonic Blue (USB) that had even available on the 2IS, but for whatever reason USB was only offered on the IS in Canada for 2014 and then that changed for 2015. Its the same way with different package availability, etc.

As far as I know the LS460 has never been available in the US in any black color other than obsidian. Lexus has a couple sharp metallic blacks they sell on other models, caviar is the latest one, but not for every model and not for the LS.

 

BSP honestly has yet to grow on me completely, however regarding the car itself, I don't share the same sentiments!
Also, interesting how Lexus renames their paints and how either the same or slight variations can be given a different name in another country. I just wonder why the names aren't universal.

​​​​​​​Edit: I posted this before reading Steve's entry. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Jaguar XJ is aluminum body. So don't need to worry about the rust anymore. Why Lexus doesn't make LS aluminum?

 

That isn't entirely true. Galvanic corrosion and filiform often occurs as does unique paint issues not seen on a steel car. If you go to any of the Jag forums, you'll find that members there have their own unique paint and corrosion issues due to the aluminum body. Jaguar has repainted many owner's cars because of it. Keep in mind as well, that our LS's are not "rusters". My situation is somewhat rare.

 

Deep rust like yours is not common and I don't worry too much. What I worry about is the paint rust bubble comes out here and there on my LS and Rx. I found 2 bubbles and Dealer has to repaint 2 panels at their cost before I agree to buy the rx350. My 06 ls430 has bubbles along the rear quarter panel 4 months after I bought it in 2011 and dealer paid for the fix. 1 year later one bubble show up in the middle of the front passenger door and I have to pay $600 to repaint the whole door. I owned 2 version of Volvo XC70 for 8 years and never found any rust.

I know aluminum has corrosion, but it won't spread out like steel rust bubbles. since hood of 460 is already made of aluminum, why not make it all aluminum?

 

Because it dates back to 2006, the XJ is much newer. The next LS may be aluminum.

 

Aluminum is not as good as composite materials such as carbon fiber when it comes to energy absorbing. That property is critical in collisions by absorbing that force and protecting passenger cabin. Also, weight is another factor. Al weighs higher than composite material. Thus auto manufactures end up using various types of materials throughout an automobile as needed. For eg ultra-high tensile steel (steel with an exceptionally high yield stress) is used in pillars, around the inner and outer door structures, the head rails etc to add strength and reduce weight.

 

Just an update. My car goes in tomorrow morning. Should be done by end of week.

 

My car was in the shop last week. It will be delayed for another week. The brand new quarter panel ordered is bent out of the box. I also need a brand new front bumper instead of fixing the existing one