Hello,

Just bought a CPO 2013 LS 460 AWD. They never sold RWD in Canada, so I never drove one. But I know the RWD makes 386hp, and the AWD is 360hp. And RWD is 367ftlbs torque, and AWD is 347. I am assuming the detuned the motor, exhaust, and or ECU to avoid gas guzzler. But how? Has anyone attempted to restore the power, can it be done with a simple ECU flash, or are part swaps required? Ever been done to any AWD 460 to try and unlock the extra power?

Thanks

 

Congrats, LexiBoi! I don't believe the AWD is "detuned". From what I understand, Lexus engineers had to reroute the intake plumbing and exhaust manifold to make room for the AWD system and that is why the engine produces less output.

I know you don't have a RWD to compare against but do you feel that the AWD is heavy or slow? My situation is reversed. It is so hard for me to find an AWD to test drive and compare.

 

That would make sense of things. Heavy and Slow? No. But it feels brisk, my guess is it gets to 60 in 5.5 to 6 sec which is not bad for a big boy.

 

??? There are far more RWD's than AWD's in Canada. It's very rare when I browse the used car listings that I ever see an AWD for sale. When I bought my RWD, the only LS's available were RWD. There are currently 8 2007-2015 LS's for sale in BC (Autotrader) and only three are AWD.

 

http://www.autotrader.ca/cars/lexus/ls/on/?prx=-2&prv=Ontario&loc=l3s0a8&sts=New-Used&yRng=2013%2c&hprc=True&wcp=True&inMarket=advancedSearch

Every single car in ON is AWD...

http://www.autotrader.ca/cars/lexus/...dSearch&rcs=15

Every 2013+ LS in Canada is AWD...

 

That's correct, I don't think they sold any 2013+ LS RWD in Canada. If they did, they are pretty rare as I have yet to see one.

 

We have a 2011 RWD and a 2012 AWD. The AWD has lower (higher numerical) axle ratios, so it feels punchier around town and cruise RPM in 8th is about 200RPM higher than in the RWD. You don't really notice a difference between them, except the RWD is a bit faster above 60MPH, as when passing on the highway.

As mentioned above, different/more restrictive exhaust plumbing to navigate around the front driveshaft and diff is the reason for the power difference. The different exhaust actually makes the AWD sound a bit meaner, to my ears.

 

When you said "they never sold rear wheel drive in Canada", I assumed you meant in any year, not specifically after 2013.

 

Thanks, Tec80, that makes more sense. I remember seeing the axle ratios somewhere online but what I saw must have been a typo because it listed identical gear ratios for both RWD and AWD, which didn't make sense to me. Even with the gearing differences I am a little surprised that the AWD is rated half a second slower to 60 than the RWD.

I wish I could experience an AWD for comparison. I was duly impressed by the passing ability while test driving a 2011 460L RWD on the freeway.