The current Lexus LS is now entering its 10th year on the market, making it a veritable dinosaur in automotive terms, but the good news is that a new one is in the works. We’re expecting this all-new LS in the second half of next year, as a 2017 model, but even with its impending arrival Lexus has chosen to spruce up the current car with a few minor updates.
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Lexus tells us that engineers have added special body adhesive in more areas for enhanced body rigidity and handling. New colors have been added, too, such as Eminent White Pearl and Starfire Pearl. Lexus is also offering runflat summer tires on the non-hybrid models.
In the cabin, the multimedia system has been tweaked to improve usability. For example, the navigation graphics have been updated so that the maps display across the full 12.3-inch screen. New menu shortcuts have also been added to the side of the screen for quick access to functions, and there’s also an enhanced voice activation system to make commands even easier to execute. Finally, the Remote Touch Interface has new “enter” and “back” buttons to make the interface even easier to use.
One additional update worth mentioning is the availability of the Lexus Enform Service Connect feature for the first time on the LS. It provides information such as maintenance alerts as well as a vehicle health report. It’s available with a one-year trial subscription.
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No changes have been made to the powertrains, which means the 2016 LS continues with the Japanese’s firm’s 4.6-liter V-8 in LS 460 variants and a 5.0-liter V-8 and electric motor hybrid combo in LS 600 guise. The latter is available exclusively with the LS’s long-wheelbase bodystyle. LS 460 variants are good for 386 horsepower, while the LS 600h gets 438 hp.
