2026 Lexus LS Reviews

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You know it’s motor show time when a brand whips out a six-wheeled vehicle alongside a single-seater autonomous vehicle.Lexus has pulled out all the stops at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, revealing a total of five concepts.The company has also used the motor show to announce it is repositioning itself even further upwards in terms of luxury. This is despite Century now having been spun out from Toyota as a flagship ultra-luxury brand.The LS sedan was Lexus’ first vehicle back in 1989. The current, fifth-generation version is on its last legs and is slated to be axed soon.At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the company has shown off a number of different interpretations of what this vehicle or vehicle series could morph into in the future.LS historically stood for ‘Luxury Sedan’, however, Lexus is now calling it ‘Luxury Space’.One of the wildest concepts at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show is simply called the Lexus LS concept. It’s a six-wheel people mover which has larger front wheels and two sets of smaller rear wheels.Lexus claims the six wheels allow for maximised interior space and comfort.The second and third rows can be configured to allow for sitting forward or facing each other.It’s clear the LM people mover has been successful as Lexus sees potential for an even higher-end people mover.Conversely, Lexus has also revealed the LS Micro concept which takes all the elements of the full-blown six-wheeler LS concept but puts it in a single-seater fully autonomous vehicle.This three-wheeled autonomous vehicle concept is essentially a pod with a business class lounge seat. It’s designed for point-to-point driving in urban areas where larger cars won’t fit.The front door opens like a jewellery box, allowing you to climb in. There’s also a cargo area at the back that opens, revealing space for special Lexus carry-on baggage.Additionally, the company also revealed the LS Coupe concept which is a high-riding sedan crossover of sorts. It’s claimed to offer sporty, dynamic looks, with a luxurious and expansive interior space.The driver’s seat has been created to prioritise a sporty feel with prominent bolsters, whereas the passenger seats prioritise comfort.Inside the driver has stacked screens that act as the digital instrument cluster and multimedia system, plus a yoke-style steering wheel.Second-row passengers can interact with screens on the back of the front seat backrests.Externally there is a drone built into the roof that can be deployed, as well as a pull-out draw for the boot.Another concept Lexus unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show is a further iteration of its Sport concept. This was first revealed earlier this year at the Quail as part of Monterey Car Week in the US.This latest concept, however, features updated exterior aerodynamic detailing, while the interior features an overtly driver-centric two-seater cockpit.Lastly Lexus unveiled its autonomous Catamaran concept which the company is using as an expression of another version of ‘Luxury Space’.At this stage it’s unclear whether Lexus will put any of these concepts into production.

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Lexus this week revealed the updated IS sedan ahead of a Japanese on-sale date of early 2026.The updates consist of some mechanical changes for more engaging driving and design alterations to emphasise the “signature aggressiveness” of the car, but one thing that hasn’t changed is whether the car can be sold in Australia.The Lexus IS was discontinued for Australia in 2022 due to its inability to pass ADR 85, or ‘Pole Side Impact Performance’, which assesses the car’s ability to withstand a sideways impact into a pole. It’s one of many models that fell victim to ADR 85, including the Lexus RC coupe.Lexus Australia confirmed the IS update does not affect whether it can be sold here.“The updated IS sedan announced this week will be offered in selected markets only. This does not include Australia, which ceased offering the IS in 2022,” a Lexus spokesperson told CarsGuide.While the updated Lexus IS is a clear progression over the refreshed 2020 design, it looks rather different to the first iteration of what is still the same generation that debuted back in 2013.Twelve years on from being revealed, the third-generation IS has been given a more aggressive look, Lexus says, with a new face that bears a wider grille, has new F Sport design features, and is 10mm longer than before (now 4720mm).Inside, the changes are more significant. A 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen is standard across the range, while a completely restyled driver display panel (also 12.3 inches), console and door trims creates a more “driver-focused” interior.The IS now has more functions under the brand’s ‘Lexus Safety System +’ and can support hands-off during highway traffic congestion.

Lexus has used one of the world’s most high-profile automotive events to unveil what it is positioning as a “progressively styled, future-focused yet truly authentic sportscar”, with the clear potential to form the basis of the upcoming LFR, a successor to the brand’s iconic V10-powered LFA supercar.‘The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering’ is an exclusive cornerstone of Monterey Car Week, as the name implies, a week-long celebration of the motor car consisting of everything from casual cars & coffee-style meet-ups to high-end auctions and VIP-only concours events.The event is held at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel on the central California coast and the sinister, sweeping two-door machine, said to “signal the way forward for Lexus design” was its surprise centrepiece.The new Lexus concept’s long nose and fat haunches point to a front engine rear-drive layout which aligns with what’s known of the Lexus LFR, the likely LFA successor.Pre-production LFR prototypes have been snapped on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit within the last 12 months with reports out of Japan suggesting the hybrid V8-powered machine is a Lexus variation of 2022’s Toyota GR GT3 concept.In 2022 Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson confirmed a link between the GR GT3 and a future Lexus model and later that year images leaked from an apparent Lexus dealer conference in the US showed a Toyota GR GT3 silhouette with a Lexus badge and no rear wing.Japanese publication BestCar has referenced its usually reliable industry sources backing up the adoption of a front-mounted hybrid 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine driving the LFR’s rear wheels, the engine alone expected to produce 530kW with total output of around 660kW (885hp).This compares to the 420kW/480Nm produced by the LFA’s screaming 4.8-litre, naturally aspirated, Yamaha-developed V10 boasting a rev ceiling of 9000rpm.Just 500 LFAs were produced between 2010 and 2012 (plus 64 'Nurburgring Package' examples) but the LFR is expected to be a no-limit full-production model.Lexus is staying tight-lipped on any technical details relating to its latest concept, saying simply, “This inspiring concept car features a wide, low-profile two-door form that blends dynamic and emotional elements into a vision for a next-generation sports car.”Is this the 2026 Lexus LFR hiding in plain sight? Stay tuned…

An off-road-focused Lexus, the Overtrail, has been introduced to the Aussie market as part of significant updates to the LX line-up. The LX500d Overtrail is seemingly well-suited to hardcore four-wheel driving as it has been kitted out with front and rear diff locks, Toyo Open Country all-terrain tyres and a comprehensive suite of off-road driving modes.

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