2018 Lexus LS 500 Australian pricing

Lexus Australia has confirmed the luxury flagship LS500 sedan, and its LS500h hybrid counterpart, will be coming to Australia.

Priced at $190,500 in F Sport specification, and $195,500 in Sports Luxury (before on-road costs), the price point sets them as the luxury sedan alternative to the LC500 grand tourer coupe.

While the LS500 features a twin-turbo V6 putting out 310kW, the LS500h has a hybrid V6 powertrain producing the same 264kW it does in the LC500h.

Lexus’ GA-L platform has allowed the LS500 to stretch a little, making the interior more spacious and, Lexus claims, balancing the front and rear weight more evenly.

In F Sport trim, the LS500 also gains all-wheel steering, active stabiliser bars, performance brakes, and features such as a sport steering wheel with paddle shifts.

The more comfort oriented Sort Luxury spec adds features like four-zone climate control, seat massagers for the driver and rear passenger side, and more tech in the rear – media players and control panels.

Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson says the ‘human touch’ of the Japanese “omotenashi” principle gives the Lexus brand its soul and “sets it apart from competitors.”

"The new Lexus flagship is destined to repeat LS history as a car that redefines and advances automotive luxury expectations and customer satisfaction," Thompson says.

"With multiple world and Lexus firsts, it breaks new ground in design, technology and performance. More than any other model, the LS embodies the history and image of Lexus and serves as a symbol for everything the brands represents - a luxury lifestyle brand that offers amazing experiences."

The omotenashi principle is the Japanese approach to hospitality. In short, it is a way of making sure the ‘guest’ feels comfortable in an anticipatory manner, and without ‘undignifying’ the host.

"In doing so, four key pillars underpinned the development of the new LS - brave design, Takumi craftsmanship, exhilarating performance and imaginative technology," Thompson adds.