The new Lexus LS F Sport 26.09.2017: The new LS 500 F SPORT instills a more engaging driving spirit through carefully applied chassis tuning and enhancements, while still emphasizing exceptional comfort.

The new LS 500 F SPORT instills a more engaging driving spirit through carefully applied chassis tuning and enhancements, while still emphasizing exceptional comfort.



Lexus took full advantage of the new GA–L platform’s inherent driving agility when developing the 2018 F SPORT package. Handling enhancements via the latest iteration of the VDIM system allows for integrated management of these chassis dynamics as a single system. Optimal control of these motions enables exceptional ride comfort, enhancing traction, safety and handling agility. VDIM is capable of aiding stability when the car is traversing split-friction surfaces, such as dry pavement with ice.



More of the platform’s intrinsic performance capability is unlocked via exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/45RF20 front and 275/40RF20 rear tires in either summer performance or all-season compounds. In addition, larger front and rear brakes — six-piston aluminum monoblock calipers on front around two-piece ventilated spiral-fin iron rotors 400 mm in diameter by 36 mm wide and four-piston calipers on 359 mm by 30 mm ventilated spiral-fin rotors in the rear, all with high-friction brake pads — serve to drive the car’s dynamic message home.




The available Performance Package on RWD gas F SPORT models adds Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) system Active Rear Steering The result is a full-size premium luxury sedan that responds more like a sports coupe through curves, without sacrificing renowned Lexus ride comfort.



The 2018 LS 500 F SPORT stands out, but doesn’t shout. It essentially “turns up the volume” of the new LS design, so to speak, without distorting the fidelity. An exclusive version of the spindle grille shows even greater intricacy in the design – and the brand’s obsessive attention to details.



 CAD operators spent five months developing the F SPORT grille to achieve the desired texture and interaction with light. Even then, they adjusted 7,100 individual surfaces to achieve the desired look and texture (compared to 5,000 for the standard model’s grille).



Special F SPORT rocker moldings along with the aforementioned 20-inch wheels accentuate the rakish LS profile. Lexus infused the F SPORT persona throughout the cabin, starting with the perforated-grill pattern on seating surfaces and Naguri aluminum trim elements. F SPORT 28-way electric/pneumatic seats with cushion length extenders brace occupants when driving through curves, ensure exceptional comfort no matter how long or brief the drive.



The driver faces a special F SPORT speedometer and tachometer in a movable meter with a meter ring that slides to display information, an iconic design adapted from the limited-production Lexus LFA supercar. Attention to detail shows in the aluminum accelerator pedal and F SPORT shift handle, and footrest. The crowning touch is an Ultrasuede shoulder section.




THE SOUNDS OF NEAR SILENCE—OR STIRRING MUSIC



Lexus tuned the LS exhaust to convey a more authoritative tone, yet also designed the cabin to ensure utterly quiet cruising. New sound suppression methods further hush the environment compared even to the super-quiet previous LS models. Active Noise Control quiets the cabin even more by detecting the sound of the engine coming into the vehicle and cancelling certain frequencies using antiphase sound from the audio speakers.



The serenity of the LS cabin provides an ideal stage for the standard premium audio system or the new audiophile-worthy available 3D surround Mark Levinson QLI Reference Surround Sound System. Employing Quantum Logic Immersion technology (QLI), Clari-Fi music restoration technology and 23 speakers in 16 locations throughout the car (including the rear ceiling), and a 16-channel Mark Levinson Reference Amplifier producing the equivalent of 2400 watts with 0.05 percent Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) it offers an audio experience unparalleled in any Lexus.




ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES AND DRIVER SUPPORT



“The LS is designed to be the top runner in advanced safety technologies” said Lexus LS Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi. As a flagship that pioneers a new age, the all-new Lexus LS provides world-leading safety technology through the combination of two advanced Lexus safety systems—Lexus Safety System + and Lexus Safety System + A—which are ultimately aimed at reducing traffic fatalities. The active safety package Lexus Safety System + has been combined with Lexus Safety System + A.



The Lexus Safety System + A package includes Active Steering Assist, a world-first technology that can help prevent collisions that cannot be avoided through automatic braking alone, and Front Cross Traffic Alert, which is designed to warn the driver of the possibility of collisions with vehicles approaching from either side at road intersections. In addition, Lexus CoDrive can assist the driver in staying in lane. Together, these features and others can deliver a high level of safe driving support.



The new LS is also equipped with other technologies for safer and more secure driving in a wide range of situations. The support they provide has been designed to be clear and intuitive, for example in the use of a large, colour head-up display (HUD) and multi-information display to present status notifications and information on vehicle behaviour when safety features are being deployed.




LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM + PACKAGE

PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM



Lexus’ Pre-Collision system (PCS) can help the driver avoid a collision, or lessen the consequences of an impact, even at high speed.



PCS uses a millimetre-wave radar and camera mounted on the front of the car to scan the road ahead to detect obstacles or hazards. It functions both when driving straight ahead and when cornering. It also computes data collected from sensors around the car monitoring factors such as vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate inputs. This information helps the PCS determine the risk of a rear-end collision with a vehicle ahead.



If it calculates a high risk of an impact, it will trigger a warning buzzer and light up a “BRAKE” command in the multi-information display to alert the driver to take action. The moment the brake pedal is pressed, the system initiates a Pre-Collision Brake to provide optimum braking force. This can achieve deceleration of up to 40km/h, slowing the vehicle to reduce the severity of any impact, or potentially bringing the car to a stop before an impact occurs.



If the driver fails to respond to the alerts and does not apply the brakes, the Pre-Collision Brake will automatically deploy to reduce the vehicle’s speed.



PCS also provides a pedestrian protection function. If a pedestrian is detected in the vehicle’s path, automatic braking will be activated. This operates when the Lexus is travelling at between 10 and 80km/h.




ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL


The PCS’ radar is also used to provide Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which helps the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, working down to very low speeds and standstill. Once the way ahead is clear, the ACC will automatically and smoothly accelerate the vehicle back to its pre-selected cruising speed. If the car has been brought to a halt, the driver simply has to press the accelerator briefly for the system to be reactivated.



The ACC can operate in two modes: constant speed control, like a conventional cruise control system, or vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. With the latter mode, the driver can set long, medium or short vehicle-to-vehicle distances, according to preference or traffic conditions. The control settings selected are shown on the multi-information display.



LANE DEPARTURE ALERT

Lane Departure Alert uses the PCS camera, mounted on the windscreen behind the rear-view mirror, to track the vehicle’s course between lane markings painted on the road surface. If it detects that car is moving out of its lane without the turn indicators being used, it will light up a warning on the multi-information display and sound a buzzer, prompting the driver to steer back to the correct path.



On the new NX, the driver will also experience haptic feedback through the steering wheel as an additional warning.



ADAPTIVE HIGH-BEAM SYSTEM

An adjustable LED Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) prevents the LS from dazzling other road users. Eleven independent LED chips in each headlight are enabled/disabled for precise control of the illuminated and non-illuminated areas. This means the driver can enjoy maximum, safe use of high beam lighting, improving their field of vision without the risk of dazzling other road users.



ROAD SIGN ASSIST

Road Sign Assist recognises traffic signs using the windscreen-mounted camera, repeating the information on the multi-information display. This helps prevent the risk of the driver failing to notice important warnings or commands on major routes, including speed limits and lane closures. The system can detect signs that are designed according to the international standards of the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.



LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM + A PACKAGE


PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM WITH PEDESTRIAN ALERT AND ACTIVE STEERING ASSIST

The new LS is the first Lexus model to be equipped with a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Alert and Active Steering Assist, in addition to its established functions. This is a world-first technology that can pinpoint the location of a pedestrian and automatically control the car’s steering and braking.


With Pedestrian Alert, if there is a possibility of the vehicle colliding with a pedestrian ahead, the position of the pedestrian is shown in an animated graphic on the head-up display, contributing to the driver’s intuitive recognition of the situation. Pre-Collision System determines when there is a high risk of a collision with a pedestrian in the lane of travel, or with a continuous structure, such as a guardrail.



If it calculates that that brake control alone will be insufficient to avoid a collision, steering assistance is provided, in addition to a driver alert and braking. When Active Steering Assist is deployed, the car will only move within a clearly marked lane. The system automatically checks for any vehicles in the car’s blind spots, including motorcycles.



LEXUS CODRIVE ADVANCED DRIVING ASSIST TECHNOLOGY

Lexus CoDrive adds Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) to the functions of the Adaptive Cruise Control to provide steering support in line with the driver’s intentions. It can significantly reduce the burden on the driver by providing seamless driving support on roads with many bends, or in traffic jams. It is co-ordinated with the head-up and multi-information displays to give the driver clear notification of the status of the support being provided.



LANE TRACING ASSIST

Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) provides lane-keeping support by way of steering control when Adaptive Cruise Control is in operation. As well as camera detection of lane markings, the system will trace the path of the vehicle ahead to enable assistance even when lines cannot be recognised, for example when driving in low-speed congestion, when there is little space between vehicles.



TWO-STAGE ADAPTIVE HIGH-BEAM SYSTEM

The two-stage Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) provides optimal lighting by way of separate on/off control of the two rows of LEDs – eight upper and 16 lower – in each headlight. This enables finer control of light strength and distance compared to the current LED-based AHS. This improves night-time visibility by allowing more frequent driving with the headlights on high beam, without dazzling preceding or oncoming vehicles.



FRONT CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT

Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) is designed to help prevent collisions at intersections by detecting approaching vehicles. Using side-looking radars, the advanced system alerts driver to a vehicle approaching an intersection ahead from either side. If the driver proceeds, regardless of there being another vehicle approaching from left or right, warnings are given by a buzzer and on the LS’ multi-information display.



ROAD SIGN ASSIST

The Road Sign Assist (RSA) in the new LS makes use of navigation maps as well as a camera to acquire road sign information, which it then presents on the vehicle’s head-up and multi-information displays, reducing the risk of the driver failing to recognise signs and encouraging safe driving.



IMPROVEMENTS TO LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM + FUNCTIONS

Lexus has further evolved the performance of the PCS, LDA and Adaptive Cruise Control in Lexus Safety System +, featured in combination with Lexus Safety System + A in the new LS.



PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM

The improved Pre-Collision System (PCS) can detect cyclists and night-time pedestrians and has improved deceleration performance during automatic braking. For example it can slow the vehicle by as much as 60km/h when a pedestrian is detected, thus improving its collision prevention performance.



LANE DEPARTURE ALERT

As well as detecting lane markings on the road surface, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) will also be able to recognise the boundaries between asphalt and other elements, such as grass, dirt or kerbstones, thanks to advances in its recognition capability. This will allow it to perform its functions of alerting the driver and adjusting steering feedback and torque to encourage a return to the correct line, even on roads without line markings.




ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

The Adaptive Cruise Control achieves outstanding basic recognition performance with wide-angle detection, using a new millimetre-wave radar and a camera with a wider forward recognition range. The system also helps make driving more comfortable, with smooth acceleration at start-up and during following, departure and acceleration, for a sense of security for occupants. It also gives smooth deceleration in the case of a rapid change in in speed.




ADDITIONAL ACTIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES

The new LS will further benefit from additional active safety technologies that will help protect the vehicle and occupants by alerting the driver to collision risks when parking and providing a view of the area immediately around the vehicle when manoeuvring or cornering.




PARKING SUPPORT BRAKE

The LS’s low-speed braking support systems have been integrated in a single package, with the aim of reducing damage when parking, when the driver needs to take account of nearby moving vehicles and pedestrians and stationary objects such as walls and street furniture. The world’s first rear pedestrian support brake has been added to the existing Intelligent Parking Sensors and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Braking. This detects pedestrians behind the vehicle using a rear camera; if there is a risk of a collision, alerts and brake control are triggered.



PANORAMIC VIEW MONITOR WITH SIDE CLEARANCE AND CORNERING VIEW FUNCTIONS

Side clearance view and cornering view functions have been added to the Panoramic View Monitor, making it easier for the driver to determine the safe space around the vehicle. Side clearance view produces an image on the LS’s display monitor that shows the area in front of the car as if seen from a high position above the rear of the vehicle, giving the driver better sight of the space on each side of the car, for example when passing another car on a narrow road. When side clearance view is operating, cornering view automatically produces an image of the vehicle as seen from the rear at an angle in line with the car’s direction when moving through a bend or turn. These help the driver confirm left or right turns can be made safely




1 EURO6 with OBD

2 EURO6d with OBD
   



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