Lexus LS 430

Lexus LS 430 Models

The Lexus LS 430 begins as a premium full-size sedan loaded with sophisticated mechanical equipment, extensive safety systems and luxurious appointments. The sole engine, a four-cam 4.3-liter aluminum V8, produces 290 horsepower and mates to an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission.

High-tech hardware that comes in the aptly named Ultra Luxury Package sounds like science fiction: The package includes laser-guided cruise control, a sonar-based parking guide, a navigation system that triangulates by satellites and coordinates with a DVD-powered data base, and an adaptive electronically controlled suspension. A fan imbedded in the front seats circulates either heated or chilled air. Rear passengers relax with rear air conditioning, heated seats, electric seatback adjustment with memory control and a lumbar back massager. A power-operated sunscreen shades the rear windscreen, but rear passengers must pull down the side sunscreens manually.

Driving the Lexus LS 430

Despite its two-ton mass and full-size dimensions, the Lexus LS 430 leaps to action and manages some spry moves that border on the sporty side of performance. We discovered this while tossing the Lexus around the 4.0-mile Road America road racing circuit at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Although you wouldn't want to make a race car out of a Lexus LS 430, the race track allowed us to push this big sedan to its limits in relative safety to measure the speed and test vehicle dynamics.

Quick acceleration gives the Lexus LS 430 a lively feel. Yet it rides so smoothly and quietly that triple-digit speeds on the race track felt much slower. The 4.3-liter engine generates 290 horsepower and, more important, 320 foot-pounds of torque. That's enough to propel the LS 430 from 0 to 60 mph in only 6.3 seconds and past the quarter-mile mark in less than 15 seconds. Top speed, electronically limited, is 131 mph.

You'll hardly hear the engine, however, because the Lexus LS 430 exceeds the previous edition for its ability to dampen mechanical vibrations and insulate the passenger compartment from external noise. No other automaker does a better job than Lexus in creating such a serene and rattle-free zone for riders.

Lexus adds an Intuitive Powertrain Control module to the engine that analyzes performance aspects such as throttle position, vehicle speed and engine load before mustering a precise quantity of engine torque for any driving situation. In effect, the smart system can tame the driver's varying throttle commands and provide a smoother flow of power.

With power directed to the rear wheels and independent suspension at all four wheels, the LS 430 provides a classic chassis layout for driver control. Anti-lift and anti-squat geometry lets the suspension check body movement when accelerating or braking. The system holds lateral roll to a minimum in hard turns. The Ultra Luxury Package includes adaptive variable road-sensing suspension damping to further isolate the passenger compartment from changing external conditions. A no-cost optional Euro-style touring suspension brings firmer shock settings for sporty manners.

Another high-tech option puts a laser to work in the cruise control system to maintain a pre-set distance between the Lexus and another vehicle in front of it. The smart system removes the last vestige of work associated with automatic cruise control because it can detect a vehicle ahead and modulate speed to prevent running upon it. The future is here.