Lexus LS V6 Coming?
According to Paul Tan, the Lexus LS may be getting a new engine option this year:
This could happen when Lexus unveils the facelift for the LS, which would be due anytime soon as it was launched in the year 2007. A Lexus LS 350 could be powered by the 2GR-FSE 3.5 liter V6 engine incorporating Toyota D4-S twin injection technology, which combines port injection with direct injection. It produces 315 PS and 377Nm of torque, which puts it somewhere in line with the F01/F02 BMW 740i.
If true, this is great news. The 2GR-FSE is the same engine used in the IS 350 & GS 350/450h, which means this V6 LS could also be offered in the same hybrid configuration as the GSh.
(Of course, there’s no guarantee that the LS 350 would be available in North America.)
January 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I hope this is true!
I’ve been asking for an LS V6 for years, and as recently as a few posts back in the comments!
The 3.5L version has plenty of power for that vehicle - in fact it makes more power than the LS 400 did for a LONG time!
January 28th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I was thinking of your comments, actually, but couldn’t locate the thread it was in!
Put a V6 in the LS and it jumps to the top of my “next vehicle” list.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
An LS350 would make a lot of sense during this economic climate. And would jump to the top of our list right now also, right now we are looking for an ES350 but the LS350 would give us the bigger car without the much larger price!
January 28th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
iono about this. while this may be good for certain customers, it ultimately hurts brand image as the prestige sedan segment is meant to have V8s
January 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
IMO if this would occur we would not see the LS 350 come to the States, it would be for Asia and other small markets. Moreover, the pricing overlap would not be significant so as not to encroach on sales of the GS 350/other V6 Lexus models.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Absolutely agree, I have strong doubts it would appear as a conventional V6 in North America. I do think there’s a draw of a V6/hybrid, though. It would probably cost as much as the LS 460 and would have definite benefits over the 600hL.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
LS v6? terrible idea
January 29th, 2009 at 2:55 am
No i don´t think so, but it would be nice if they but in the gs450 motorline, to compere whith the Bmw 740i here in Europ (the Bmw 740i has 335i engine). And put in the v8 diesel they have in the Toyota landcruiser as well, it has a imprssive torq 650/nm and 286/hk.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Good call on the Landcruiser diesel — that would be something in an LS!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
It obviously would hurt the brand’s image, especially when considering that BMW and Merc don’t sell their flagships in the US with V6 (or in BMW’s case, I6?)
Anyways, I think it’s definitely not coming to the US, and how complicated do you guys think the pricing would be? I don’t think Americans always like complicated options when it comes to cars. For many, choosing between the the LS LWB and SWB would be hard enough when considering the price…and then the GS 460 comes along to make it even harder.
Well, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that problem x]
I’ve made a pact with my parents that I would never waste a penny on anything unless I can fully own it (great way to negotiate the price, btw).
Thank god they helped me with my LS and LX, or else, it would’ve taken forever
January 28th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Yeah, I guess I’m thinking strictly of a V6/hybrid in the LS, which basically replaces the GSh has the car in the Lexus lineup for me. I’m not about to buy an LS 600hL, but a LS 450h? Sign me up.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
The downsizing trend is probably coming to the US as well. There is talk about a 4 cylinder bi-turbo diesel in the European S-class now (first 4 cylinder in S) and they are working on a V6 based S400 hybrid. Also, both Mercedes and BMW have dropped their plans for new V12 engines. I also think next gen. M3/RS4/IS-F will drop two cylinders.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
A 4 cylinder in an S-Class! Hard to imagine such a thing even a year ago, but it makes real sense.
There’s this argument that smaller engines somehow hurt brand perception, but I don’t buy it — Mercedes releasing a V6/hybrid flagship before Lexus would do more damage if you ask me.
January 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
i agree! adding a V6 engine to the LS lineup would be nice. And yes it has to be an Hybrid! (GS450h based)