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Lexus Gives the LS a Quiet 2026 Refresh in Japan
Toyota’s luxury arm has quietly updated the Lexus LS for the 2026 model year in its home market. As expected from a model approaching the end of its lifecycle, changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary: new standard colors, a few added comfort features, and modest price increases. Yet for buyers who care about luxury sedans, the LS remains a compelling option with a choice of twin-turbo and hybrid powertrains.
What’s new for 2026?
The headline updates are small but meaningful for buyers in Japan:
- Deep Blue Mica and Nova Glass Flake exterior finishes are now standard across the range.
- Heated front and rear outboard seats become standard equipment, enhancing rear-seat comfort.
- For F Sport customers, striking red brake calipers with white Lexus script are available as a low-cost option at just 55,000 yen (roughly $375 at current rates).
These incremental upgrades polish the LS’s luxury credentials without altering its fundamentally plush character.
Pricing and trim overview
The 2026 LS is slightly more expensive across the board in Japan. Entry-level pricing now starts at 11,110,000 yen (about $75,145), reflecting a rise of roughly 150,000–170,000 yen over the 2025 model. For context, the 2025 U.S. LS 500 carried an MSRP near $81,785.
Notable price points and editions include:
- LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition (limited to 250 units in the U.S.) starts at $99,280 for its market.
- LS 500h (hybrid) entry price in Japan: 12,570,000 yen (~$85,025), which includes Japan’s 10% consumption tax.
- Top-spec LS 500h Executive AWD: 17,250,000 yen.
- LS 500 Executive AWD: 16,270,000 yen.
These figures underline Lexus’s positioning of the LS as a full-size luxury sedan aimed at buyers who prioritize refinement and rear-seat comfort.
Powertrains and performance
Lexus continues to offer two distinct drivetrains for the LS lineup:
- LS 500: combustion-only twin-turbo V6. Lexus claims this version produces 416 horsepower, making it the stronger performer in terms of peak output and torque. The conventional six-cylinder is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
- LS 500h: naturally aspirated 8GR-FXS V6 combined with electric drive (hybrid). Output is rated at 354 horsepower. The hybrid pairing uses an electric continuously variable transmission plus a four-speed unit, delivering a total of 10 forward ratios. One notable benefit: the hybrid can run with the gasoline engine off at higher speeds — up to about 87 mph (140 kph) — for quieter cruising and improved efficiency.
In short, the gasoline-only LS 500 is the sportier, quicker choice, while the LS 500h prioritizes efficiency and relaxed high-speed refinement.
Market outlook and future of the LS
Despite the refresh, Lexus doesn’t appear bent on major investment in the current LS platform. Sales volumes for the 2026 Japan-spec LS are unlikely to surge given the aging model and modest updates. Industry whispers and Japanese outlets suggest Lexus may be rethinking the brand’s flagship direction — possibly replacing the traditional LS sedan with a luxury SUV in the future. That would mirror wider market trends where high-end buyers increasingly favor SUVs, though Lexus already fields upscale utility models like the unibody TX and body-on-frame LX alongside Century-badged offerings.
"The LS remains a refined, comfortable flagship for now, but its next chapter is uncertain," a Japanese motoring analyst told reporters.
Highlights:
- Standard new paint options and heated rear seats
- Competitive engine lineup: twin-turbo V6 or hybrid V6
- Slight price increases; premium Executive trims command significantly higher sums
For buyers who value classic full-size luxury and rear-seat comfort, the LS still delivers — even if its future direction may tilt toward crossovers and SUVs.
Source: autoevolution
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