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2001 Lexus LS 430 Leaps Ahead in Performance

12 September 2000

2001 Lexus LS 430 Leaps Ahead in Performance, Safety and Luxury But Maintains $54,005 Starting Price

    TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 12 Lexus will introduce the third
generation of its flagship sedan for 2001, making yet another leap forward in
the premium luxury segment.  The all-new LS 430 brings to market a new design
that's both edgier and roomier with new safety technology, a more engaging
driving experience and many significant luxury innovations.  And it will be
offered starting at the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of
$54,005, the same price as the current generation model.
    There are a variety of luxury selections available which include features
such as a European-tuned Sport Suspension, Air Suspension, Mark Levinson
premium audio system, a DVD-based Navigation System, Lexus Link service,
Intuitive Parking Assist, Climate Control Seats with Heating and Cooling and
Power Heated Rear Seats with Memory and Massage.
    A fully-loaded Ultra Luxury Selection LS 430 will be available for an MSRP
of $68,500.
    "With the LS 400, Lexus created the benchmark by which others are judged,"
said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny Clements.  "Now, as
the competition has caught up in many ways, we're going to set new, higher
standards with the LS 430."
    Lexus designed the new LS 430 to provide even more car than before, but
without adding excess size and weight.  The brand's renowned attention to
detail on every level has created a car of positive contrasts:

    -- A more muscular, "chiseled" design, yet with the optional air
       suspension, a wind-cheating 0.25 aerodynamic coefficient of drag (Cd)
       that nearly eliminates wind noise (0.26 with standard suspension); this
       industry low level was reached by fine tuning the airflow around
       bumpers, fenders, floorpan, mirrors and even the angle of the front
       grille bars;
    -- Increased performance, yet with Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV)
       certification and without an increase in fuel consumption (based on
       preliminary fuel consumption figures);
    -- Strong body structure and new safety technologies, with minimal
       additional weight (only 65 pounds over the previous LS 400);
    -- A more spacious interior, without taking up more space outside;
    -- More responsive handling, with an even smoother ride than before, and
    -- More advanced luxury features, with controls that are easy to use.

    "This latest Lexus flagship truly is new," said LS 430 Chief Engineer
Yasushi Tanaka.  "While some of the structural parts, nuts and bolts were
carried over from the previous generation LS, more than 90 percent of this car
is all-new."
    The original Lexus LS 400 made a powerful V8 engine the price of entry in
the premium luxury sedan segment at a time when some European competitors
provided only six-cylinder engines.  The new 290-horsepower 4.3-liter V8
engine in the LS 430, mated to a computer-controlled five-speed automatic
transmission, will accelerate the Lexus flagship sedan from 0-60 mph in a
sportscar-quick 6.3 seconds.  The LS 430 powerplant outclasses some
larger-displacement engines, due in large part to Variable Valve Timing with
intelligence (VVT-i).  VVT-i eliminates the traditional compromise between
low-end torque and high-rpm horsepower by optimizing valve overlap throughout
the engine's speed range, not just at one or two set speeds.
    The 4.3-liter V8 produces 320 lb.-ft. of peak torque, comparable to
competitors' larger engines.  Lexus tuned the LS 430 engine to produce more
torque across a broad engine speed range, making the car feel more responsive
under all driving conditions.
    A three-inch longer wheelbase (now 115.2 inches) and increased height give
the LS 430 more passenger room than the previous LS 400.  However, Lexus kept
overall length the same as before, 196.7 inches, to retain maneuverability.
The new LS 430 provides more front leg- and headroom than the externally
larger Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as well as more cabin volume (107.2 cu. ft. vs.
105.0 cu. ft.) and a larger trunk (20.2 cu. ft. - 17.5 cu. ft. with rear air
conditioner vs. 15.4 cu. ft.).
    The Lexus LS 400 has garnered more awards for quality than any other
luxury car and has won the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability
Study every year it has been eligible (the survey considers a vehicle's
five-year history).  Yet, continuous improvement resulted in 57 major
improvements to give the LS 430 even longer-lasting quality.
    To refine their own standards for attention to detail, Lexus designers and
engineers studied luxury and craftsmanship outside the automotive realm,
including five-star hotel rooms, private luxury jets, and high-end jewelry and
guitar makers.  To improve its already exemplary body panel fit, Lexus used a
supercomputer to digitize the LS 430 body surface, reducing the unit of
measurement to 1/1000 of a millimeter -- 10 times more precise than the 1/100
of a millimeter used before.
    The LS 430 goes on sale at Lexus' 187 dealer outlets on Oct. 12.  The
company expects to sell 25,000 LS 430s annually.  The LS 430 ad campaign will
break Saturday, Sept. 16 during the Olympics.  The theme of the national
advertising is "Imagine Driving It," and shows customers how an LS 430 can
move them in ways they never imagined.  Classic scenery, choreographed
movements and distinct music create unique, emotional imagery for the product.