Lexus LS430 Redefining Automotive Perfection

KEY POINTS

• All-new LS430 improves on every area of famous Lexus quality and refinement to create a new luxury benchmark
• New 4.3-litre, 32-valve, V8 engine with Variable Valve Timing – intelligent (VVT-i) offers increased performance and ultra low emissions (Step IV) with improved fuel consumption
• Lowest Cd-value in the segment (Cd 0.25 with air suspension option – Cd 0.26 with coil suspension)
• Quieter, more spacious and more stylish interior
• New suspension for greater stability, response and handling, with an even smoother, quieter ride
• Incorporates some of the most sophisticated automotive technology available, including world firsts such as low reflection windscreen and switchable air suspension
• Boot is 24% larger than the previous model and now measures 573 litres
• Thermo-electric air-conditioned front seats with Premium Pack
• Electric memory rear seats with vibro-massage feature with Premium Pack
• Electronic soft-closing doors and boot lid
• Mark Levinson 11 speaker Hi-Fi system fitted as standard equipment
• 7.5 cm longer wheelbase provides more interior space
• DVD Lexus Navigator system fitted as standard equipment
• ‘Smart Key’ keyless entry system
• Automatic folding door mirrors
• Water repellant front and laminated front and rear side window glass
• Front and rear curtain shield and side airbags fitted as standard equipment
• Insurance group class leading 17E (two groups lower than LS400)
• Maximum speed 155mph, 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds
• The 225/55R 17 tyres were specially developed for the LS430 to combine cornering grip and wet weather performance with reduced rolling resistance to improve fuel economy
• CO2 emissions 289g/km
• Improved fuel consumption (Combined 23.5mpg, Urban 16.1mpg, Extra Urban 31.7mpg)
• Available in the UK from 6 November 2000
• On the road price for LS430 is £49,950, LS430 Premium Pack £53,950

The Best Luxury Car In The World

The new LS430 is the best luxury car in the world. A bold claim, but one its predecessor 10 years ago did not need to make as others proclaimed it as such. The new car is better in every respect, but is it the best? Unarguably the new LS430 is the quietest car in its class, the most aerodynamic and it has the highest level of specification with items as standard that rivals cannot match even if you could afford everything on their extensive options list.

A decade ago, the first generation Lexus LS400 established new benchmarks for performance, quality, quiet ride and luxury specification which worried the established manufacturers. Today, the new LS430 will give them another fright, but intermarque rivalry is not what it is all about. More important than that, customers will enjoy the quietest and most refined luxury car ever.

Supernatural Smooth

The new LS430 offers the refined driving experience, thanks to a smoother engine and a suspension designed to improve both handling and comfort. Powertrain innovations help ensure that the power delivery is as smooth as possible. Enormous effort was put into achieving the lowest Cd value in the luxury segment, so that the car could be quieter and fuel-efficient at the same time.

The interior space has also been increased thanks to a longer wheelbase, although the outside measurements of the car have barely changed.

The latest chassis developments give the driver of the LS430 the highest levels of confidence and stability in all road conditions. The ride is serenely quiet and comfortable, to elevate travelling refinement to a new world-class level. The new front and rear suspension are designed to offer an exceptionally flat ride and straight line stability under even the most adverse road conditions.

Talk Quietly and Hold a Big Stick

The new, whisper quiet engine fitted in the LS430 is a 4.3-litre, V8 with 32 valves and double overhead camshafts. Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i) eliminates the traditional compromise between low-end torque and high-rpm horsepower by optimising valve overlap throughout the engine’s speed range. It develops 281 hp (DIN) at 5,600rpm and 417Nm of torque at 3,500rpm. Lexus engineers reduced both the overall weight of the engine and the weight of component parts such as pistons. This, along with a reduction in the friction of moving parts made a significant contribution to reduced NVH and greater fuel efficiency.

Mated to a computer-controlled five speed automatic transmission, it powers the LS430 from 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds, and takes it up to a top speed of 155mph. In spite of all this power, the new engine meets future (Step IV) emission regulations.

Brain The Size of a Small Planet

The engine and gearbox management systems are among the most sophisticated available, controlling fuel injection and ignition timing to thousandths of a second. The engine and gearbox are controlled so accurately that the car can tell if it is going up or down hill and make changes accordingly, all to make the ride as smooth as possible.

Air suspension, available as standard on the Lexus LS430 Premium Pack, provides outstanding stability and ride quality. The system maintains vehicle ride height at a specified level regardless of the number of passengers or load level. It can be raised by 20mm for uneven roads and is automatically lowered at high speeds to improve aerodynamics. This generates a reduction in the coefficient of drag (Cd) from 0.26 to 0.25, the lowest of any car in the segment. A ‘sport’ setting is also incorporated that can be switched by the driver to provide a slightly firmer ride when required.

Ten Times Better Than Other Cars

In building the new LS430, Lexus used a supercomputer to digitise the precise surface design of the body. The unit of measure used was 1/1000 of a millimetre, 10 times more precise than the typical measurements used by other car manufacturers. The tighter construction tolerances allow visibly smaller gaps between the body, doors, engine and luggage covers. Along with flush glazing and careful control of aerodynamics, they contribute to major reductions in wind noise.

New welding methods, connections and structural design make the LS430’s body much more rigid. This and the ultra-precise build standards ensure even lower NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness).

Sleek Bullet Train Technology

The LS430 engineers used the same wind tunnel which was used for the development of the Shinkansen, or ‘Bullet Train’ that operates throughout Japan. This ‘quiet’ wind tunnel helped to provide accurate analysis and honing of the aerodynamic shape of the car to provide a quiet ride, better fuel efficiency and good high speed stability. The airflow under the car is controlled using a flat engine undercover, fairings around the fuel tank, rear suspension, exhaust system and rear bumper areas.

It’s The Feeling Inside

The new LS430 offers the highest standards of interior style and specification. Front headroom is increased by 25mm, whilst rear head room has gained 40mm. Before designing the LS430 interior, Lexus designers and engineers studied luxury and craftsmanship outside the automotive realm. They visited five-star hotels, including presidential suites and surveyed first class aircraft cabins and luxury jet interiors. They also studied luxury jewellery and watch makers at work, as well as visiting quality guitar makers, to learn their secrets of moulding wood.

All Lexus LS430’s offer full leather trim as standard. The hides used are rigorously selected to reduce the chance of imperfections. The LS430 Premium Package also offers a wood and leather multi-function steering wheel.

Rub The Boss Up The Right Way

Standard equipment on the Premium Pack includes rear seats with vibro-massage, heating and electric adjustment with memory functions. When the rear doors are opened, an auto-return function adjusts the seats back to the fully rearward position for ease of exit. Controls for the separate air conditioning with cool box are incorporated in the centre arm-rest together with individual controls for the Mark Levinson Hi-Fi system.

Another of the features which show that Lexus have thought of everything is the front passenger seat that can also be adjusted from a switch situated close to the driver’s seat to provide even more leg room for a rear seat passenger without the driver having to get out of the car.

Advanced Climate Control

The Lexus LS430 features the most sophisticated climate control systems ever fitted to a car. The system is equipped with a pollution sensor, not only detecting HC and CO as it did on the LS400, but now also able to trace NOx. As a result, it is now more sensitive to diesel-fumes.

The system also features intelligent ‘swing’ vents. At first the vents direct the airflow straight at the occupants. When the temperature in the interior has stabilised, the airflow is directed away from driver and passenger by a gently oscillating movement of the vents.

Sitting On Air

Also standard on the Premium Pack are Climate Control seats for the driver and front-seat passenger. These use built-in blowers to direct hot, cool or ambient air through the perforated seat upholstery to cool the parts other air conditioning systems cannot reach.

Navigation System

The highly acclaimed, user-friendly – not to mention seductively voiced – Lexus GPS satellite navigation system has been improved by upgrading from CD (compact disc) to DVD (digital versatile disc) storage. The size of the touch-screen has been increased to 7 inches, to improve ease of operation and visibility of the display. The DVD, which uses a smaller laser beam diameter, is able to store approximately 13 times the volume of data of a conventional CD. This allows the storage of most European countries’ road systems on a single DVD. The Lexus Navigator system can highlight points of interest, search for a house number or find petrol stations, in addition to showing the car’s exact position at any time on the dashboard screen and guiding its occupants with voice instructions to their selected destination.

Mark Levinson Audio

The US based Mark Levinson are one of the world’s most exclusive makers of home and concert audio systems. The company’s domestic systems cost between £15,000 and £80,000 and are the preferred choice of those who are particularly demanding when it comes to hi-fi sound. For the first time, Mark Levinson is supplying an audio system for cars, after the company judged the cabin ambience of the Lexus LS430 to be appropriate to allow occupants to experience the ultimate Hi-Fi.

The Mark Levinson audio system features a custom-designed amplifier and 11 specially developed Mark Levinson speakers spread over seven locations, linked to an AM/FM RDS radio system, cassette player and an in-dash six-CD auto changer. Special refinements include DC servos programmed in software in the seven-channel system to prevent DC interference reaching the speakers and analogue amplifiers.

More And More

There are many more features packed into the new LS430, all designed to provide a benefit to the driver or passengers. Some, like its use of recycled materials and 90% recyclability and low emissions, benefit the environment too.

Other features include rain repellent glass, low reflection windscreen, laminated side glass in the front to reduce wind noise, ‘Smart Key’ keyless entry and ignition, electric ‘soft’ door and boot closing, ignition switch-linked automatically retracting door mirrors, courtesy lights in the doors and under the door mirrors, to list but a few.

Safety is not forgotten with traction control, ABS, front and rear side air bags as well as the usual dual front air bags.

LS430 SPECIFICATIONS

LS430 SPECIFICATIONS – CONTINUED

LS430 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

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