Lexus · 2006–2017

Lexus LS600h

The Lexus LS (XF40) is the fourth generation of the Lexus LS—a series of full-size luxury cars. Produced by Lexus, the luxury division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, the XF40 served as the flagship vehicle of the former's lineup from 2006 until production ended in 2017. The successor to the XF30 LS, the development of the XF40 began under the direction of Moritaka Yoshida. Focusing on simplicity, the XF40 was designed by Yo Hiruta, incorporating the L-finesse design philosophy—first introduced in 2001 with the GS. The LS 460 debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006, while the hybrid–electric version, the LS 600h, was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April 2006. Official series manufacture began at the facility in Tahara, Aichi, in August 2006. Each XF40 model was produced in two wheelbase variants: a short-wheelbase version and a long-wheelbase version, the latter designated by an "L" at the end of the model name. The XF40 was the subject of two updates, the first of which occurred in 2009. This involved minor updates to its front and rear fascia, engine power, and interior. The second—and most significant—occurred in 2013, including noteworthy upgrades to incorporate the company's corporate fascia, comprising the implementation of the "spindle" grille and prominently redesigned headlamps. Production of the XF40 ended in October 2017, and it was replaced by the XF50 LS. The XF40 is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the World Car of the Year award in 2007.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Lexus UCF30 · Successor: Lexus USF50

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History

Toyota is a Japanese automaker that was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda. In August 1983, Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda initiated the F1 project ("Flagship" and "No. 1" vehicle; alternatively called the "Circle-F" project), a clandestine initiative aimed at creating a world-class luxury sedan for the global market. Over the course of six years of research and development, a team comprising 60 designers, 1,400 engineers across 24 teams, 2,300 technicians, and more than 200 support staff developed around 450 flagship prototypes and 900 engine prototypes, with the development representing an expenditure of over US$1 billion. In January 1989, the LS 400 debuted at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, Michigan, marking both the debut of the LS model and the Lexus brand. The second generation was released in 1995, followed by the third in 2000. The development of the fourth generation of the LS began around 2001, as Lexus was shifting its design strategy towards a more diversified product lineup, with new-vehicle launches largely focused on global markets. Development was led by Takeshi Yoshida, the managing officer of research and development at Lexus, and Satoru Maruyamano, chief engineer of the project, while the design of the car was completed under the direction of Yo Hiruta. Approximately 2,000 engineers were involved in the development of the then-forthcoming LS, known by the codename XF40. Five years after development began, the XF40 LS 460 debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January 2006, followed by the LS 600h L at the New York International Auto Show in April of that year. Official serial manufacture of the LS began at the facility in Tahara, Aichi, in August 2006. At launch, Lexus aimed to sell 30,000 LS 460s each year in t

Design and engineering

=== Exterior === The fourth generation Lexus flagship was the first LS to receive the styling cues of Lexus' new design direction, L-finesse. The design features body forms running the length of the car, with wheel arches, arrow-shaped chrome trim, a grille set slightly below the level of the headlamps, and a fastback rear decklid. Compared to the previous generation LS, the forward and aft coefficient of lift was reduced to 0.02 and 0.01, respectively, while aerodynamic drag remained the same (Cd 0.26). Exterior-wise, the LS 460 L has a similar profile as the LS 460, with identical overhangs in both front and rear; the rear passenger doors are noticeably longer in the stretched model. Design patents for the vehicle's exterior design, including front and rear fascias, side windows, and lights, were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 3 October 2005. Additional details of the design include adaptive headlamps housed in hand polished surrounds designed to look like Baccarat crystal tumblers, chrome exhaust vents integrated into the rear bumper, and "L"/"S" curve shapes. The fenders are produced using a 5200-ton press, which when introduced made it the world's strongest stamping press. The model's new paint finish is applied to bare-metal body panels which are first prepared by a six-axis buffing robot with 3D movements, the entire paint finish is wet-sanded twice by hand between layers of paint application. Both front and rear window frames are each constructed from a single die-cast zinc piece, plated in chrome and then polished by hand. Interior. Interior features include a 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System, Gracenote, and a 30 GB HDD with room for 2,000 songs. The fifth generation HDD-based Lexus navigation system feature

Variants

=== USF40 / USF41 (2006) === Introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, the redesigned LS was based on the LF-Sh concept vehicle and used an all-new platform. The initial models, the LS 460 (USF40) and long wheelbase LS 460 L (USF41), featured a new 4.6 L 1UR-FSE V8 producing 283 kW (380 hp; 385 PS) and 498 N⋅m (367 lb⋅ft) of torque. The LS 460 introduced the first production eight-speed automatic transmission and an automatic parking system. The LS 460 and LS 460 L first went on sale in Japan on 19 September 2006. It was the first time the car was sold under the Lexus marque in Japan, and identified the next phase of Lexus' launch as a global premium brand. Its exclusivity is shared with the Toyota Century and the Toyota Crown Majesta, which are only sold at dedicated Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Store. The LS 460 and LS 460 L arrived at dealerships in the United States on 20 October 2006. Sales of the LS 460 began in Europe in late 2006. In early 2007, the redesigned Lexus LS reached the Middle East and other Asian countries. The LS 460 arrived in Australia in mid-2007. The U.S. launch of the 2007 Lexus LS model was accompanied by special presentations at "460 Degrees" art galleries in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Miami, and New York City, and an outdoor vehicle art display at the World Financial Center in downtown Manhattan. The previous double-wishbone front suspension was replaced with a dual joint multilink design, with an all-electric system. To increase rigidity and lower unsprung weight, forged aluminum was used for the suspension links, front steering knuckles, and rear hub carriers. along with a single-piece hollow die-cast aluminum front subframe with machined mounting points, and approximately half of the body used high-tensile

Limited editions

=== Neiman Marcus === Specialty department store Neiman Marcus offered 100 individually numbered LS 600h L "Launch Edition" sedans for early 2007, available only through the Neiman Marcus catalog for InCircle members. These special models came in an exclusive Truffle Mica color with Alabaster interior, with chrome wheels and a customized Italian leather luggage set. The limited units were symbolically chosen to coincide with Neiman Marcus' centennial anniversary. Pebble Beach. For the 2009 model year, the LS 600h L was produced in a 50-unit "Pebble Beach Edition" in partnership with the Pebble Beach Company, operator of the namesake California golf courses and resorts. These vehicles featured Pebble Beach badging and tags, a two-tone interior, and the choice of a travel or merchandise package. The special edition was first shown at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Salone del Mobile. The 2006 Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week) exhibition at the Museo della Permanente in Milan, Italy, featured an LS 460 art model with a sculpted body along with a fiber-optic "Evolving Fiber" landscape. At 2007's Salone del Mobile, Lexus presented an "Invisible Garden" exhibition at the city's Zona Tortona featuring a frosted LS 600h hybrid model. The model was later shown at the Salon International de l'Auto (Geneva Motor Show). LS 600h L Landaulet. In 2011, an LS 600h L was converted to landaulet configuration for use at the wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock. The conversion was handled by Belgian coachmaker Carat Duchatelet in collaboration with Lexus. The LS 600h L Landaulet's rear cabin featured a transparent bubble roof with no additional reinforcement, and the vehicle received a bespoke, water-based blue livery. The car was used to transport

Concept models

=== LF-Sh === The Lexus LF-Sh concept previewed the appearance of the fourth generation USF40/USF41 design of the Lexus LS. This concept vehicle debuted at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. The designation refers to Lexus Future-Sedan hybrid, and the vehicle took the form of a hybrid standard wheelbase sedan model with all-wheel drive, LED headlamps, and integrated exhaust tips. No interior was shown. Lexus subsequently debuted a production hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive with the LS 600h/LS 600h L. Driving simulator. A specialized Lexus LS 460 is used in a warehouse-sized driving simulator at Toyota's Higashifuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan. This vehicle is mounted inside a 4.5 by 7.0 m (14.8 by 23.0 ft) high dome, and surrounded by a 360° projector screen. This setup is used to simulate the audiovisual and vibration aspects of driving. Simulator data is directly transmitted to a strut/track-mounted driver occupant dome containing the forward cabin of an LS 460, creating the impression of forward movement in a three-dimensional environment. The occupant dome further simulates vehicle motion. The driving simulator is used for testing and development of automotive safety features in a secure environment. LS 460 ITS-Safety. For the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS-Safety) 2010 exhibition at the Miraikan museum in Tokyo, the LS 460 ITS-Safety concept was shown. The ITS-Safety concept included road-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle information-exchange technologies. The LS 460 ITS-Safety concept was equipped with radar cruise control and automatic parking driver-assist systems. LS TMG. In September 2011, photos were taken of a heavily modified LS, later revealed to be the LS TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH) prototype spotted on the Nürburgring. Aside from a redesigned

Specifications

Different models based on the standard (USF40) and long wheelbase (USF41) platforms were sold worldwide. From 2007, rear-wheel drive was offered with the 4.6 L gasoline powered V8, and all-wheel drive was featured with the 5.0 L hybrid V8. Some markets received a modified 4.6 L V8 engine without direct injection. The standard (UVF45) and long wheelbase (UVF46) hybrid models featured a two-stage planetary-gear continuously variable transmission (CVT). The LS 600h L was sold in major global markets in North America, Asia, and Europe, while the LS 600h was sold in Asian and European markets.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Lexus LS (XF40)

Manufacturer

Toyota

Production

August 2006 – October 2017

Model years

2007–2017

Assembly

Japan: Tahara, Aichi (Tahara plant)

Designer

Yo Hiruta (2003, 2004)

Class

Full-size luxury car

Body style

4-door sedan

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive

Platform

Toyota N platform

Related

Toyota Century (G60) (for LS 600h L)

Engine

4.6 L 1UR-FE V8, 4.6 L 1UR-FSE V8, 5.0 L 2UR-FSE V8 (hybrid)

Transmission

8-speed AA80E RWD automatic, 8-speed AA80F AWD automatic, Hybrid Synergy Drive L110F AWD automatic

Length

2006–2009:, SWB: 5029 mm, LWB: 5151 mm, 2009–2017:, SWB: 5060 mm, LWB: 5179 mm

Width

1875 mm

Height

1476 mm, 1481 mm (hybrid), 1466 mm (air suspension)

Wheelbase

SWB: 2969 mm, LWB: 3091 mm

Kerb weight

SWB: 1950 -, LWB: 2040 -

Predecessor

Lexus LS (XF30)

Successor

Lexus LS (XF50)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1477236CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS_(XF40)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375300144 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LS_600h_L_Verdigris_Mica.jpgCC BY 3.0 · Photo: Altair78 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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