The 2021 Lexus LS 500 will begin arriving at dealerships in late November of 2020 while LS 500h models are expected to arrive at dealerships in early 2021.

Engine

The 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine on the LS 500 offers 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. The engine features a newly developed piston with a lip shape on the piston top to help realize low emissions and quiet operation when the engine is cold. The 10-speed automatic transmission also receives attention, as its shift logic is re-calibrated to aid in keeping the engine in a more responsive area of its powerband.

The LS 500 AWD delivers a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds. The driver can tailor powertrain response and feel by choosing from Eco, Comfort, Normal, Custom, Sport S or Sport S+ modes. The standard AWD system features a Torsen limited-slip center differential. The torque distribution can vary from 31 percent front / 69 percent rear on dry roads to as much as 48 percent front / 52 percent rear on slick surfaces.

The LS 500h uses a Multistage Hybrid System that combines a naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with two electric motor/generators powered by lithium-ion battery. The combined system output of the internal combustion engine with the electric traction system is 354 hp, enabling the LS 500h AWD to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

Interior

Details such as armrests, seat cushions, center console armrest padding and other touchpoints receive additional foam material. The front seats have also been altered with revised seat springs and thicker cushioning material.

Controls on the steering wheel and center console have been uniformly coloured black for improved visibility and a clear-cut impression. Also, a switch for displaying on the touch display the controls for the often-used seat heaters and steering wheel heater has been added to the center console.

For 2021, a new Palomino Leather interior and a new Black Laser Special interior ornamentation will be available.

The new 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen provides control options for driver and passenger. All LS models for 2021 come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.  New for 2021, all LS models are compatible with the Lexus App, which includes a three-year trial to Enform Remote. This allows Guests to start and stop their engine, lock and unlock their doors and more through their smartphone, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant-enabled devices and select smartwatches.

Integrated into the LS 500’s cabin is the next-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI). In addition to the 12.3-inch-wide touchscreen and navigation display, the LS can incorporate a standard 24-inch color heads-up display (HUD) that projects a variety of information onto the driver’s forward view. For 2021, the available digital rearview mirror features a larger high-resolution display for improved visibility of the area behind the vehicle.

F SPORT Package

In the F SPORT version of the LS, the garnish of the sub-radiator grilles wraps around to the sides. Other elements that help to accentuate the F SPORT’s more dynamic image include a dedicated colour for the spindle grille and 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/45RF20 front and 275/40RF20 rear tires in either summer performance or all-season compounds.

It’s equipped with six-piston aluminum monoblock callipers with ventilated 400 mm rotors in front and four-piston callipers with 359 mm rotors in the back.

F SPORT 28-way electric/pneumatic seats with passenger-seat power cushion-length extenders brace occupants when driving through curves.

Advanced Safety Features and Driver Support

All grades of the 2021 LS feature Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard equipment.

The Pre-Collision System (PCS) included with LSS+ 2.0 employs both a millimetre-wave radar and a monocular camera sensor system designed to detect a preceding vehicle, a bicyclist in daytime situations as well as a preceding vehicle and a pedestrian in both daylight and low-light situations.

The Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system is designed to alert the driver when it senses that the vehicle is deviating from its lane with audible and visual alerts, as well as steering wheel vibration. It’s also capable of providing a certain amount of steering assist to help keep the car from deviating from its marked lane.

The Lane Departure Alert with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) system comes standard and is designed to detect visible lane markings to determine lane position and place the vehicle in the center of the lane when working in conjunction with the All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. If road markings are not detected, LTA is also capable, in certain conditions, of following the car ahead of it.

The Lexus Safety System+ A offers additional equipment and is available as an option. Both systems, in addition to other technologies, help to support more secure driving in a broad range of situations, providing the driver with information ranging from support status notifications to information on vehicle behaviour during safety feature operation via the multi-information display and, when equipped, the large colour head-up display (HUD).

Lexus Safety System+ A encompasses an expanded response range of the Pre-Collision System (PCS). It includes Front Lateral Side PCS, which employs a lateral side radar designed to detect vehicles approaching diagonally in front of the Lexus. If the system determines a collision may occur, it warns the driver to perform evasive maneuvers. Additionally, Brake Assist is applied if the system determines there is a high probability for a collision, helping the driver avoid a collision or mitigate the impact force to occupants and the vehicle. Intersection Turning Assist is also newly added to LS for LSS+ A, which is designed to detect oncoming vehicles from the front when turning left at an intersection as well as crossing pedestrians approaching from the front when turning right or left. Front Cross-Traffic Alert (FCTA) is designed to, under certain circumstances, warn the driver of vehicles or bicycles approaching from the left or right at intersections.

Active Steering Assist (ASA) has the potential to help reduce the severity of, or prevent collisions with, a preceding pedestrian that may not be avoided through automatic emergency braking alone. The system is designed to detect certain situations where there is a high probability of a collision with a pedestrian in the vehicle’s lane of travel or with a continuous structure, such as a guardrail. If the system is able to recognize the lane markers on both sides of the vehicle, and the system determines that avoiding or mitigating a collision through brake control alone may not be likely, but that it might be avoided or mitigated with steering assist, the system assists in collision mitigation or prevention by providing a limited amount of automatic steering assist within the lane in addition to activating an alert and applying the brakes.

Lane Change Assist is added to Lane Tracing Assist. Lane Change Assist allows the vehicle to perform a driver-triggered and monitored lane change using the front camera, millimetre-wave radar, front side radar sensor and Blind Spot Monitor sensor when Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist are in use. Lane Change Assist uses driver activation of the turning signal as a cue to engage and supports lane changes by monitoring the surrounding road environment and, at the appropriate timing, controls steering as well as acceleration and deceleration.

Available on all LS models for 2021 is Lexus Enform Safety Connect (3-year trial included), Enform Remote (3-year trial) and Lexus Enform Service Connect (10-year trial).