The Lexus LS may be in its twilight years, but the axe isn’t falling on the limousine in Australia just yet.
The full-size luxury sedan’s discontinuation was officially announced in Lexus’ largest market, the US, in 2025. Shortly thereafter at October’s Tokyo motor show, Lexus revealed two concepts wearing the LS name, pointing towards an entirely different shape for the Japanese luxury brand’s next-generation flagship.
However, the existing LS will continue into 2027, when the current, fifth-generation model will turn 10 years old.
“The Lexus LS will receive a minor technical update with updated vehicles due to go on sale in Australia towards the end of the year,” said a Lexus Australia spokesperson.
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Japanese outlet Creative Trend reports the updated LS will be launched in Japan in September and will feature a reinforced floor tunnel and vibration-absorbing material for the rear crossmember, changes claimed to result in improved ride comfort and steering.
Lexus will also reportedly add a panoramic glass roof, available as an option alongside the dated single-pane sunroof of the current model. It’s unclear if this will be a single fixed-glass panel or an opening, dual-pane panoramic sunroof; if it’s the latter, it won’t be the first Lexus model to simultaneously offer a choice of single-pane and dual-pane sunroofs.
However, Creative Trend reports that the updated LS will miss out on the latest generation of Lexus’ suite of active safety and driver-assist technology, which is called Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 and promises more “human-like active safety interventions”, despite this being introduced in the smaller new-generation ES.
The LS will also reportedly stick with the Toyota premium brand’s current generation of infotainment technology and its existing 12.3-inch touchscreen, instead of moving to a larger 14-inch display and the new Arene software platform like the ES.
Perhaps the most noteworthy change for the updated LS is the reported removal of the twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre petrol V6 engine used in the LS500.
This will leave just the LS500h, which features a 3.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid V6 powertrain.
It’s unclear how much life is left in the current LS, and what shape its successor will take.
The LS was Lexus’ debut model back in 1989, and every generation since then has taken the shape of a full-size sedan.
At last year’s Tokyo motor show, however, Lexus revealed a coupe-like SUV wearing the LS nameplate, as well as a bizarre six-wheel people mover.
Toyota also announced last year it was spinning off Century into its own brand, which will slot in above Lexus in the Japanese giant’s pecking order.