Lexus LS.
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With the recent launch of the 2026 ES sedan, Lexus just showed it is willing to take a few chances. While its new Japanese design is not as good as some of the previous generations from the California Calty design studio, it is quite a departure from the previous generation. And previous Lexus models in general.
The original LS was quite an event when it came out in 1989. Ever since it seems the big Lexus LS has been mostly stuck on repeat. Which is basically the problem with many successful cars. How do you redesign them?
Lexus has always been afraid of changing the car’s design too much, and they have been looking pretty boring for a while However, the current generation which came out in late 2017 really made an effort to look more modern. And that was 7 years ago. Since then, all its competition has been redesigned. And there is even a new one from the Genesis G90. It seems that either Lexus will abandon the LS or they’re working on the next one.
It seems a standard hybrid would be a no-brainer. It could even be a PHEV since the good old LS needs all the help it can get to stand out a bit. However, a pure EV is not out of the question since the new 2026 ES is now available as an EV as well as a Hybrid. An EV powertrain could bring the ultimate old-fashioned Lexus experience with total silence inside.
With just over 2000 units sold last year, the current LS is far from a big hit. But the large 4-door luxury sedan is a shrinking market these days. However, some are still more popular than others, much more. The Mercedes S-Class sold over 11,000 units in the US last year. Even the EQS EV sold over 6800 units that same year.
It seems only the Genesis G90 was less popular than the Lexus with just 1288 units sold…
Let’s hope Lexus is working on a next-generation LS. One that gets noticed again.
The illustration above shows what a future Lexus LS could look like if Lexus chose to stretch the envelope a bit more than usual…