Lexus admits LS flagship 'overdue'

When Lexus revealed the shiny new LF-FC limousine concept at last month's Tokyo motor show, it was widely understood to preview the next-generation LS flagship.

Lexus executive vice president Mark Templin insists the big, imposing concept does not preview the new LS, but admits a new Lexus limousine is increasingly late to the party that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and – soon – BMW's new 7 Series are revelling in.

"It is overdue, I'll admit that," he stated in Tokyo, before confessing that other vehicles that generate more profit for the brand have been the focus.

"When Akio [Toyoda, head of Toyota] asked me to come here four years ago we created a plan. And that plan included a lot of different things. And you can't do them all at once.

"The first stages of the plan were to unify our design language and change every one of our products in less than two years to have a new design language."

He said the company has achieved these goals while adding "more emotional cars, more F Sport cars," and more high-volume SUVs such as the new RX and all-new NX mid-sizer.

The current LS is almost a decade old and has been on sale in Australia since 2007, but despite the wait for its successor, Templin said a new LS remains a "huge priority".

"It's the most sophisticated car in our line-up. You don't want to bring a new LS to market until you're ready for it. So when we do bring the LS to market, you'll see it'll be a fantastic car," he said.

So when will the next Lexus LS break cover?

"We don’t have any announcements to make about the next LS yet," said Templin in terms of launch timing, but he did confirm it would deliver advancements in styling, performance and technology.

"In markets like the US and Australia people buy these cars because they want to drive them. They need to be fun to drive too."

With a car that can be expected to tip the scales north of two tonnes, it's going to need plenty of mumbo to be fun – which is where a new V8 could enter the equation, potentially turbocharged if it's to meet ever-tightening emissions controls.

Asked if the next LS could get a turbo V8, Templin grinned "maybe".

He later confirmed that Lexus would not scrap V8 power for the foreseeable future.

"We really like the V8 in our F performance cars right now. So yeah, I can see us having V8s for a considerable period time. For great big SUVs like the LX too.  I don't see us walking away from V8 anytime soon."