New-look Lexus LS breaks cover

First images of the heavily facelifted Lexus LS flagship have leaked online, days ahead of its global reveal and launch in California on Monday (July 30).

These two leaked images of the 2013 LS460 F Sport – seen for the first time on a Chinese website – show the design of the first performance LS variant and the same F Sport treatment will also be applied to the LS600hL hybrid.

Update: In response to the leaked photos, Lexus has posted the first official image of the Lexus LS460 F Sport on its Facebook page, providing another view of the vehicle.

What's obvious is that the facelifted vehicle's design is in line with Lexus' evolving design philosophy, first seen on the new GS large sedan and visible in concept cars like the Lexus LF-LC.

Presenting as a more assertive and altogether sportier vehicle, the new LS460 F Sport does not appear to be part of an all-new model line-up - as Lexus suggested it would be when it began its reveal campaign by releasing a moody teaser image a week ago - but a major midlife makeover for the Japanese brand’s top-shelf rear-wheel drive limousine.

The front-end has been completely reworked with a new front fascia that incorporates the new Lexus corporate identity - the gaping ‘spindle’ grille - plus new headlight clusters and large air intakes.

Likely to make its local debut at October’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, the revised LS sedan is expected to comprise at least four models - the 4.6-litre LS460 and 5.0-litre LS600hL hybrid in both standard and new F Sport forms, with the latter benefitting from cosmetic and chassis tweaks.

The new V8-powered Lexus LS will also form the basis of the first sportscar from Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), which motoring.com.au can confirm will be a twin-turbo monster outputting around 500kW. It will also get an aggressive bodykit, lower ride height and seamless-shift gearbox.

With no V8 planned for the Lexus GS series and the IS F sedan and upcoming cabriolet being far more compact sports models, the LS will be the only Lexus to combine German-style eight-cylinder performance with a spacious, luxury interior.

LS sales have been slow in Australia, where the short-wheelbase LS460 opens the range at $191,164, with just nine sold thus far in 2012, so the updated model cannot come soon enough for Toyota’s premium division. The 2013 LS range is expected to arrive in Australia in late December, just in time for Christmas.

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