2022 Lexus LS 500h Walkaround 🚗

The supreme smoothness, refinement and effortless power of the LS 500h have been further increased through technical revisions that strengthen the contribution of the lithium-ion high-voltage battery.

In making the changes, Lexus focused on improving the car’s drivability by increasing the level of assistance the battery provides to the electric motor, and expanding its range of operation. The focus was on the quality experienced in the “normal” driving that accounts for around 90% of the time on the road, when the driver is applying only moderate pressure on the accelerator pedal and only low G forces are generated.

As a result of the changes, less effort is needed to move faster: acceleration is smoother and more linear, keeping the vehicle stable and suppressing G forces. This makes for more comfortable city driving, but there are also benefits when travelling on winding routes, or when pulling away on an uphill gradient. Only slight pressure on the throttle is all that’s needed to make smooth and powerful progress.

With the hybrid battery playing a greater role, the engine is able to operate at lower rpm, which makes for even quieter running, for example when the engine restarts after a period of EV electric mode driving.

Performance of the twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine in the LS 500, available in Eastern European markets, has been improved with a revised shifting schedule for the 10-speed automatic transmission. Adjustment of the fuel injection control and a new lip design on the upper surface of the pistons ensures a rich fuel-air mixture around the spark plugs and has reduced noise, particularly when the engine is cold.

Achieving the best possible ride comfort has always been a touchstone quality for the LS and in its latest revisions, Lexus has looked to the performance of the tyres, the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), the anti-roll bars and even the construction of the seats to achieve improvements.

Where the tyres are concerned, the vertical stiffness of the sidewall has been reduced, without compromising their run-flat capability, to give a more comfortable ride.

The AVS benefits from a new linear solenoid and an enlarged flow path inside the control valve. This expands the dampers’ variable width, giving better performance over rough surfaces. As well as added comfort, this supports better steering response and vehicle stability. Adjustments to the rigidity of the anti-roll bars achieve a better load transfer during vehicle roll for a more a more comfortable vehicle posture when cornering, and line-tracing that’s more faithful to the driver’s intentions.

The quality of the seats is critical to the comfort experienced by driver and passengers, so Lexus has made changes that include new urethane seat padding, an additional, softer layer on top of the cushion padding and deeper seams between the cushion/backrest and the bolsters. The result is more comfort, less vibration and better body-holding.

Lexus takes all the effort out of parking with its fully automated Advanced Park system, appearing for the first time on the new LS 500h. It is also the first Lexus system and the first in the luxury car segment to have a memory function that will recognise and store details of spaces the driver uses regularly, making the parking process even easier.

The system goes further than any previous Lexus parking assistance technology, by controlling steering, throttle, brakes and transmission to execute safe and accurate manoeuvres. As well as being smooth and precise, it also operates promptly – the time taken to execute a parking manoeuvre is quicker than rival systems.

After drawing up alongside a parking space, the driver engages the system which then uses clearance sonars and the Panoramic View Monitor camera to gain a 360-degree view of the area and any obstacles. It automatically calculates the most efficient and safe parking manoeuvre, suppressing the vehicle’s speed if clearance is tight. The live image and clear graphics on the central display keep the driver informed of the vehicle’s path and any obstacles.

It will also operate regardless of whether the space is marked out with lines, or if there are no adjacent vehicles.

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