Rumormill: Lexus LS could get a V6
The Lexus LS is supposedly in line for a V6 engine. The suggested powerplant is Toyota's 3.5-liter unit tuned to produce 310 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. A comparable car would be BMW's 740i, offered in Europe with a 3.0-liter inline putting out 326 horses and 332 lb-ft. The Toyota's numbers are down slightly, but since the V8-powered LS460 already weighs less than the BMW 740i, the additional weight savings of a Lexus V6 should allow it to move along just fine.
If a V6 LS does bow with the coming, facelifted car, we might not see it in America. The trend among automakers is not to bring their frugal luxury to our shores; BMW also offers its 7 Series in Europe with a 3.0-liter diesel, for example. On the other hand, the six-cylinder LS could help dress up Lexus's CAFE numbers, and assuming California's new, more restrictive emissions standards get the green light, we think that might make a V6 LS even more likely.
[Source: Paul Tan]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
StickShift 7:19PM (2/01/2009)
I think you mean 278 lb-ft of torque. 378lb-ft would be damn impressive out of a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6.
Reply
justinjonesasu 7:22PM (2/01/2009)
BMW V-6? you're on crack
StickShift 7:23PM (2/01/2009)
The Toyota six, not the BMW. Read the article.
Jake B 7:27PM (2/01/2009)
I agree with 278 ft lb as well. 378 would be way out of character for a Lexus, grandpa might have a heart attack with that much torque.
IK 8:52PM (2/01/2009)
"A comparable car would be BMW's 740i, offered in Europe with a 3.0-liter V6 putting out 326 horses and 332 lb-ft. "
what's a V6?
roadkillrob 9:44PM (2/01/2009)
This is an example of how many facts you can get wrong in 2 paragraphs, a BMW having V6 and the Toyota 3.5l making almost 400 ft-lbs of torque!
Might as well say the car flies as that is about as accurate as all the other facts in this - quality on the writing is falling off lately!
Dan 11:52PM (2/01/2009)
378 lb-ft would be out of character and scare geezers? This class of car is about effortless excess.
The existing V8 delivers 380 hp, 367 lb-ft. Which is in no way out of line with the competition.
Flashpoint 11:58PM (2/01/2009)
The Ls is HEAVY.
Anything less than a Twin Turbo V6 wouldn't even be worth looking at.
Nick 2:21PM (2/02/2009)
Or they could simply 'cut' the LS. Nothing but a bloated road baleen.
Mobius_1 6:13AM (2/02/2009)
@ roadkillrob
Maybe they are still hungover from all that beer on Super Bowl weekend. I'll let them off the hook this time. But if the writing gets worse than this I guess TTAC can expect a new job application! :P
Quattroporte 7:25PM (2/01/2009)
"A comparable car would be BMW's 740i, offered in Europe with a 3.0-liter V6 putting out 326 horses and 332 lb-ft."
Since when does BMW make a V6?
Reply
chconline 7:32PM (2/01/2009)
The 7-series are only featured with I6 and V8s haha. You're correct.
Joe K. 7:31PM (2/01/2009)
yeah 378 would need some form of power adder.
I think the current power is 278 of twist...
Reply
Affalterbach 8:34PM (2/01/2009)
I read somewhere that the V6 could be paired with a Hybrid system, to provide the motivation this big car needs.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:46PM (2/01/2009)
Because what I always thought is "This Lexus needs to be slower."
Reply
Quattroporte 7:57PM (2/01/2009)
Given their reputation for squidgy handling you may be right.
MikeW 8:00PM (2/01/2009)
Toyota could offer it in two flavors:
regular wheelbase, rear drive (8 speed automatic of course) 3.133 axle ratio (from LS460 four wheel drive) and 235/50 18 tires
long wheelbase, four wheel drive (8 speed auto) 3.916 axle ratio (from LS hybrid) 245/45 19 tires
Both could pull 15@95 in the 1/4, so that wouldn't be 'slow'
MikeW 8:25PM (2/01/2009)
Maybe Toyota would be so gracious at to allow you to reach a drag limited top speed.
The rear drive LS could reach 160 mph (in 6th gear), the four wheel drive 155 mph (in 7th gear)
DKB_SATX 12:47PM (2/02/2009)
I'd venture to guess that most LS drivers rarely use a significant fraction of the V8's available power... the V6 would be fine, especially if it weren't obvious that they bought the "bargain" version so they could still look all showy down at the club.
bc 7:50PM (2/01/2009)
The real problem, as with the Acura RL, is that all the other boys in the country club locker room make fun of you if you have less than 8 cylinders. So a 6-cylinder LS is going to be a car for the gals, leading to the question, is the target market large enough to make it worthwhile?
Reply