Japan's finest

In a segment dominated by clinically executed mostly German luxo-barges, the Lexus LS 500h is an off the wall symphony of Japanese craftsmanship and engineering

- Dhruv Saxena

When you think of flagship luxury sedans, the first names that pop into your head are likely to be Germans viz. Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Audi A8. What if you’re someone who desires something slightly uncommon? Something offbeat? Something that is likely to stand out in your social circle dominated by the aforementioned Germans? Well, then might we interest you in the Lexus LS 500h.

Lexus is still finding its feet in India so you can rest assured there won’t be many, if any, LSs around which will bode well for those who’ve answered in the affirmative to the above questions. The LS with its flowing lines and sharp cuts and creases and slightly coupe-like profile lend it immense road presence. While the grille may look like the usual Lexus spindle grille found on all its models, the one that sits on the nose of the LS actually took three and half years to create! It is composed of 5,032 individual grid facets and is one of the many examples of fine craftsmanship that defines much of this sedan. There are enough pictures spread across these pages for you to drool over so we won’t waste time pointing out every single detail with the exception of the narrow rear end, which in our opinion, doesn’t quite match up to the rest of the head-turning exterior.