Lexus LS460 voted world car of the year

[ifcar]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Car_Shows_and_Concept_Cars/New_York_Auto_Show/Lexus_LS460_Is_World_Car_of_the_Year.S293.A12181.html

Lexus has captured top honors in the third annual World Car of the Year balloting. The LS460 was picked by a panel of 45 journalist-jurors from around the world who had 28 different models to consider, ranging from Asian small cars to European sports sedans.

"Our intention, internally, was to develop the most innovative, luxurious car we could produce," said Bob Carter, U.S. general manager of the Lexus division, as he accepted the World Car of the Year trophy.

The international event, held at this year's New York Auto Show, reflects changing global realities, declared organizer and journalist Peter Lyon. "The concept of national borders is almost non-existent," he said, adding that such as award was "inevitable."

Along with the world car-of-the-year award, three other trophies were handed out. In the increasingly competitive World Green Car category, Mercedes-Benz's new E320 Bluetec diesel car claimed top honors, besting the BMW Hydrogen7 and Volkswagen's Polo BlueMotion diesel. Mercedes officials were clearly pleased and can be expected to heavily promote the award in their push to rebuild the U.S. market for diesels.

Audi took top honors in two other categories. The recently-redesigned TT was named World Car Design of the Year, out-polling both the Citroen C4 Picasso and Fiat Grande Punto. "The previous car was an icon," said Johan de Nysschen, head of Audi operations in the U.S., which made it extremely challenging to come up with a successor, but he declared the new model, both "true" to the original, while being both "bold and modern."

Meanwhile, Audi's compact muscle car, the RS4, was named World Performance Car, besting some stiff competitors, the BMW 335i and Porsche's newly-redesigned 911 Turbo.

[thewizard16]

Interesting. Where do they tell you how they pick the winners? At any rate, it's an impressive machine, I just don't think it's a very appealing car to the enthusiast crowd. I'm glad to see the Blutec win the Green car category though, maybe that will help put diesel into the minds of more luxury car buyers.

[850CSi]

So, what's so special about it?

[Submariner]

 

There are far more worthy cars than the LS-460.  It's a floaty luxury saloon with a lot of electronics.  I see nothing special about it. 

[ro51092]

I hate that car with a passion.

[sandertheshark]

So, what's so special about it?

It can parallel park itself and... well, that's about it really.

[sandertheshark]

I hate that car with a passion.

I wouldn't be found shot behind the wheel of one, but I don't hate it.  It's the perfect car for its market.  I wouldn't want to see my grandmother driving anything else.

[goldenlover1101]

My girlfriend would probably be able to parallel park this thing...but other than that I would never own this car. Its perfectly fine for its market, but there are many, many, MANY care better deserving of this award.

[sandertheshark]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Car_Shows_and_Concept_Cars/New_York_Auto_Show/Lexus_LS460_Is_World_Car_of_the_Year.S293.A12181.html
The LS460 was picked by a panel of 45 journalist-jurors from around the world who had 28 different models to consider...


Audi took top honors in two other categories. The recently-redesigned TT was named World Car Design of the Year...

Meanwhile, Audi's compact muscle car, the RS4, was named World Performance Car, besting some stiff competitors, the BMW 335i and Porsche's newly-redesigned 911 Turbo.

These guys have a thing for fat pigs. 

[JYODER240]

The LS does a great job at doing what designed to do. Great interior, tomb-like quite, refined, high-tech, relieble, and gets you from A to B in a ton of comfort.

[thewizard16]

The LS does a great job at doing what designed to do. Great interior, tomb-like quite, refined, high-tech, relieble, and gets you from A to B in a ton of comfort.

Precisely. As far as the luxury side of being a luxury car (people seem to think that luxury cars must also be crisp handling sports sedans, which they never were, until recently) the Lexus fits the bill extremely well. It does luxury well, it does quality well, and it's high tech, it just isn't fun to drive or particularly attractive.

[JYODER240]

Precisely. As far as the luxury side of being a luxury car (people seem to think that luxury cars must also be crisp handling sports sedans, which they never were, until recently) the Lexus fits the bill extremely well. It does luxury well, it does quality well, and it's high tech, it just isn't fun to drive or particularly attractive.

Yep, its one of the best cars out there for the passenger.

[850CSi]

The LS does a great job at doing what designed to do. Great interior, tomb-like quite, refined, high-tech, relieble, and gets you from A to B in a ton of comfort.

Agreed.

That said, why the hell does that make it "World Car of the Year"? The title implies that the vehicle must do something exceptionally well or feature a special technology, but quite frankly the LS is the same car as its predecessor - with the exception of the insanely expensive "parallel parking" gimmick (I believe that people who can't parallel park shouldn't be driving in the first place).

The Bluetec or the Hydrogen 7 are far more deserving of this award.

[Raghavan]

If i'm not driving, i'd like one.

[850CSi]

(people seem to think that luxury cars must also be crisp handling sports sedans, which they never were, until recently)

Mercedes built enormous barges in the '60s and '70s that were far more dynamically capable than today's LS. No one's complaining because it doesn't drive like a sports car, people don't like it because it's about as dynamically capable as a cow.

[the Teuton]

Agreed.

That said, why the hell does that make it "World Car of the Year"? The title implies that the vehicle must do something exceptionally well or feature a special technology, but quite frankly the LS is the same car as its predecessor - with the exception of the insanely expensive "parallel parking" gimmick (I believe that people who can't parallel park shouldn't be driving in the first place).

The Bluetec or the Hydrogen 7 are far more deserving of this award.

My friend did a report on that technology for one of his classes.  To make you feel better, that $17,000 parallel parking system costs about $2,000 in the JDM Prius, the first car to have it.  Do you know what that's called?  Profit whoring an ignorant public.

[sportyaccordy]

My friend did a report on that technology for one of his classes. To make you feel better, that $17,000 parallel parking system costs about $2,000 in the JDM Prius, the first car to have it. Do you know what that's called? Profit whoring an ignorant public.

LMAO.

The LS is alright. I still think they should have went with a V12 over that silly hybrid system.

[TheIntrepid]

My friend did a report on that technology for one of his classes.  To make you feel better, that $17,000 parallel parking system costs about $2,000 in the JDM Prius, the first car to have it.  Do you know what that's called?  Profit whoring an ignorant public.

Uh... no. The JDM Prius does NOT parallel park itself. Link?

[heelntoe]

yes it does.
here

[Raza]

Uh... no. The JDM Prius does NOT parallel park itself. Link?

Yeah, it came out a year before the LS460.

[The Pirate]

I really like the LS of yore, and the new one isn't bad either.  Not something I would buy for myself, but it's certainly a worthy car.

[850CSi]

Mercedes built enormous barges in the '60s and '70s that were far more dynamically capable than today's LS. No one's complaining because it doesn't drive like a sports car, people don't like it because it's about as dynamically capable as a cow.

Oh, and I don't know why this didn't occur to me before, but there's nothing an LS does better than the current S-Klasse (whether its ride quality, smoothness, etc.). For the price, yes, but overall the MB is a better car. And it's dynamically capable without being a "sports car". Come to think of it, how do people drive these things on a snowy day? RWD, a lot of power, the traction control isn't defeatable, and you don't feel anything through the steering wheel. 

[JYODER240]

Oh, and I don't know why this didn't occur to me before, but there's nothing an LS does better than the current S-Klasse (whether its ride quality, smoothness, etc.). For the price, yes, but overall the MB is a better car. And it's dynamically capable without being a "sports car". Come to think of it, how do people drive these things on a snowy day? RWD, a lot of power, the traction control isn't defeatable, and you don't feel anything through the steering wheel.?

You can disable traction control on the LS.

[The Pirate]

Oh, and I don't know why this didn't occur to me before, but there's nothing an LS does better than the current S-Klasse (whether its ride quality, smoothness, etc.). For the price, yes, but overall the MB is a better car. And it's dynamically capable without being a "sports car". Come to think of it, how do people drive these things on a snowy day? RWD, a lot of power, the traction control isn't defeatable, and you don't feel anything through the steering wheel. 

Plus all of those cars are pretty heavy, with a decent weight distribution; which is going to translate into more traction.

[850CSi]

You can disable traction control on the LS.

I was misinformed then. But why the hell can you disable TC on the LS and can't on the IS?

[850CSi]

Plus all of those cars are pretty heavy, with a decent weight distribution; which is going to translate into more traction.

Better traction yes, better overall no. There was a major debate on this between Mark (6er) and Tave.

[cawimmer430]

Why do these journalists have a thing for overrated Toyota's with leather?



Seriously, the LS is a good car, but it has too many faults to be considered perfect. Every review here in Europe has complained about weak brakes and a pathetic load capacity (less than 400 kg). The load capacity is extremely pathetic. The standard LS460 can only carry four average sized adult but no luggage. It will be worse on the hybrid LS since the batteries and hybrid system add a lot of weight. But hey, it's got self-parking! 90 year old senile men who eat their dinner through a straw love this kind of stuff. 

[SVT_Power]

good evening mr. wimmer

[cawimmer430]

good evening mr. wimmer

Back from Italy. Saw no Lexus there!!! Hell yeah!

[SVT_Power]

congrats