IL Track Tested: 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport vs. 2009 BMW 750i Sport

Well, to be fair, sport package or not, the LS has never been a sports sedan. It's mission has always been to compete with Mercedes, not BMW.

@billt9:

if you wanted you could take the $13,000 difference put it in to the LS and have similar numbers.

Next to the 7-Series the LS looks to have the upper hand in appearance and aggressiveness. Certainly one of the LSs best angles.

And how did motortrend get the LS to 60 in 5.4 sec to this 6.4? there must be error because if the older LS460 hit 60 in 5.6 how could this -with a supposed quicker transmission- reach the same time so much slower?

@bankerdanny,
True, but the S550 (heaver long-wheelbase version and all) did considerably better than the Lexus back in April. It posted a slalom speed of 63.4mph and a skidpad number of 0.87g, plus it stopped from 60-0 in only 108ft. A lot of that credit goes to the tires, but they are standard issue on the sport-package.

Anyway, this just proves that the "sport" package is more name than substance, but that doesn't bother me. The LS is an immensely more refined car than the 7-Series (just take a glimpse at the noise readings for a hint) and appeals to a totally clientele. People wanting a Lexus are going to get a Lexus, people wanting BMW performance are not going to like the Lexus's stodgy looks and built-for-America seats that lack any semblance of lateral support, they are going to get a BMW. The Lexus sport-package is more about dressing up the exterior and I personally think potential buyers are going to love it for that.

*totally different clientele

Argh, oh how I pine for the days when sleep was plentiful. :)

Sorry, they messed up the front end with that definitely-more-Toyota-than-Lexus 'honeycomb' grille for 2010. Looks cheap, and straight from the Corolla parts bin.

The toyota LS is a nice car but i just dont see it in the same level with bmw 750i,mercedes S500 and audi A8 i do like the S class and audi A8 but the LS,well its the ultimate driving toyota oops......

awesome the regular LS460 gets 5.8 sec and 63 mph.

Sports package decreases performance substantially. Must be grandma's idea.
Its especially made for you, young lady!
http://www.insideline.com/lexus/ls-460/2007/full-test-2007-lexus-ls-460.html

lexus claims that the ls460 can hit 0-60 mark in 5.4 sec and this is for the normal version then how is it possible for the ls460 when opted with a sport package to hit 0-60 mark in 6.4 sec...how is it possible...there must be some error in typing

What Edmunds needs to do is, Hire me to drive both cars. Put 100k miles on both cars which will include driving almost 20 hours a day. After the 100k miles do a quality check, and see which car will last and which car had more problems and will have problems. Now thats how you measure a car, not by 0-60mph specially on a Family sedan car.

That acceleration time is WAY off. I don't what's up with IL's instrumented testing but some cars they test are simply much too slow. I wouldn't even print those numbers because there is obviously something wrong if a car is a half second or more behind the anticipated time. There is now way on earth this car shouldn't accelerate to 60 in less than 6 seconds let alone MORE than 6 seconds.

I like the LS. Maybe they should've thrown some wider rear tires on it since the rear end is losing grip but otherwise I think they've done a nice job. The interior is nicer than the 7 and I'm sure it rides better all while costing less.

Full disclosure: I think you would have to have some sort of brain tumor to pay that much money for any car........

I think the Lexus is much nicer looking than the BMW, let the flaming begin!

That Lexus sure is nice looking, especially next to big-piggie 7-series. Meh, I don't think the results are surprising in the slightest. Lexus is not more going after BMW than they went after Jag. Their target is Mercedes.

fuhteng-
Good thing they weren't targetting Jag, an XJ Supersport is/will be significantly faster, at least in a straight line; even the old XJR would smoke that 7 series.

But yeah, what the hell happened with this thing, what's with the crap testing numbers on the LS?

The toyolexus got owned, big time.
Just as expected!
Just as the amazing BMW brakes, with no drama!
BMW is the KING.

I've put a TON of miles on both BMW and Lexus vehicles. WITHOUT A DOUBT, give me the keys to the Lexus. So what if it's a few tenths off at the track, I don't drive on the track. I drive in the real world, and to me, they aren't comparable. The Lexus just works, and works well.

As much fun as I'm sure the BMW would be to drive, I'd have to try this new 750 out before I can really comment on it. The LS 460 was a blast when I drove it, and it responded well to my often spirited driving style and lead foot. It's the perfect road-trip vehicle, IMO.

However, with these times take into account that the lexus only has ~600 miles on it when it was tested. The BMW had more miles and was broken in, maybe that accounts for the slower times.

I don't know why so many here threw a big fit because of the LS's performance numbers as Edmunds acceleration numbers have consistently been on the conservative side. In reality the Lexus is about half a second faster in the 1/4 and has a higher trap speed vs these test results.

"The toyota LS is a nice car but i just dont see it in the same level with bmw 750i,mercedes S500 and audi A8 i do like the S class and audi A8 but the LS."

Bemerfreak, you obviously haven't driven an LS as it is a world class luxury flagship. I've been in a couple of current LS's a long wheelbase and the standard car (my father is a Toyota/Lexus product planner) and both LS's represented the Lexus brand well. The luxury, craftsmanship, build quality, refinement, solidity were all at high levels and were consistent with each car.

"Anyway, this just proves that the "sport" package is more name than substance, but that doesn't bother me. The LS is an immensely more refined car than the 7-Series (just take a glimpse at the noise readings for a hint) and appeals to a totally clientele. People wanting a Lexus are going to get a Lexus, people wanting BMW performance are not going to like the Lexus's stodgy looks and built-for-America seats that lack any semblance of lateral support, they are going to get a BMW. The Lexus sport-package is more about dressing up the exterior and I personally think potential buyers are going to love it for that."

Mercedesfan, I totally agree with you as I don't think Lexus wanted the LS to be an overly aggressive sedan in the first place. Instead of comparing the LS Sport to the 750 IL should have compared it to a standard LS.

Gee, I guess that I'll just stick with my 09 G8GT, which is faster than both of these cars, handles better and braking about the same distance. Interior room is greater and so is the trunk space. Not to mention the gas mileage is better too, and using unleaded regular at that!

For the $46K savings I can buy all the electronic doo dads, and enough wood and Corinthian Leather to equal what their interiors offer, with quite a bit of change left over. Hell, I could even order EVERTHING in the JC Whitney catalog and still save money!

BMW>>>>>>>>>>Lexus clearly...more sporty, better looking, nicer interior, better performance...if you're going to spend the money, mine as well get the superior car, which is the BMW.

hondacura4,
we're "throwing a fit" because both the LS460 and LS460L were already tested by Edmunds, and both are faster and handle better than this "Sport" edition.

Maybe it iced over at Edmunds on test day.

6.4 seconds to 60 mph seems little to long for a Lexus LS460 with 380 horsepower and 8 speed auto. Thats comparable to an Acura TSX V6 with 280 horsepower and 5 speed auto. I know the weight facter between the Acura and Lexus is great but the BMW can pull out a 5.2 to 60 mph considering the same (obese) weight with a six speed auto.

No wonder BMW is the ultimate driving machine!

sorry guys, LS460 is a boat. Just like every other lexus except the IS-F. I've driven the family's LS460 over a course of 2 1/2 years and it shares parts with Toyotas.

It's great at carrying around passengers and leisurely drives... not something I would pay 70k+ for.

I would hope that it would at least match or exceed something in the sports/handling category- at least that would be a compromise.

Wow, there really is a big difference in the noise readings!

Between the 2, I would go with LS460. Mainly because it's much quiter, and I can enjoy the audio system a lot more. Besides, if I want something fast and exciting, the dollar saved by buying Lexus over BMW is enough for a Hayabusa, which, can run 0-60mph in 2.5s and 1/4mile in 9s at 150mph.

Lexus LS460 "Sport" must be the ultimate pointless car - why would any normal human beings ever consider buying a LS(the ultimate moving sofa) with Sport badge? To impressive your no.11 girlfriend?

For this class of car this pretty much sums it up:

Lexus: Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 58.2
BMW: Db @ 70 mph cruise: 66.7

Given the logarithmic nature of dB that is just an amazing difference.

Put another way...Lexus wins!

LS cutomers don't cross shop german bands as much as you think. People buy lexus because of the fancy building and customer service. Lexus deserves props for that. And the car is pretty reliable to boot. You can't blame people of wanting a car they don't have to bring back to service every 5 days for a problem

But for what they are, Lexus' are not performance oriented. They are designed to be a lazy boy on wheels.

It's a better Cadillac for a younger buyer.

You can see why Lexus can spend 10 million dollars on tag mahal showrooms and give customers everything they complain about and always say yes.

There's no way a car like that should cost 80 grand.

Look whay Hyundai does for less than 50 grand with a V8 Genesis.

Reading the responses from toyota fanboys is always hilarious, especially in regards to this big one tested here. So you say it's quieter, it's more comfortable, it's cushier; yeah, ok, but the point is, this one here is intended to be the 'sport' model, and it frankly got its ass kicked. Sorry boys, that's a fact.

They have their priorities and their core, the same as BMW. Their focus has always been on building cushy, conservative cars, sold by pampering kiss-asses to uptight softies who couldn't care less about having fun while driving: They should stick to that, and leave the sport sedans to BMW, simple as that.