The car that started it all for Lexus back in 1989, the LS, has a whole new face, with the launch of its fifth generation. The Japanese are proud of their heritage, are they any closer to the Germans?
One of the great, and slightly frightening, things about the Japanese is that they are never, ever beaten, even when they know they can't win, which is a fact well represented by Lexus, which has now been attempting to take on the Germans in the prestige-car market for a staggering 28 years.
Their first, and hugely surprising, attempt was with the LS, back in 1989; a large luxury sedan that has now reached its fifth generation with the launch of this new and visually striking iteration.
The brand has been around so long now that it can use the word \"heritage\" with a straight face, and yet there's no denying its best efforts, for almost three decades, have not left the implacable Germans shaking in their stylish and substantial jack boots.
In Australian sales terms, Lexus is still a distant fourth to the Mercedes-BMW-Audi triumvirate, but it would argue that in terms of the cars it's making, and its levels of customer service, it's getting closer to the Germanic standard with every year, and every generation.
What is clear is that Lexus is not going anywhere and that, despite being as visually exciting as a television during a South Australian blackout (or just South Australia in general) for many years, the company is now taking risks and being bold.
The result is a new LS that is light years ahead in the looks department from any model that precedes it, and a fair hyperspace jump in front in terms of the driving experience as well. As Australians will discover when it finally gets here, in April next year, and goes on sale in three guises - the LS 500 in Sports Luxury and F Sport trim, and the LS 500h hybrid.
You'll have to excuse the nerdy space references, because Lexus chose to launch its new LS at Skywalker Ranch, just north of San Francisco, which is where the Crown Prince of Nerdlandia, George Lucas of Star Wars/Indiana Jones fame, has his substantial offices.