Lexus Gives Its Aging LS Sedan One More Tune-Up Before the Minivan Era

The Lexus LS isn’t ready to fade away just yet. While the flagship sedan has already been phased out in the UK and left North America after a limited 2026 Heritage Edition run, it’s still hanging on in markets like Australia and Japan. Lexus recently confirmed the LS will remain on sale in Australia through 2027, matching reports of a fresh model-year update in Japan.

The fifth-generation LS first hit the scene in 2017, meaning it’ll be a decade old next year. But the automaker keeps tweaking it, even as the brand’s long-term vision for the nameplate takes a sharp turn toward something far more unusual.

The upcoming changes, set to be revealed on September 10 in Japan, go a bit deeper than last year’s updates. According to Japanese outlet Creative Trend, the LS lineup will slim down to just the high-end F Sport, Version L, and Executive trims, dropping the entry-level variant. Outside, the sedan may swap the familiar L badge for Lexus lettering across the tailgate.

A panoramic glass roof joins the options list, while the existing tilt-and-slide moonroof becomes standard. Under the hood, the big shift is a move to a hybrid-only lineup. 5-liter V6 and dual electric motors, good for a combined 354 horsepower.

Lexus is also refining the chassis, adding structural reinforcements along the floor tunnel and new vibration-absorbing materials for the rear crossmember. The goal is sharper steering feedback and an even smoother ride. The F Sport trim may ditch its staggered tire setup for a uniform configuration to meet Japan’s strict drive-by noise limits.

0. 3-inch displays and its current safety gear. The Australian-spec LS should mirror these Japanese updates, giving the old sedan one more lease on life. Whether this is the final bow before Lexus sends the nameplate to the automotive graveyard, or transforms it into an electric six-wheeled minivan, as suggested by the 2025 LS Concept, remains to be seen.