Lexus has confirmed that the LS flagship sedan will receive another update for the 2027 model year, keeping the decade-old model alive in select markets.
The fifth-generation LS, which debuted in 2017, is already discontinued in the UK and North America, but it soldiers on in Japan and Australia.
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Japan Gets the Update First
According to Japanese outlet Creative Trend, the updated LS is set to debut on September 10.
The changes are expected to go beyond the 2026 tweaks, bringing more standard equipment and several under-the-skin revisions.
The Japanese range will reportedly be trimmed to the high-end F Sport, Version L, and Executive trims, dropping the entry-level variant.
Exterior changes may include Lexus lettering across the tailgate instead of the familiar L badge.
A panoramic glass roof is said to be added to the options list, while the current tilt-and-slide moonroof becomes standard.
However, the LS will not inherit the latest tech from the smaller ES, such as Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 or the 14-inch infotainment with Arene software.
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It will retain its existing safety kit and dual 12.3-inch displays.
Hybrid-Only Powertrain
The LS 500 with its non-hybrid twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 is reportedly dropped, leaving the LS 500h as the sole option.
The hybrid setup combines a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 with dual electric motors for a total output of 354 hp.
Structural reinforcements along the floor tunnel and vibration-absorbing materials for the rear crossmember are said to improve steering feedback and ride refinement.
The F Sport trim may switch to a uniform tire configuration to comply with Japan's drive-by noise regulations.
Australian-spec models are expected to inherit the same changes from their right-hand-drive Japanese counterparts.
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Whether this update marks the final year for the current LS before it transforms into an electric six-wheeled minivan remains uncertain.
