- the 2021 lexus ls500 starts at $77,025 and touts a smoother ride and quieter engine.
- the interior updates include a 12.3-inch touchscreen that supplements the touchpad in the center console.
- the 2021 lexus ls500 will be in showrooms in late november, with the ls500h hybrid arriving in early 2021.
if the terms "quiet" and "smooth" come to mind when you think luxury, then lexus has some good news for you. the automaker says the 2021 lexus ls500 improves on the current-gen model in both respects, and it comes with a starting price of $77,025 for the base rear-wheel-drive trim level, a $550 increase over the 2020 model's $76,475 base price.
in addition to a new headlight and taillight design, the next-gen ls500 is also getting a technology bump with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that's apple carplay and android auto compatible. the remote touch interface (rti) touchpad is still there, but the larger screen, which is located closer to the driver, should alleviate some of the ergonomic issues we faced in the 2018 ls500.
lexus says it has tuned the suspension and chassis, including revised spring and damper rates, for that improvement in ride quality. the 2021 ls500 also gets larger-diameter front and rear anti-roll bars and larger front and rear liquid-filled bushings.
while the powerplant has remained the same as far as power is concerned, with a 416-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter v-6 in the ls500 and a 354-hp 3.5-liter v-6 gasoline engine with two electric motors in the ls500h hybrid, the automaker says the latest vehicles will have engine tweaks for better efficiency and quieter operation. lexus says that the 10-speed transmission has gotten some love; its shift logic has been updated to keep the engine in a more responsive section of the powerband.
rounding out the pricing, while the rear-wheel-drive ls500 starts at $77,025, the awd ls500 will have a starting price of $80,275. meanwhile, for the sportier trim levels, the ls500 f sport will start at $80,625 while the awd ls500 will set you back $83,875. all will land in dealerships in late november. pricing for the ls500h will be announced closer to that vehicle's delivery, which should be in early 2021.