2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport
Clearly the car’s face is the biggest difference. It leaves behind the tepid, generic trapezoidal grille and headlamps and finds more aggression in a bolder face. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
Lexus blackened out the bumper section between the upper and lower grille sections, giving the car an open-mouth look. It’s hard not to see inadvertent traces of the new Nissan Altima in what this 2013 LS has going on up front. Probably best to keep this to yourself if the neighbor or boss invites you over to check out his new ride. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
The rear of the car also gets a kick of additional machismo, though less so than the front. The taillamps are now sleeker, with a more contemporary look, while the pair of rectangular chrome exhaust tips appear more integrated into the bumper. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
Mechanically, the LS is much the same as the 2012 version; a 4.6-liter V-8 makes 386 horsepower (six more than before) and 367 pound-feet of torque and routes it to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. These power figures drop to 360 and 347, respectively, on all-wheel-drive models like the one seen here. (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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One key change for the 2013 iteration is Lexus’ desire to kick up the performance a notch. The company has introduced a thrill-seeking variant called the LS F Sport. Similar in theory to the smaller GS F Sport, this version adds to the LS items like an adjustable air suspension that’s 10 millimeters lower, a Torsen limited-slip differential, Brembo front-brake calipers, a mesh grille, 19-inch BBS alloy wheels (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)