First pics: the new Lexus LS

On the face of it, spending many thousands of pounds on a Lexus that looks like a much cheaper one may not seem the sensible thing to do.

So it is with the facelifted and revised big daddy Lex. You may have noticed that the Japanese manufacturer has fitted its spindle front grille to it - first seen on the firm's CT200h last year.

But luckily, underneath its familial husk it's decidedly unlike its keener-priced siblings. And, even better, decidedly unlike its predecessor in terms of body roll; the Adaptive Variable Suspension's been tinkered, and the steering, body rigidity and braking's also been redeveloped to hand back better response and comfort.

Surprisingly, Lexus has added even more sound deadening to quieten down road and wind noise. Which is a marginally ridiculous, because you could almost literally hear yourself think in the last one.

Elsewhere inside there's a revised dashboard and a resculpted upper and lower centre console with new switchgear and trims. Above the new analogic clock on the center console there's a huge 12.3-inch, split-screen, hi-res screen for the infotainment and navigation systems. You'll be able to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, navigation system and other Lexus snazzery via a Remote Touch system.

There's also a speedy model called the F Sport, which has been lowered by ten whole millimetres. It also gets more aggressive styling, a Torsen limited-slip differential, six-piston Brembo brakes, 19-inch forged rims, and one of those clever paddle-shift gearboxes that automatically blips the throttle when you downshift.

Pricing's not yet been announced, but the last LS starts at around £90,000 (yes, that's ninety grand). This, an S-Class, 7-Series, or A8 TopGear.commers?

Click on for more pictures