Lexus Sets The Record Straight On Its 7 Series Rival After Confusing Signals

Did Lexus just accidentally kill off its legendary LS sedan? That is the question after a teaser of the next-gen ES confusingly labeled it a “global flagship model.” For decades, that title belonged squarely to the full-size LS, the car that launched the Lexus brand itself. Seeing the mid-size ES being called Lexus’ flagship raised some eyebrows and sparked rumors of the LS’s demise.

But according to the automaker, the LS is not headed for the chopping block. Patrick Scheelen of Lexus Europe told Motor1, “There is no intention for LS discontinuation globally.” So why the confusion?

Reading The Sales Tea Leaves

Over here in North America, Leigh Anne Sessions clarified the “flagship” confusion. “In Japan, the word flagship means that it is a core model for the brand, and the ES fits this description,” she said. The ES launched alongside the original LS back in 1989 and remains one of Lexus’s bestsellers globally, making it a “core” model in their eyes. While confirming the ES’s importance, she added, “We do not have any LS news to share at this time.”

Related

The Most Beautiful New Car Is About To Get Ruined With A Rear Wing

The elegant coupe and convertible are about to mess with perfection.

The current fifth-generation LS is getting a bit long in the tooth. It hit the scene back in 2017, which some might consider an eternity in the fast-moving luxury car world. Unsurprisingly, sales have cooled off. The situation in the U.K. became so dire that Lexus recently pulled the plug after a 35-year run. This comes after a total of three LS sedans were sold in the U.K. in 2024, and only 39 since 2020. Lexus also cited homologation and regulatory hurdles for the UK exit.

Things Are Better In America, But…

The LS soldiers on elsewhere, including the crucial U.S. market. But even here, it is facing headwinds. Lexus sold 2,163 LS sedans in the United States in 2024. It did manage to outsell the Audi A8 (1,628 units), but it is still behind the segment leaders – the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (8,809 units) and the BMW 7 Series (10,714 units). The days when the LS seriously challenged the German titans are in the rear-view mirror.

Related

Lexus’ Brilliant BMW M5 Rival Can Be Purchased For Less Than $50k

While the BMW M5 tends to be the favored choice in the mid-size sports sedan market, its Japanese rival represents a great used bargain against it.

Internal Competition and Future Rumors

It is not just Audi and BMW that the LS has to worry about. Lexus itself might be stealing some of its thunder with the ultra-luxurious LM minivan. Based on the Toyota Alphard, the LM offers notable comfort and space. While primarily aimed at China, it is also sold in Japan, Australia, India, and parts of Europe. In markets where both the LS and LM are available, one might wonder how many buyers prioritizing luxury might opt for the more spacious minivan over the traditional sedan.

It is possible it could follow the path of the Toyota Century, which recently added an SUV variant alongside the traditional sedan. For now, Lexus says the LS nameplate survives. Whether the next LS remains a traditional sedan or transforms into something entirely new is up in the air.

Source: Motor 1