Test drive Lexus LS 2003 - 2006 sedan
Comfort with the sign "+"
Lexus LS430 after restyling
Not to say that Lexus spoiled his fans with new products. This is a unit of the Toyota Motor Co. The truly Japanese principle professes: before taking up the creation of a fundamentally new car, the existing models should be brought to perfection. That's what restyling was invented through which the Lexus LS430 had just passed. True, the traces of plastic surgery are almost not noticeable outside, but inside I’m, for example, as a small child of a good half an hour, I had fun with all kinds of additional equipment in a passenger place, instead of immediately get behind the wheel and make room on the dealer parking. On the back sofa
I have a good reason: I rarely have the opportunity to leisurely examine the places for the rear passengers. And then he crouched, like for a moment, threw back the armrest, and carried away. Because in the armrest of the control panel of the smart home. It allows, for example, to adjust the volume of the sound and choose its source, set the desired microclimate behind the driver’s back, look in one of the two mirrors with the backlight that appeared on the ceiling, turn on the so -called assault lighting, a directed lamp, not blinding eyes.
However, all this, believe me, is secondary compared to the rear sofa itself. It is divided into two parts, each of which is equipped with personal electroregies. Pressing one key sets the position of the headrest, another degree of layout of the chair. The fact is that the back and pillow are not controlled in separate, but are connected by a system of rods. One has only to touch the corresponding key, as from a strict chair of the leader, which involves a solid vertical landing, the seat turns into a comfortable home fiddle with a back and a long pillow lean back. How can you not recall the interior of the first class in airliners! The rear compartment LS430 is distinguished only by the fact that it is impossible to completely stretch the legs there. Places for them, of course, are more than enough, but it is not customary to lie in cars. And in a sitting position to the back of the front chair from my knees, there were still 10-12 centimeters. But that's not all. It is difficult to surprise with worthy adjustments to the rear sofa today. Therefore, Lexus engineers decided to integrate a vibration massager into it. A sitting from behind can adjust the degree of trembling from light touch, to this massage. Interesting little thing, I will report to you. There will be something to have fun in a long road, and the practical effect is evident. After 15 minutes of the procedure, I got out of the car fresh, as if I did not have time to brush more than 400 km on that day on another car.
Something I, in my opinion, still forgot ah yes, firstly, these are curtains that can be fenced off from the outside world. The pair is built into the windowsill of the rear doors and you have to move them manually. Another, with an electric drive, covers the rear window. Secondly, the most delicate light brown skin, which is finished with the salon, and inserts made of natural wood. Thirdly, silence in the cabin. The point is not only in perfect sound insulation, but also in the developed body aerodynamics. Take at least the fact that LS430 has almost the best coefficient of aerodynamic resistance in the class of representative cars. In addition, the shape of the front part of the machine, in which the changes once or twice, was expected (slightly different form of headlights, bumper and radiator grilles), effectively distributes the air flow, taking it, in particular, from the windows. So in motion they can be calmly opened, without fear of the howl of the wind. Especially for the sake of reducing noise, the bottom of the LS430 was also processed. As for the changes in the rear, the restyled LS430 can be found by new lanterns. They are visually divided into halves with horizontal indicators of the back of the white color. Plus, the overall lights and stop-signals now work not on bulbs, but on LEDs. They are lit faster, shine brighter and last longer. Add to the list of innovations wide vents of exhaust pipes, which now, without unnecessary modesty, peek out from under the rear bumper, and on that changes in the appearance are exhausted.
Driving, without fuss
... While I got out of traffic jams on a more or less wide highway, I managed to study the workplace. The opinion was rooted that the most difficult, with many buttons and switches of the front panel are SAAB models. Forget! The number of keys, information displays and regulatory handles in the Lexus salon at first simply confuse. They are located almost everywhere. Under the combination of devices, in the knee area, on the tunnel, of course, on the steering wheel and the central console. At first, I even want to quit everything and sit down for two days for studying the instructions. However, you will soon understand that from the point of view of ergonomics, they are all located very smartly. Those that often have to use they are responsible for climate control, radio, heating of mirrors and glasses are located in the zones closer to the driver. All the rest with a generous hand of the designer are scattered along the front panel and the cabin at some distance. Well, right. 
A few years ago, when the LS430 first saw the light, the audience compared this car with the Mercedes S-class in the old, 140th body. And not unreasonable, I must notice. Soon it became clear that the similarity is not only external, but also, so to speak, in the internal content of the level of comfort and running qualities. In the last century I had to ride on the last classic Mercedes, as this car is sometimes called. And the recent voyage driving Lexus LS430 vividly aroused in his head memories of those times. Actually, the Japanese brand positions its image as comfort plus sports. And this, in principle, is true for all models, with the exception of the flagship. At the wheel of LS do not want fuss. There are so many small cars around, everyone is in a hurry somewhere, flicker on the road. Lexus moves with self -esteem, rapidly and majestically. Say, he does not rebuild, namely, he changes the course, like an expensive yacht. The car causes a persistent feeling that only strong people who are in spirit, capable of responsible actions and making complex decisions. Thus, there is no need to fuss, they can afford some thoughtfulness and impressiveness, because the sphere of their interests is a long -term strategy, and not momentary tactics.
LS430 is a modern and dynamic car, and it goes a little differently than the same S-class. Powerful acceleration, minimal rolls in corners, the complete lack of shaking during the passage, as it seemed to me, of any irregularities. They disappear without a trace in the bowels of the suspension on pneumatic elements. By the way, she is responsible for the constant road gap, regardless of the loading of the machine, the complete absence of clinks during sharp stops and a change in stiffness when activating the sports regime. The latter is taken in quotation marks because it does not smell like any sports here. Just the car becomes a little more hard on the go. These changes are so scanty that it is not easy to notice them. I repeat once again the new LS still resembles the 140th Mercedes. This is a very comfortable, quiet and dynamic car. According to all classic canons, the 430th retained the rear-wheel drive layout, has all the conceivable electronic safety systems and inflatable pillows (two were added to the list of the latter, protecting the knees of the driver and the front passenger). Energy to wheels transmits the same 281-horsepower V8 with a volume of 4.3 liters. However, in a restyled model, he does this through a new six -speed box. The automatic machine, as is the case today, has a sports regime. Here, sports is already noticeable. Until that moment, powerful and rapid acceleration suddenly replaces literally explosive acceleration. Only without habitual shocks that are familiar at such moments. You just suddenly understand that a monstrous force that presses the body in the back of the seat acts on the body.
The machine is also equipped with a manual selection of gears. This is one of the most advanced systems for today that I had to try. I fight about the mortgage that I myself could not faster to sort out speeds. In addition, switching down is much faster than many competitors. At the same time, the box completely retains the dignity and does not even dare to hint at some jerks or twitching. Everything happens quickly, but at the same time surprisingly smooth. Having traveled to the new Lexus LS430, I came to the conclusion that I am inclined to support Japanese engineers in their desire for perfection. How much does it cost? $ 95 300. Should you call competitors? ..
Sergey Ilyinsky
Brief technical characteristics Lexus LS430
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 4293
The number of valves for the cylinder: 4
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 281/5600
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 417/3500
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 6.3
Maximum speed, km/h: 250
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 12.0
Fuel tank volume, l.: 85
Dimensions, mm.: 5025x1830x1470
