Lexus LS 460 Gets All-Wheel Drive for 2009

With a move to offer all-wheel drive on its LS 460 and flagship LS 460 L for 2009, Lexus joins a very small number of full-size premium luxury cars that provide four-wheel traction.

Only Audi, with its A8 series of sedans, and Mercedes-Benz, with its S-Class, can compete with the new LS for all-wheel drivetrains, other than Chrysler’s 300C AWD and Lincoln’s new MKS, at the lower end of the full-size luxury segment, and Bentley’s Continental Flying Spur in the upper reaches.

The new all-wheel drive LS shows a trend at Lexus, with its IS 250, GS 350 and LS 600h L also offering power from each corner, which only makes sense being that Lexus has always put safety first, and all-wheel drive has proven to enhance all-weather stability. The brand sells a crossover and SUVs that have always been sold with all- or four-wheel drive, so Lexus is no stranger to the latest drivetrain technologies.

Making use of the same setup used in the brand’s LS 600h L hybrid flagship, Lexus incorporates a compact Torsen limited-slop differential for distributing torque between the front and rear axles. Its default setting is 40:60, front to rear, but it will immediate shift the torque from 30:70 to 50:50, depending on demand.

The rest of the all-wheel drive LS models’ drivetrain remains the same, which is good news. Its 357-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 is no slouch, with 344 lb-ft of torque on tap, and its eight-speed automatic transmission is one of the best in the industry, optimizing the engine’s output and providing good fuel economy for the class.

Lexus’ air suspension will be standard, as will the brand’s Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) that “continuously adjusts shock-absorber damping rates” to optimize road conditions and driving style, says Lexus. The Japanese brand’s Variable Gear-Ratio Steering (VGRS), which selects the optimal ratio to enhance “responsiveness and driver control”, will also be part of the standard package. Additionally, VGRS works in unison with the Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, also standard.

All-wheel drive LS models will get standard 18-inch alloy wheels mated to all-season tires on the outside, while a heated wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel plus a power rear sunshade up the ante inside.

Look for the new 2009 LS AWD in Canadian Lexus dealerships next month.