WORLD FIRSTS FOR NEW LEXUS LS460 (23 March 2006)

Lexus will introduce a host of world firsts with its new generation flagship, the LS460 launched globally later this year.
The all-new luxury flagship will feature the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission, mated to an all-new 279kW* 4.6-litre V8 engine.

Setting new benchmarks for passenger safety, the Lexus LS460 will also feature four world-first safety systems, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show recently.

It introduces the world's first rear pre-crash safety system.

A millimetre-wave radar device in the rear bumper continuously scans the distance of vehicles approaching from behind as well as their angle of approach.

If the system determines a high probability of collision, the LS460 automatically activates front seat Pre-Crash headrests.

Unique to the LS460, the breakthrough headrests move forward and upward to cushion the head in the event of an impact, aiming to greatly reduce the risk of whiplash injury.

This complements another world first in LS460's safety tour de force, the Lexus Advanced Obstacle Detection system.

The enhanced frontal pre-crash system will detect a wide range of obstacles in the path of the LS460, including for the first time pedestrians and animals.

Utilising stereo cameras and a next-generation millimetre radar system, if the system anticipates a collision with a pedestrian, it will activate a series of automatic safety steps.

If the driver does not brake hard enough pre-crash brakes are automatically applied to reduce the collision speed, and seat belts are pre-tensioned.

The fourth world first announced on the Lexus flagship is its Driver Monitoring System. A miniature camera embedded in the steering column constantly tracks the movement of the driver's face.

If an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle when the driver is not looking forward, the Pre-Crash alarm system will activate, along with a gentle brake activation to further alert the driver.

The all-new Lexus flagship will also be the first car in its segment to be equipped with a Lane-Keeping Assist system.

Constantly tracking white road line information via the stereo cameras, an alarm is activated if the system determines that the vehicle is deviating from its lane, and enough steering rotation is automatically applied to guide the vehicle back into its lane.

The driver can of course manually override the automatic safety system at any time.

LS460 is also naturally comes with a high degree of passive safety functions.

Among a host of strategically placed SRS airbags including SRS knee airbags for both driver and front passenger, the flagship will be the first in its segment to feature the Lexus twin chamber front passenger airbag.

A world first when introduced last November on the entry-level Lexus IS250 line, the twin chamber airbag features an advanced V shape.

This unique design creates a depression in the centre of the airbag on deployment to better distribute the physical impact the shoulders and torso, lessening the impact on the passenger.

The new Lexus LS460 naturally presents such ground breaking safety features with benchmark levels of luxury.

"Just like the original LS400 produced 17 years ago, the all-new Lexus flagship has been designed to shake up the luxury market and set new benchmarks in automotive luxury and technology available today," said Scott Grant, divisional manager, Lexus Australia.

Final Australian LS460 specification has yet to be confirmed.