[8][9] Instead, chief engineer Ichiro Suzuki sought to develop an all-new design, aiming to surpass rival American and European flagship sedans in specific target areas, including aerodynamics, cabin quietness, overall top speed, and fuel efficiency.

[16] For the passenger cabin, the materials-selection tests evaluated 24 different kinds of wood and multiple types of leather for two years before settling on specific trim combinations.

[31] Compared to its rivals, namely the BMW 735i (E32) and Mercedes-Benz 420 SE (W126), the LS 400 had a quieter cabin, with 58 dB at 100 km/h (62 mph); a higher top speed; a lower drag coefficient and curb weight; and it avoided the U.S. Gas Guzzler Tax.

[36] The LS 400 was among the first luxury sedans to feature an automatic tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with SRS airbag, power adjustable shoulder seat belts, and an electrochromic rear-view mirror.

[27][40][41] The LS 400 further contained some 300 technological innovations to aid smooth operation and silence,[27] including fluid-damped cabin fixtures,[42] vibration-insulating rubber mounts,[43] airflow fairings,[44] and sandwich steel body panels.

Lexus division general manager Dave Illingworth admitted in an interview with Automotive News that many in product planning were concerned about the price hike and the potential effect it could have on sales success.

[53] In December 1989, shortly after the LS 400's launch, Lexus ordered a voluntary recall of the 8,000 vehicles sold so far, based upon two customer complaints over defective wiring and an overheated brake light.

[75] Given the first-generation model's successful reception and high level of customer satisfaction with its design, replicating the original LS 400's attributes with its successor was one of chief engineer Kazuo Okamoto's primary goals (he stated that "a tradition cannot be founded if you reject the first generation").

[76] Upon final approval in 1992, an evolutionary redesign was the ultimate result, with new design features consisting of sharper angles, curved body lines, and a beveled grille.

[76] In mid-1995, sales slowed as the U.S. government threatened tariffs on Japanese luxury cars over the widening U.S.-Japan trade deficit, potentially raising the price of a fully optioned LS 400 to over US$100,000.

[84] Stylistically, the vehicle sported a new front fascia, side mirrors, and updated wheels;[60] a rear window diversity antenna replaced the conventional power mast.

[87] A CD-ROM-based GPS automotive navigation system became an option in the U.S. Added safety features included front side airbags, vehicle stability control and in 2000, brake assist.

The edition featured most luxury options as standard, along with separate exterior colours, wheels, badging, and two years' no-fee use of an American Express Platinum Card.

[88][89] The third-generation Lexus LS 430 (UCF30) debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January 2000 as a 2001 model,[90] introducing a new body design with a host of new interior and technological features.

The body was also more aerodynamic than previous LS sedans (Cd 0.26; 0.25 with air suspension),[95] and was the product of wind tunnel testing at facilities used for Shinkansen bullet train development.

[42] Fully optioned models with height adjustable air suspension, tuned for a combination of soft ride and responsive handling, were sold in the United States as the "Ultra Luxury" edition.

[100] Safety features added to the LS 430 included front and rear side curtain airbags, park sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and electronic brakeforce distribution.

The millimetre-wave radar technology also enabled the first Pre-Collision System (PCS) on a Lexus sedan (with partial autonomous braking only on the Japanese market Toyota Celsior version).

[123] The development of the LS 460 and its variants, led by chief engineer Moritaka Yoshida,[124] began as Lexus was shifting its design strategy towards a more diversified product lineup,[125] with new-vehicle launches largely focused on global markets.

[126] First shown on the LF-Sh concept, the vehicle gained body forms running the length of the car, wheel arches, arrow-shaped chrome trim, a lower-set grille, and crystalline adaptive headlamps.

[129] A more substantial facelift was first shown in July 2012, incorporating the new Lexus corporate fascia, comprising the "spindle" grill and consequently sees the fitment of a redesigned bonnet, reshaped front wings and headlamps, and a new bumper.

A Torsen limited-slip center differential distributes engine power between the front and rear axles in a 40/60 ratio in straight-line driving, but can vary this between 48/52 and 31/69 depending on wheel slip.

In the company's efforts to reconcile two conflicting goals, sufficient headroom with a low roofline, the new LS employs an available outer-slide-type panoramic moonroof instead of the conventional, internally retracting item.

[140] At the 2017 Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau International Auto Show, Lexus unveiled the Chinese-market LS 350 (GSF50), which uses a naturally aspirated 2GR-FKS V6 engine from the GS 350, producing 234 kW (318 hp) and 380 N⋅m (280 lb⋅ft) of torque.

[155] For the Lexus LS, the Tahara plant developed new molds and enhanced assembly techniques[156][157] and instituted measures aimed at increasing the precision of the sedan's fit and finish.

[162] The Lexus LS marked a successful entrant of a Japanese manufacturer into the prestige luxury arena, after the first Honda (Acura) Legend,[56] a market that had long been dominated by established European and American brands.

[168] To rival the LS 400,[169] extra features were rushed for the launch of the 1991 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W140),[167][170] causing budget overruns and costing the job of Daimler-Benz's chief engineer, Wolfgang Peter.

[177][178] Launched by Nissan in December 1989, the V8-powered Infiniti Q45 closely rivaled the LS 400 in specifications and price,[179] but was unsuccessful in sales (attributed to unconventional styling and marketing), leading to its discontinuation in 2006.

[190] Automotive analysts have suggested a possible rationale for the sales disparity, in that European buyers place less emphasis on vehicle reliability and have more brand loyalty to established domestic marques.

[189] In contrast, the Lexus LS has ranked second in sales to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (and ahead of rivals from BMW, Audi, and Jaguar) in markets outside Europe, such as South Africa.