by Lexus LS receives an update: hybrid future and farewell to the past
Lexus is preparing a minor update for its flagship sedan LS in the Japanese and Australian markets. The 2027 model will be purely hybrid, focusing on the most expensive trims. In the long term, the sedan will make way for a six-wheeled minivan.
The Lexus LS is going through a difficult and protracted period of “retirement.” The flagship sedan has already disappeared from the UK market and left North America after the 2026 model year with a limited Heritage Edition series, but in other regions, the model continues to exist. Lexus confirmed that the LS will remain on sale in Australia until 2027, which coincides with information about another model year update in Japan.
The fifth-generation LS debuted back in 2017, meaning the model will turn ten years old next year. The manufacturer constantly updates it to keep it relevant, but its future remains quite uncertain. The Lexus LS concept, unveiled at the end of 2025, offered a bold vision of the future for this nameplate, which could transform it into an electric six-wheeled minivan.
A Lexus Australia representative confirmed that the LS “will receive a minor technical update, and updated vehicles will go on sale in Australia by the end of the year.”
Japan gets the update first
Japanese publication Creative Trend recently described the upcoming changes for the LS, which are expected to be unveiled on September 10. They are said to be more extensive than the 2026 updates and will include more standard equipment as well as a number of under-the-hood refinements.
Reportedly, the Japanese lineup will be reduced to high-end F Sport, Version L, and Executive trims, with the base model being discontinued. Externally, the sedan may get the Lexus inscription on the rear doors instead of the usual L badge. The company is also rumored to add a panoramic glass roof to the options list, making the current tilt-and-slide sunroof standard.
Unfortunately, the LS will not inherit the new technologies from the smaller ES, which now serves as the brand’s flagship sedan in other markets. The aging model is expected to retain its current set of safety systems and dual 12.3-inch displays, rather than switching to the latest Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 and the new 14-inch infotainment system with Arene software.
Purely hybrid lineup
More significant news concerns the technical aspects. Rumors suggest that the non-hybrid LS 500 version with the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 will be discontinued, leaving the LS 500h as the only choice. This electrified setup combines a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 with two electric motors, producing a total output of 354 hp (264 kW / 359 PS).
Additionally, according to the same report, the platform may receive structural reinforcement in the floor tunnel area and vibration-dampening materials for the rear crossmember, resulting in improved steering feedback and an even more refined ride. Finally, the F Sport version may replace the staggered tire configuration with a uniform one, complying with strict Japanese road noise regulations.
The Australian version of the LS will likely inherit the same changes from its right-hand-drive Japanese counterpart, gaining another lease on life. Whether this turns out to be the last year of the flagship before Lexus sends it to the automotive graveyard remains to be seen, at least until the legendary nameplate returns in a completely new form.
Thus, Lexus continues to keep the model alive, which could have long been retired, adapting it to modern market demands. The shift to a purely hybrid lineup and the reduction in the number of trims indicate the company’s desire to focus on the most profitable and environmentally friendly versions. At the same time, the refusal to introduce the latest technologies from the younger ES underscores that this update is more of a “life support” than a true rebirth. The future of the LS, it seems, lies in a completely different realm, and the concept of an electric six-wheeled minivan hints at a radical shift in philosophy that could become a real sensation.
