- Lexus will stop producing its flagship luxury sedan, the LS, after 2026
- The company pays tribute to the model that launched the Lexus brand with a special Heritage Edition
Toyota launched its Lexus luxury marque in 1990 with the sale of a large, high-end luxury sedan known for its library-like quiet and supple ride, the LS 400. During five successive generations, the LS remained the spiritual flagship of the Lexus fleet.
Our editors praise the current model for its superb build quality, industry-leading reliability, and cocoon-like quiet, which is still there 36 model years later. But not 37. Lexus announced the end of the line for its signature sedan.
For 2026, the LS will get a new Heritage Edition that “serves as a tribute to a model that has defined luxury for over three decades,” the company says. Lexus plans to build just 250 copies.
The LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition will start at $99,280, including a mandatory $1,450 delivery fee.
Black Outside, Red Inside
It comes painted in a black Lexus calls “Ninety Noir,” with darkened exterior trim elements and badges. Twenty-inch split-spoke alloy wheels in Dark Gray Metallic add to the tuxedo-dark look.
Inside, buyers get Rioja Red upholstery. That’s a color Lexus has previously reserved for sportier models. A panoramic glass roof, laser-etched black wood trim, an Ultrasuede headliner, and a 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson surround sound system complete the equipment list.
All 2026 LS sedans get a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 making 416 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission. They carry the big car from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. A Torsen limited-slip center differential enhances handling balance.
With the LS gone, the LX SUV becomes Toyota’s luxury standard-bearer. The ranks of ultra-luxury sedans are dwindling, with Lexus ceding the ground to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, and BMW 7 Series.
