The Lexus LS may have left the U.S. market, but the brand’s flagship sedan continues to receive updates in Japan. Lexus has now made several chassis and equipment changes to the LS for Japanese buyers, keeping the model in production there despite its departure from America.
Lexus LS Receives Chassis and Feature Updates
The latest changes to the LS are relatively small, but Lexus says they are aimed at improving the sedan’s driving experience. The company added reinforcements to the tunnel and dampening material to the braces for the suspension and cargo area.
The changes are designed to increase rigidity and reduce vibrations. Lexus has also retuned the adaptive suspension to reduce body roll, which could make the updated LS more enjoyable to drive.
Feature availability has also been expanded. The panoramic sunroof is now offered as an option across every trim, while the Executive trim gains the distinctive cut-glass door trim.
Japan Gets Only the LS 500h Hybrid
Beyond those updates, the LS lineup in Japan remains largely unchanged. The sedan is offered only as the LS 500h hybrid, powered by a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6.
In the U.S. version, the hybrid powertrain produced 354 horsepower combined. Japanese buyers do not have the option of the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 that was available in American LS models until the end. That engine produced 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.
Why Lexus Discontinued the LS in America
Lexus announced last year that the LS would leave the U.S. market, marking the end of the model that launched the brand in America. The decision was driven by declining sales, despite the LS’s status as the brand’s ultimate flagship.
At the end of 2025, the year before Lexus introduced the Heritage Edition as a farewell, the automaker sold just a bit more than 1,000 LS examples in the U.S. That made the sedan Lexus’ worst-selling model, behind even the more niche LC and RC coupes. Those coupes have also been discontinued.
Lexus Buyers Continue to Favor SUVs
Lexus buyers have increasingly favored high-end SUVs instead. In 2025, the Land Cruiser-based Lexus LX sold about seven times as many units as the LS.
SUVs account for even more of Lexus’ sales across the rest of the lineup, with the RX making up the bulk of the brand’s sales today. Meanwhile, the LS continues to receive updates for buyers in Japan, where the flagship sedan remains available.
