The Moscow International Motor Show is only a few days away, so we’d like to quickly introduce you to a significant debut for Lexus there on August 26 in the form of big luxury saloon LS 460 AWD. Premiering the LS 460 AWD in Moscow may not immediately ring any bells, but soon you realise two important things. One is that Russia, particularly Moscow, is very rapidly becoming one of the top car destinations in the world. Most of the top manufacturers are either already in business there or have advanced plans for entering.
Two, Russia is or rather can, be a cold place to be in, some say figuratively as well. Therefore Russian ice is a fact of life and we all know All Wheel Drive is the way to go when it comes to skating properly on the hard slippery stuff. Of course Lexus could have chosen Canada as well, yet somehow I don’t see quite the same effect. The car will feature an AWD system with a TORSEN Limited Slip Differential. It transfers drive torque between front and rear axle, but normal mode is 40:60 biased towards the rear. Competitors like Audi A8, Volkswagen Phaeton and Mercedes-Benz S-Class already offer some form of AWD in their models.
Lexus LS 460 AWD to Debut at Moscow Motor Show
Lexus / Lexus LS 460 AWD
Lexus gets a grip on Russia
By Thami Masemola
August 21, 2008 2:00 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Lexus
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Lexus LS 460 (54 photos)
Comments
carcrazy1234
August 21, 2008 5:04 PM
i wish these car makers had an option for rwd, fwd, and awd in one car. imagine that :D:D. so many choices and options (even though its just three :P) but you know haha.
Joe_Limon
August 21, 2008 6:15 PM
They could always make a awd with a knob on the dash that manually adjusts the % torque to the front/rear.
carcrazy1234
August 21, 2008 9:56 PM
wicked. hopefully they do. or even a full adjust from awd to rwd to fwd... three options :D
IpsesNipse
August 21, 2008 6:49 PM
Ive always wondered why nobody has done that. it would be so useful. Beemer do almost have that but not quite. Cause a normal AWD car is actually FWD that might put some torque back after the front wheels have started loosing grip. Its called useles AWD, Volvos got it and most japanese Korean etc.
benz_man
August 21, 2008 8:05 PM
If the base car was a FWD car then it probably is a "useless" system (as you so cleverly described it). If the base car was RWD...welcome to the funzone!
benz_man
August 21, 2008 8:02 PM
Why an outdated TORSEN? Lexus couldn't package in a small Haldex unit that would handle all the tq? Or is this just a hacksaw job from the Hybrid? Either way, its good to see Lexus keeping up with the Jones's.
justbored
August 22, 2008 3:44 PM
'Cause Haldex sucks. Torsen is the better, but yet more expensive, system. Haldex is just a clutch, reacting on the impulses of an electric system. Torsen delivers better traction and a faster reaction. Haldex is often used in cars to provide a cheap AWD system, like in the Golf/Rabbit or Audi R8 (which would run better with pure RWD) While the Impreza and Evo, well known for their superior AWD-Systems, run both on Torsen Differentials.
benz_man
August 22, 2008 9:17 PM
While the TORSEN is a proven product (it should be after all these years), it cannot be disabled or adjusted. This is a permanent system. The variable tq split, while dynamic, is limited to only one input (differential speed). A modern Haldex can link to the CAN-bus (or FlexRay controller now) and take inputs from ESP and suspension controllers to maximize efficiency and send the power where its needed, when its needed...in real time. I must admit, there have been questionable applications of the Haldex diff in the past (Volvo), but the new generation controllers are excellent. Watch a Veyron do 0-60. Very little wheel slip. Perfect balance between electronic throttle, tq shifting, and brake interventions. Thats all accomplished through hi-speed communication between all the systems.
PotatoEater
August 22, 2008 5:52 PM
along with the emperor's new clothes comes the tarted-up toyota.
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