A LUXURY car brand has discontinued its game-changing saloon from UK sales after 35 years on the market.
Lexus’ LS first arrived for British drivers in 1990 but had recently suffered a sustained period of poor sales.
Lexus has announced its LS series had been dropped from its UK line-up[/caption]
Just 39 of the hybrid V6-powered saloons have been sold in the past five years[/caption]
The original Lexus LS 400 was first released in the UK in 1990[/caption]
Just 39 of the hybrid V6-powered saloons have been purchased since 2020, of which just three were sold last year.
This means drivers in the UK looking for a Lexus saloon have just one choice left, the ES.
A Lexus spokesperson said: “LS has been removed from sale in the UK though it does remain on sale in other European markets.
“Reasons for this are down to homologation and legislation issues but also the successful introduction of the LM model which is proving extremely popular in this segment.
“We also still sell the ES for those who prefer a Lexus saloon.”
Before it was removed, the LS range’s price tag began at £101,000, rising to £128,000 for the Takumi version.
Each one is powered by a hybrid system that combined a 3.5L V6 petrol engine with two electric motors and a lithium ion battery.
Together, the motor produces 354bhp and can do 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds, when four-wheel drive is engaged.
The luxury brand’s decision closes the curtain on the 35-year history the LS had in the UK.
1990 saw the first-generation LS 400 hit the market, just after it had been launched in the US.
Lexus’ first model was used to establish the Toyota offshoot as a leading luxury vehicle manufacturer that could challenge the elite carmakers of Europe and America.
Marketed with a cheaper starting price, four further generations followed, with the final one, the LS 500, launching in 2017 before it was updated in 2020.
Following the removal announcement, Lexus’ UK line-up now consists of the LBX, UX, NX, RZ, RX, ES and LM.
This comes less than a year after the luxury carmaker dropped two other models from its UK catalogue.
Lexus removed its LC and RC sports cars from sale in April, meaning it no longer had a V8 on offer for Brits.
The two-door GTs were approaching the end of their expected life cycles, at seven and 10 years old respectively.
However, a spokesperson for the brand cited “legislative and homologation issues” as the reason for their withdrawal.
According to AutoCar, it is still unclear whether the decision was made in light of GSR2 safety regulations, the EU’s new cybersecurity directive or fleet emission quotas.
However, the outlet states that both motors are no longer available in mainland Europe, and the UK allocation for each has been sold out.
The Lexus LS series has been discontinued from UK sales[/caption]
