#02#Having recently spent time in the big boats from Benz, BMW, and Audi, The Car Enthusiast was curious; would the new large barge from (relative) upstart Lexus have what it took to send the Teutons running for the Alka-seltzer?

The qualified answer is 'Yes'. The provision is that the new LS460 is a luxury saloon, with little in the way of sporting pretension. It wafts like a long wheelbase XJ, not carves like a 7 Series. Beyond that simplistic summary, how does the LS460 and its stretched 'L' stable mate stack up? To start with, they now look the part of corporate flagship, especially when fitted with the upgraded (by one inch) 19-inch wheels. The 'Bangle-lite' styling, highlighted by exquisitely finished chrome trim and fascinating details like the trapezoidal exhaust outlets demand more attention than did the previous version's slabby, faux S-Class style.

The interior is a typical Lexus masterclass, offering better material quality than the surface-deep S-Class and much better organisation than the 7 Series. Particularly appealing is the nickel-finish chrome trim surrounding the touch-screen (still a much more user friendly system than even Audi's MMI) and the quality of the wood veneers.

While the driver has a perfect workstation, the passengers' experience depends on which model and options the owner has chosen. The short model is no more than adequately roomy in the back, and the bottom cushion of the (non-adjustable, standard) rear bench is set too low for optimal comfort. All L models have a much more habitable rear, and moving up to one of the four-seater options allows passengers to indulge themselves in a suitably Bentley-esque experience. The essential option to please everyone is the Mark Levinson Reference audio system, which is simply the finest in the world at the present time.

We know that Lexus has always excelled at quelling noise, vibration, and harshness, and the LS sets new standards in this regard. Yet, what we really want to know is does it stack up as a driver's car? The test route in Northern California was comprised of city streets, some motorway, and what would be the equivalent of British A and B-roads. The low-speed ride quality is matched only by the best XJs; all the Germans are much choppier over broken bitumen. As the pace quickens, the differences diminish, but the LS always seems to have their measure (especially of the 7, which is starting to show its age, and the A8 when equipped with any of the more attractive looking wheel options). Standard springing mechanism in the US is steel. While well executed, the better option is the adjustable air suspension, whose sport mode cossets while tightening up body motions enough for most enthusiast customers. A true sports suspension option (not tested) will perhaps overcome the LS's inability to shrink around the driver as does an S-Class when driven in extremis. That said, it is a vanishingly small percentage of customers (as opposed to motoring writers) who drive this type of executive saloon hard enough, often enough, to justify the overly stiff setups that can degrade ride quality to the detriment the vast majority of buyers.

#p##04# The LS460 is chock full of all the gizmology that people have come to expect of a top shelf ride, plus some that seems more designed as a statement of intent (self parking comes to mind) than actually are real-world useful. The depth of Lexus' commitment to 'pursuing perfection' is better shown in engineering marvels such as the world's first eight-speed automatic, which uses fewer parts than the previous LS430's six-speed auto, and the all-new 4.6-litre 375bhp V8 that is coupled to it. The amount of race-tech that goes into it is too long to list here; the result is a refined rush of power that the auto's huge ratio spread magnifies seamlessly, emphasized by a cultured howl under the whip. If this isn't enough performance, Lexus will unleash the all-wheel drive LS600h L hybrid next year, with even more oomph.

The shockwaves Lexus sent through the establishment seventeen years ago haven't dissipated as yet; the Toyota division's market share continues to grow while that of its rivals lags or withers. The reason is quite simple, really. As consumers of all stripe have their expectations raised regarding after-sales experience, reliability, and durability, the established players, and their dealers, offer mediocre follow through, backed by a plethora of excuses as to why their premium rides need to go back to the shop to cure mechanical gremlins or have the latest software patch applied to poorly thought out electronics or interfaces. These new LS players are set to burnish Lexus' reputation for an unparalleled ownership experience, at least Stateside. Soon enough we'll have the chance to try it on British soil and see how it suits our sensibilities.