Perfectly Polite: The All-New 2009 Lexus LS460 AWD

Whether you chalk it up to climate change, global warming, or just plain old Mother Nature’s fickle nature, there’s no getting around the fact that this year’s weather pattern have been slightly irregular. Even now, halfway through the merry month of May, normally arid climes in British Columbia are suffering cold snaps that are still reaching below zero, while poor Edmontonians remain saddled by the occasional snowfall. Here, in Vancouver, temperatures have remained unseasonably low; a lingering reminder of one of the most potent winters in recent memory.

For, as any snowball-obsessed Vancouver child will tell you; snow in Vancouver is about as common as a modest Torontonian, and lasts about as long. So imagine Vancouver’s surprise when a forecast of “flurries in the afternoon” turned into months of snowbound hell.

Because, you see, the City of Vancouver is prepared for snow like the world is prepared for nuclear war. A team of approximately three and a half men with broken snow shovels and McDonalds salt packets were responsible for keeping the streets clean in a downtown core populated predominantly by the likes of automobiles from Porsche, BMW, and Bentley; the owners of which had never even heard of winter tires, never mind purchased them.
So, it was to my own 1973 Land Rover I turned, with four wheel drive engaged and an almost complete lack of cabin heat. Travelling aboard such a vehicle, two things could be assured: arrival, and frostbitten toes. But, with the Pontiac G8 I was slated to test being trapped at the bottom of a fellow journalist’s steeply sloping driveway, I had little choice. Until I came across this.

All new for 2009, Lexus’ LS460 AWD couldn’t have come at a better time. Easily the most notable change for the 2009 model year (the only other modification being the addition of passenger-seat memory functions as standard equipment), the new all-wheel drive system is available on both regular and long wheelbase models. Lifting most of the all wheel drive hardware from the LS600h and LS600hL, the LS460 AWD and LS460L AWD use the same compact Torsen center differential to distribute torque between the front and rear axles. With a static split of 40:60, the limited slip differential can vary between 50:50 and 30:70, depending on driving conditions. While the 4.6L engine producing 357 horsepower and 344 lb-ft of torque is completely unchanged, ticking the AWD option box will also reward with some additional standard features, including the air springs working in concert with the Adaptive Variable Suspension system. Also complimenting those systems is a standard Variable Gear Ratio Steering system.

However, stepping from a 35 year old Land Rover will an inch of ice in the driver’s footwell (seriously) into Lexus’ flagship sedan, I was far more impressed by the coddling nature of the interior, as automatic climate control and a heated seat thawed out my frozen, un-acclimatized, west coast-based behind. Having already had the pleasure of operating last year’s rear-wheel drive LS460, I had a good recollection of what to expect, but the Lexus still surprised with its assortment of soft-touch surfaces, amazing interior layout and fine leathers. The same perfect switch positions were all still there, as was the plentiful storage bins perfect for stowing gloves, tuques and other sundries typically only carried by people that live everywhere else in Canada, although Vancouverites can rest assured that there’s plenty of umbrella storage space as well.

Depressing the engine start button, the same silky-smooth V8 quickly came to life, heating up quickly and settling into an idle so smooth and quiet so as to be unnoticeable. However, the rest of the systems in the car would be quickly tested as I faced the unplowed lot that lay beyond the fleet’s storage warehouse door. Pressing the button to raise the LS460 AWD to its tallest suspension setting, I slowly edged onto the snow pack and prayed to the gods of traction control, winter tire manufacturing, and Torsen that I wouldn’t get stuck. However, by the time the back tires moved onto the snow, the big Lexus had already earned my respect. With nary a traction control clunk or an untoward all-wheel drive shuffle, the big sedan crushed the snow underfoot with its immense curb weight, but still managed to haul itself through the parking lot without any sign of struggle. Avoiding any wheelspin, the Lexus’ front air dam just skimmed the surface, although a glance in the rear view mirror confirmed that the tires weren’t the only thing touching the snow, as a telltale swath in the snow indicated the skid plates’ ability to plough snow.

Moving out onto the half-cleared road, the Lexus’ air suspension was reset back to standard height, and the all-wheel drive system undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief. However, that sigh would have been short lived, as the rest of the week saw inch after inch of snow dumped all over the lower mainland. Impressively, the Lexus never faltered. Whether it was facing near whiteout conditions on the highway or bare, salted downtown roads, the all wheel drive system never felt intrusive, but was amazingly good at keeping everything pointed in the direction it needed to. Even under more... um... emphatic testing on a snowbound skidpad, the big sedan was almost too good. Even whilst sliding through eight inches of unplowed, freshly fallen snow while completely sideways, the Lexus was the Japanese picture of composure and grace. With both traction control and stability programs switched off, the predictable Torsen system shone through as it shuffled power between the axles to maintain momentum without creating any untoward driving dynamics; simply bury the throttle pedal into the luxuriously deep carpeting, countersteer accordingly, and lift the throttle slightly to bring the rear full circle. Oh, and of course, enjoy the ensuing riotous laughter from passengers enjoying Mozart as 2.3 tons of Japan’s finest export arcs across virginal snow in lurid slides. When it came time to stop making the snow erupt over the sedan’s shapely flanks, simply reintroduce the throttle to the aforementioned carpeting to introduce more power to the front wheels and the whole thing comes back into line.

Of course, not many LS 460 AWD owners will head out to their local racetrack in the dead of winter to test their vehicle’s propensity for oversteer, but, after experiencing the complete and utter control the LS460 AWD offers up even without all its electronic countermeasures, I have every confidence in this car’s ability to make it through the country’s worst climates with the greatest of ease. Furthermore, seeing as it’s an LS, it also guarantees to conduct itself perfectly in any condition whilst simultaneously providing its passengers with one of the most luxuriously appointed and comfortable interiors on the market today. After all, being able to get somewhere regardless of the conditions in one thing. Being able to get there sans frostbite, well, that’s another.