Moment of pride: Lexus LS460 wins recognition for redefining excellence

THE dynamic handling, bold new design, superior craftsmanship, refinement and innovative features of Lexus’ flagship LS460 catapulted it to the top spot at the 2013 Middle East Motor Awards (MEMA) in Sharjah recently, as it swept up the award in the Best Luxury Sedan category.
The LS460 emerged a clear winner based on a 12-point scoring criteria in which a panel of jurors evaluated its technical aspects, design, handling, safety features, performance, innovation, consumer aspects, driver satisfaction, emotional appeal, value for money, comfort level and Middle East friendliness.
The 18-member jury was drawn from the most respected figures in the Middle East’s automotive journalism world, such as editors of some of the most popular motoring titles and senior motoring writers. The opinions of the distinguished and expert automotive journalists on the panel are the most sought after in the region, making the award the most unbiased, credible and the most prestigious of its kind in the Middle East.
Speaking about the LS460’s accolade, Nobuyuki Negishi, chief representative of MENA Representative Office, said: “It gives us great joy and pride at Lexus to see the LS460 crowned the winner in the MEMA Best Luxury Sedan category. The current fourth generation is an evolved and premium product of automotive engineering and brings a bold new design, sharper driving dynamics and the highest levels of refinement and luxury to its segment as well as the backing of industry-leading technology.”
The new LS460 sports approximately 3,000 changes, including three world firsts, among which is the first 8-speed transmission and an innovative climate control system. It also has no less than 15 Lexus firsts, features and technical innovations.
The refined, fresh styling reflects the new face of Lexus with an aggressive spindle grille giving it greater road presence and stronger brand identity while heralding a significant improvement in driving dynamics, responsiveness and handling while carrying forward the Lexus legacy of fusing the most advanced technology with refined Japanese aesthetics.

Equipped with a 4.6 liter V8 petrol engine, the LS460 now develops 285 kW of power at 6400 rpm and a maximum torque of 493Nm at 4100 rpm.
“The Lexus LS460 features the latest cutting-edge technology and state-of-the art engineering that is available in the automotive world today,” said Negishi.
“This puts it at the forefront of a very competitive market segment for luxury sedans in terms of design, build quality, safety, performance, comfort and features. To receive this prestigious award that has been adjudicated by distinguished jury members is matter of pride as it is a true recognition of the innovation and creative design that defines the Lexus LS460. I thank the MEMA organizers and the judges for selecting the LS460 as the best car in the luxury sedan category.”
The MEMA now in its fourth successful year, is claimed to be the biggest and most coveted award of the Middle East automotive industry. The award is an initiative by Expo Centre Sharjah to acknowledge the major players of the automotive industry and to celebrate emerging technologies.