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Toyota Is Giving Its Flagship Lexus Sedan a Final Sendoff After 36 Years on the Market

The Japanese automaker will be bidding adieu to its oldest Lexus model after 2026 — but not without one last hurrah.

Close-up of a sleek, modern car headlight with a sharp, angular design. The headlight features multiple LED elements and a prominent white LED strip running horizontally. The car's body is metallic silver with smooth, sculpted lines, and part of a black mesh grille is visible on the right side.Lexus
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By Gray Van Dyke

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Toyota introduced the world to its luxury Lexus marque with the launch of the LS 400 in 1989. As the flagship sedan, the model has carried the torch for the brand for 36 years, quietly refined and powerful. 

Now, as consumer demand has increasingly shifted in favor of crossovers and SUVS, the need for a large four-door car like the LS has dwindled. As is the case with many other automakers, Lexus will soon be discontinuing its flagship sedan.

However, before it does, the Japanese automaker is giving the model a final sendoff in the form of the limited-run Heritage Edition.

Black luxury sedan with a large, intricate spindle grille, sleek LED headlights, and multi-spoke alloy wheels, shown from a low front-side angle against a gradient gray background.
The Heritage Edition sees the Lexus LS shod in a coat of ‘Ninety Noir’ black. Dressed in mourning? Maybe.
Lexus

A celebration of the LS

For the 2026 model year, the Lexus LS will exist in just one trim level: the LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition. As a final year tribute to the car that launched the brand, just 250 examples are bound for the United States.

Beyond the ownership exclusivity, the Heritage Edition introduces a striking new color called ‘Ninety Noir,’ some unique 20-inch spoked alloys in Dark Gray Metallic, as well as a LS-first in a ‘Rioja Red’ interior. 

Lexus car interior featuring a black dashboard with a digital display screen showing the Lexus logo, a black leather steering wheel with control buttons, and red leather seats and door panels. The center console includes a gear shifter and various control buttons, with a sleek, modern design and horizontal silver trim accents across the dashboard.
The red interior makes for a bright contrast, at least (and a Lexus LS first).
Lexus

What’s more, Lexus has given the inside of the car some model-specific special touches. Along with an etched Heritage Edition emblem on the center console, you’ll also find an LS silhouette embroidered on the headrests and a new pattern for the Laser Special Black wood trim.

Quietly powerful

As befits a swansong release, Lexus loaded the LS 500 Heritage Edition with upscale options and standard equipment. 

Silver Lexus sedan driving on a tree-lined street with motion blur in the background, highlighting the car's sleek design and black front grille.
With 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, the Lexus LS has plenty of grunt to get going.
Lexus

Under the hood, power comes from a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine producing 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. With its 10-speed automatic transmission, the LS yields a 0-60 sprint of just 4.6 seconds. That’s speedy — especially for a luxury sedan tipping the scales at nearly two tons.

To ensure that you and other occupants enjoy the ride, Lexus has specced the LS 500 Heritage Edition with features like a panorama glass roof and monitor, heated rear seats and a power lift-up buckle. 

Glossy black panoramic sunroof on a silver car, featuring a shark fin antenna towards the rear.
The panorama roof is made a standard feature on the Heritage Edition.
Lexus

As if that wasn’t enough, once-optional hands-free Advance Park is included for free, and the car also gets a big audio boost in the form of a 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson surround sound system.

Rounded out by standard Lexus amenities like a comprehensive suite of safety aids, a 12.3-inch infotainment interface and a heads-up display, it makes for a fitting final expression of the brand’s luxury sedan capabilities.

Silver Lexus sedan driving on a road with blurred green trees and palm trees in the background, viewed from the rear right side. The car features sleek, modern taillights and dual exhaust outlets.
Lexus is the latest name in a long list of automakers who are bidding adieu to their sedans.
Lexus

Pricing and availability

Lexus has stated that the 2026 LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition will be available for order soon. It’ll be priced at $99,280, which includes a $1,450 delivery and processing fee. In the meantime, you can visit the brand’s website or check out your local dealer to lean more.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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