Lexus LS460

The Japanese have managed to capture the essence of a honest, rags to riches kind of personification and injected that image into the Lexus brand. Buying a Lexus is for the hard-earned man who has handcrafted his legacy with honesty, rather than those who win the lottery and get behind a Beemer, or those wanting a cheap botox effect having tyre-ripping power in a Merc.

Lexus is about refinement, prestige and class - and that's what the brand represents. Getting your head round that one is not everyone's cup of tea. It's almost like defining the Singaporean identity. Some say we are simply Asian, but many also know that we are one of the most premium Asians around.

The LS460 is divided into a few packages - the F Sport package with aluminium trims offers a performance focused feel. The high spec luxury version is more into finesse and focuses on the interior craftmanship and durability. Colors on the LS460 is also very different from its Toyota counterparts. The Grey metallic for example, is fast becoming the new definition of premium - something that Beemers acheived with Metallic brown coatings.

Sound insulation inside the LS460 is one of the absolute benchmarks for a luxury Sedan. Almost feels like a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Even being mildly drunk and in the backseat is guaranteed to put you to sleep, and not wake up at your destination. That level of comfort and peapod cosyness lack seriously in the German counterparts that seem to scream excitement all the time. Sometimes you need that space to unwind, to disconnect from all the responsibilities at work and business and calm down with inner peace. That level of Ayataka-clarity is something only the Lexus can offer.

I can't conclude that this is the best mid level Luxury Executive Sedan in the market. Lexus lacks a few more trim and engine options and has reserved a very high end LS600hL that remains the strongest in this segment. The LS460 is a lot more balanced and the 4.6l engine's road tax footprint is somewhat acceptable - if not for the S class's cheaper offer with its 4l displacement.

If the Bank of Singapore ad were to appear a bit more humble, the Japanese owner would have substituted changing his wheels on a Bentley to changing his wheels on an LS460. However, as you know - Toyotas or Lexus - barely break down like that.