The new Heritage Edition celebrates 36 years of Lexus LS luxury with exclusive colors and just 250 examples
It’s been more than three decades since Toyota introduced its luxury division with the original Lexus LS 400. Launched in 1989 as a 1990MY, the full-size sedan proved you didn’t need a German passport to build a German-style luxury car, drawing well-heeled buyers away from BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar by offering what those brands never could: Corolla-levels of reliability in a plush package.
More: The Lexus LS Gets Just Enough For 2026, But How Long Can It Hold On?
Time, however, has caught up with the flagship. Sales have dwindled, with just 691 units sold in the first half of 2025, a sharp 42.3 percent drop compared with the year before and even more dramatic when measured against earlier years. With that, Lexus is preparing to retire the LS in the United States and other markets. Before bowing out, though, it is giving its luxury pioneer a send-off with a limited-run special.
A Farewell Salute
The 2026 LS Heritage Edition is being presented as a homage to the original, with only 250 examples earmarked for the U.S. market. Pricing starts at $99,280, which includes a $1,450 destination fee, and the car will arrive in showrooms later this fall.
For its last appearance, this Heritage Edition will be the only LS 500 available. It comes exclusively in a new shade called Ninety Noir, a deep black paint that pairs with dark trim pieces and 20-inch split-spoke alloy wheels finished in Dark Gray Metallic.
Luxury in Full Measure
The cabin channels a late-80s, early-90s vibe with a new Rioja Red interior, a first for the LS. Other special touches include an etched Heritage Edition emblem on the center console and embroidered silhouettes of the LS stitched into the headrests.
As expected, the standard equipment list is suitably long, with highlights such as a panoramic glass roof, Panoramic View Monitor, and Laser Special Black premium wood trim, complemented by Ultrasuede on the headliner and sun visors. Heated rear seats, a power lift-up buckle, a 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson system and Advanced Park also part of the package.
As for power, the Heritage Edition uses the same 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 you’ll find in the standard 2025 LS 500, delivering 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. It works through a 10-speed automatic and an all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential, good for a 0-60 run in 4.6 seconds.
Also: Lexus’ New Supercar Gives Us Our Best Look Inside Yet
Whether Lexus plans a direct replacement for the LS remains an open question. We’ve reached out, but the company has yet to confirm. We’ll update this story if they decide to share more.
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John Halas is the founder and editor-in-chief of Carscoops. With a career in automotive journalism… Read full bio
