Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda reproduces an advertisement for a 1989 Lexus LS champagne glass.
In 1989, Lexus aired a television commercial emphasizing the refinement of the first-generation LS 400. It showed a tower of champagne glasses mounted on the hood of an LS 400 traveling at 145 miles per hour on a dyno.
Needless to say, the glasses never tipped over, and Lexus boasted that its flagship sedan was the smoothest car on the market at the time.
Last year, Lexus celebrated its 30th anniversary, and in honor of the occasion, Toyota president Akio Toyoda recreated this famous moment on the latest LS 500.
While the feat is as impressive as it was then, it should be noted that the original LS 400 was powered by a 4.0-liter V8 engine, while the latest LS 500 is powered only by a V6 engine, namely a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. It develops a maximum power output of 415 hp and maximum torque of 442 hp and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel drive system can also be fitted.
However, such gains may not be as impressive in the future, as Lexus has stated that it will eventually move to a smooth-running electric drivetrain. Recall that last year Lexus celebrated its 30th anniversary with the release of the LF-30 Electrified concept car, which features four motors on wheels.
