Lexus LM 500h: A Luxury Mobile Home with a 48-Inch Screen
Lexus has officially introduced the LM 500h 2024 to the Vietnamese market. This luxurious vehicle comes in a 6-seater version, with a 4-seater version expected to arrive in April. Priced at 7.29 billion VND and 8.71 billion VND (expected), the LM 500h lives up to its earlier price expectations.
Upgrades Worth the Price
The second generation of the Lexus LM, globally launched in April 2023 at the Shanghai Auto Show in China, brings about several noteworthy upgrades. The LM 500h is the top-of-the-line variant of this model. The Japanese brand also offers a lower-spec version, the LM 350h, which differs in terms of engine and convenience features.
Moving on to the second generation, this luxury Japanese MPV receives a slew of upgrades. The body stiffness has increased by 50% compared to the previous generation, and the adaptive suspension system has been improved to reduce vibrations when driving on rough terrain. The vehicle has grown in size, with an increase in length, width, and height by 90mm, 40mm, and 60mm respectively, while maintaining a consistent wheelbase length of 3,000mm.
The exterior retains its distinctive design, featuring a seamless front grille integrated into the overall body structure. Details like the LED lighting interface and grille patterns have been refined, while the taillights have been replaced with a continuous design.
Interior Enhancements for Added Comfort
The interior of the Lexus LM 500h is equipped with a host of new technologies to enhance comfort, including new seats. The front seats have been designed to provide better support, while the rear seats utilize vibration-absorbing materials to reduce jolts both when the vehicle is stationary and in motion.
Other notable features include a premium Mark Levinson surround sound system with 23 speakers, wireless controls for rear seat occupants, and a special “climate control” system that measures the body temperature of users in different areas (head, chest, hips, and legs) and adjusts the air conditioning temperature accordingly to maintain consistent cooling or heating.
The Lexus LM 2024, released in China, offers configurations with 4, 6, and 7 seats. However, in Vietnam, only the 4 and 6-seater options are available. The 4-seater variant is the most luxurious, featuring a partition wall between the front and rear seats with 3 levels of privacy, a 48-inch entertainment screen for the rear seats, a refrigerator, personal storage compartments, a table, and heated headrests.
Exclusively Hybrid Powertrain
The LM is the first Lexus model to be exclusively distributed with a hybrid powertrain. The most powerful variant, the 500h, combines a 2.4L turbocharged engine (producing 268 horsepower and 460 Nm of torque) with two electric motors (one at the front axle with 82 horsepower and 292 Nm of torque, and one at the rear axle with 79 horsepower and 169 Nm of torque). The total power output is 349 horsepower.
The engine is paired with an 8-speed Direct Shift transmission and a full-time all-wheel-drive system called DIRECT4. The “super responsive” suspension system is a first for Lexus vehicles.
The Lexus Safety System+3 package includes advanced safety and driver assistance technologies such as Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Pre-Collision System (PCS), e-Latch automatic door locks, Safe Exit Assist (SEA) to detect approaching traffic and cyclists from the rear, and more.
At a price slightly over 7 billion VND, the Lexus LM has no direct competitors in the Vietnamese market. In the large MPV category, there are lower-priced options such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class (3.099-3.759 billion VND) and the Toyota Alphard (4.37-4.475 billion VND). Notable mainstream MPVs include the Kia Carnival and the Volkswagen Viloran.
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