2020 Lexus LS 500

THE 2020 LEXUS LS 500 INSPIRATION SERIES An Extraordinary Automobile for Those Who Have Nothing Left to Prove. There comes a point in the life of every automobile enthusiast when horsepower figures, extravagant badges, and the endless pursuit of attention begin to lose their significance. A point when one realizes that true luxury isn't about announcing your arrival. It's about making the journey so magnificent that arriving almost seems like an inconvenience. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Lexus LS 500 Inspiration Series. Now, the Germans have spent decades convincing the world that the pinnacle of automotive achievement must wear a three-pointed star, a pair of Bavarian kidneys, or four interlocking rings. And to be fair, they've built some rather marvelous machines. But somewhere in Japan, a group of exceptionally meticulous engineers decided that luxury should be approached rather differently. Instead of building a car to impress the neighbors, they built one to impress the person sitting inside it. And my goodness, did they succeed. Only 300 examples of the Inspiration Series were produced for the American market. Finished in a breathtaking shade called Deep Garnet, this particular masterpiece possesses the sort of presence that money alone simply cannot purchase. Its sculpted bodywork is complemented by magnificent 20-inch Black Vapor Chrome wheels, creating an appearance that is simultaneously commanding and wonderfully understated. Open the door, however, and the real magic begins. An extraordinary landscape of white semi-aniline leather, intricate Japanese Kiriko glass ornamentation, and exquisite craftsmanship greets you with the quiet confidence of a five-star hotel that has absolutely no interest in reminding you how expensive it is. The front seats offer power adjustment and massage functions, while an expansive panoramic roof invites the sky into an already spectacular cabin. And then there's the rear accommodation. Now, ordinarily, the back seat of a motorcar is where one places the children, an unfortunate colleague, or someone who has drawn the short straw. Not here. Here, rear passengers enjoy electrically adjustable, reclining seating, their own sophisticated touchscreen controls, and an atmosphere so wonderfully serene that one might begin inventing reasons to be chauffeured about. And unlike certain limousine configurations that sacrifice practicality in the pursuit of extravagance, this Lexus retains seating for five. Because apparently, Lexus believes that extraordinary luxury should still leave room for the people you love. Then there is the sound system. A magnificent 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson surround-sound system, capable of transforming an ordinary drive into something resembling a private performance at the world's finest concert hall. Under the long, beautifully sculpted bonnet lies a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6, delivering a thoroughly respectable 416 horsepower through a sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission. It is effortlessly powerful, remarkably composed, and utterly uninterested in making a spectacle of itself. And that, perhaps, is its greatest achievement. Because a truly exceptional automobile needn't constantly remind you of its capabilities. It simply delivers them. With approximately 17,000 miles, this exceptionally low-mileage example represents an opportunity to experience a level of automotive craftsmanship that very few people will ever encounter. There are faster cars. There are louder cars. There are automobiles whose badges will attract considerably more attention in the parking lot. But very few manage to combine performance, artistry, comfort, and quiet sophistication quite like this. The Lexus LS 500 Inspiration Series was not designed to make you feel more important than everyone else. It was designed to make you forget everyone else exists. And in a world that seems determined to get louder, faster, and more complicated with every passing year, perhaps