The Lexus LS shed its conservative looks for sleeker, more dramatic sheetmetal in 2018. As such, it competes with versions of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Porsche Panamera. For 2020, there’s just a new special edition.

All LSs are badged LS 500, denoting a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that develops 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD) are enabled by a slick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. You also get Normal, Sport S, and Sport S+ modes to dial in a specific kind of driving. F Sport models come with a unique suspension, an aerodynamic kit, and larger brakes, and can be optioned variable-gear-ratio steering, active rear steering, and an active stabilizer. With all that, the LS can hit 60 miles per hour in as little as 4.6 seconds. It also delivers fuel economy as high as 19 mpg city, 30 highway, and 23 combined on premium fuel.

As Lexus’s nicest sedan, the LS comes with plenty of standard content: 19-inch wheels, keyless access and start, an adaptive suspension, power-closing doors, a power-closing trunk, heated and ventilated front power seats, LED headlights, a sunroof, a power rear sunshade, a 12.3-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay connectivity, navigation, and a 12-speaker audio system. You can add air suspension, adaptive LED headlights, a Mark Levinson audio system, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2020 Lexus offers the first of a series of cars called the Inspiration Series. It gets you a luxurious metallic red color called Deep Garnet, 20-inch black-chrome wheels, and a white-and-black interior with Kiriko glass trim.

The LS gets the benefit of Lexus’s best safety system, too. It comes with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and full-speed dynamic cruise control. Advanced stop-and-go cruise control is optional. The LS has not been evaluated for safety by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The LS is the original Lexus that started it all, and the 2020 model continues to represent that lineage well.