2013 Lexus LS (Plus 2013 ES and 2014 IS) Previewed in Video: Hello Spindle Grille

Lexus will update its flagship LS sedan for 2013 with its new corporate "spindle" grille and latest L-Finesse styling language. Lexus slipped a glimpse of the revised LS along with a peek at the 2013 ES and 2014 IS into a video it posted to YouTube. The clip is pretty boring; most of it involves Lexus's chief engineer, Takayuki Katsuda, discussing the brand's latest products at the 2012 Geneva auto show. The future Lexus models appear in the clip when Katsuda is explaining the brand identity the company's latest spindle-shaped grille design adds to its lineup. Although the heavily shadowed views of the cars' front ends don't show much, they do paint a semi-complete picture of what to expect. Of course, the spindle grille is present and accounted for on the ES, IS, and LS. The 2013 LS (pictured above) gets a mesh grille and sports zesty hole-punched silver trim buried in the headlights. We kind of dig the unique headlight accents, mostly because they look to be pulled straight off of the radically styled LF LC concept. The 2013 ES is less of a surprise, as the car was already spotted completely uncovered in China. There are a few minor differences between that ES and the one in the video. First, the grille opening on the ES pictured above is larger than that on the car in China. Also, this car's grille is stuffed with mesh and features more elaborate detailing than the other ES, which had a simpler design with thin slats. Lexus seems to be moving towards mesh grilles on F Sport models, leaving standard cars with more-formal horizontal slats similar to the car we've seen in China. Despite this photo of an ES with a mesh grille, we're told an ES F Sport is not in the cards. Finally, the clip gives us a look at what appears to be the next-generation IS, which will come to market as a 2014 model. There's nothing truly shocking here; it will adopt the same basic styling as its bigger brother, the GS. The spindle grille will be part of the deal, along with a more aggressive lower-fascia design. The new IS will make its debut sometime next year. We already knew the 2013 ES is coming to the New York auto show next month, but expect the 2013 LS to be revealed at the L.A. auto show later this year. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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