Beyond all these new mechanical bits, the LS 460 and LS 460 L represent the latest expressions of the brand’s “L-finesse” design direction. Lexus says its designers’ goal was to give its flagship model noticeably more expressive styling, no doubt in an effort to counter the common and, in our opinion, wholly undeserved criticism that previous LS generations looked a bit too stodgy. And they’ve largely succeeded, creating a sleeker profile with a long hood, short rear deck, and subtly altered one-third glass to two-thirds sheetmetal proportions similar to those on the latest generation of the carmaker’s midsize GS sedan.

To our eye, these details go a long way toward disguising the big sedan’s substantial proportions. The unbroken line that runs the length of the car just beneath the windows gives the LS 460 a clean and uncluttered look, while eye-catching details like swept-back crystal-look headlights and trapezoidal chrome exhaust tips frenched in beneath the rear bumper keep things interesting. All that said, our first impressions of the new design are that the car has lost some of the commanding visual presence we so admired in the previous generation. After spending some time staring at it, we’d describe this dynamic new look as sporty rather than stately, a design that says “I’m going places” rather than “I’ve already arrived.”

These same sleek design cues are also carried through to the car’s beautifully-crafted interior. The supple leathers and radiant woods are top quality and are liberally applied in a way that might look more at home in the cabin of a private jet than in an earthbound automobile. And while that analogy certainly applies to the regular wheelbase model, nowhere is this high-flying impression stronger than in the rear seat of the LS 460 L. With the four-place Executive Class Seating Package, the two lucky rear seat passengers can enjoy individually heated and cooled reclining seats with vibrating massage (the right rear seat also includes a power-operated leg rest), power-operated rear window and side door sunshades, and a wood- and leather-trimmed center console with a retractable table. Add the rear beverage cooler and rear seat DVD entertainment system with a big nine-inch monitor and, well, let’s just say we’d definitely be tempted to let the better half drive more often.

While all this available luxury is impressive, there’s more to this new body than is readily apparent to the eye. From the multiple coats of hand-sanded paint to the church-like silence of the passenger cabin, Lexus engineers have toiled over every aspect of this car to achieve a level of refinement only a handful of cars can match.