The standard for technical advances in automaking has taken a decisive step ahead with the 2007 Lexus LS460 sedan. After 17 years of pursuing luxury icons (the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series), the fourth-generation LS460 can park itself—almost literally—on a new plateau.

It looks the part of the Lexus flagship, showing a family resemblance to the ES, IS, and GS models. But it has a smoothness that gives it a 0.26 coefficient of drag—better than even the sleekest sports cars. Enlarged from 4.3 to 4.6 liters, the new V8 engine makes a remarkable jump of 100 horsepower to 380. That power, along with 367 foot-pounds of torque, is distributed through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a sporty manual-shift gate. (If eight gears seems a bit much, remember that the new Mercedes S-Class has a seven-speed automatic.)

Inside, finishes include woods (ash, walnut, or birdseye maple) and leathers (black, gray, cashmere, or white), with the wood-leather touch repeated on the feel-good steering wheel.

The elongated LS460 L comes in an Executive Class model, in which the right rear seat reclines 45 degrees with a built-in ottoman. Even flying overseas in business class you can’t match the Lexus seat massage, or the power-retractable nine-inch video screen. Nine airbags are standard, 11 with the ottoman. A 10-speaker audio system upgrades to a Mark Levinson 19-speaker, 450-watt, 7.1-channel, surround-sound system. Punch a button to record whatever is playing for future replay, via a 14-gigabyte hard drive.

Advanced Parking Guidance is the coup de parking. Pull up to parallel park, shift into reverse, and the rear-view video display on the navigation screen shows a grid outlining the vacant spot. Hit “OK,” take your hands off the steering wheel, and the LS460 starts creeping backwards by itself as the steering wheel turns by itself and the big sedan angles into place. Step on the brake and pull ahead a few inches, and you have completed a no-hands, no-look, parking job—which perfectly places the LS460 at the front of high-tech luxury.

2007 Lexus LS460

The Car:
2007 Lexus LS460 luxury sedan

The Specs:
Dual-overhead-camshaft, 4.6-liter V8 engine; electrically controlled variable valve timing; 380 horsepower, 367 foot-pounds of torque; front-engine, rear-drive eight-speed automatic transmission; EPA fuel-economy estimates of 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. Length 198 inches, wheelbase 116.9, width 73.8, height 58.1; curb weight 4.250 pounds.

Strong Points:
Smooth power (0–60 mph in 5.5 seconds) from new engine; luxury appointments everywhere, especially with the “L” extended-length model; all-new styling with extremely slick 0.26 coefficient of drag; stability control system can be deactivated when some wheelspin (in snow) is preferred; hybrid model coming.

Weak Points:
Direct challenge to Mercedes S-Class raises price, along with performance levels; sharing similar appearance with less expensive G and ES models may detract from LS’s prestige.

Competition:
Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ.

Base Price:
$72,000.