The elegant, flowing shapes that grace the exterior are carried through inside. Interior surfaces are soft to the touch for a luxurious feel. No seams are visible where the passenger airbag resides. The instrument cluster display was revised for 2000 for improved visibility. Elegant white-faced analog gauges, surrounded by thin chrome bezels, use electroluminescent lighting. Stylish typefaces give them a classic look. A beautiful white-faced clock that features watch-like detail is mounted in the center of the dash. Flanked by the Chrysler wings, it complements the design theme. Major controls use large twist dials. Few manufacturers get radios right and the LHS features slider tone controls that are challenging to operate when driving. For 2000, Chrysler has added an optional four-disc CD changer to its Infinity II audio system. Overall, the wood trim is attractive, but the oval piece of wood surrounding the shifter seems unnecessary and diminishes the positive effect of the rest of the trim.
Leather seating and heated front seats with personalized memory controls on the driver's side are standard. LHS offers a bit more front and rear legroom than the 300M. Power window and door locks switches are chrome-colored for 2000 and the power mirror switches are color-keyed.
Overall, it's a brilliant interior. Light colors, such as the Camel on ours, give it an elegant look. Compared with the Lincoln Continental, the LHS offers an interior design that is sleeker and more contemporary.
The LHS comes with a larger trunk than the 300M and it holds plenty of luggage for long trips. Details, such as gas struts for the trunk hinges, make life seem just a bit more luxurious.
The LHS delivers a smooth ride quality, filtering out unwanted vibration without isolating the driver from the road. Noise and vibration, though not at Lexus levels, are low. The LHS is tuned a bit more in the direction of luxurious ride quality, but it feels extremely stable at high speeds. Steering is direct and precise and it offers the best handling in its class.
Quiet when cruising, the engine serves notice with an aggressive growl when provoked. Plenty of power is on tap for accelerating away from intersections, onto freeways and passing cars. A broad torque curve means it's ready to provide instant throttle response at any speed. The revised automatic transmission selects the appropriate gears and does not hunt excessively. The brakes have been refined and provide good stopping power and pedal feel.
We checked out some of the competition on an undulating, wet, winding road through Georgia's Chattahoochie National Forest. Compared with the LHS, the tires on the Lincoln Continental lacked grip and the brakes felt mushy. The LHS offered much better suspension control in hard corners and through dips, and its transmission was more responsive. The recently re-engineered Buick Park Avenue is a worthy competitor with a responsive engine and a confidence-inspiring suspension.
The new all-aluminum 3.5-liter V6 is unique to the LHS and 300M. This V6 delivers 253 horsepower and 255 foot-pounds of torque. Designed to deliver power across a broad torque range, it emulates the power characteristics of classic American V8s. With 24 valves and single overhead cams, it delivers an 18-percent increase in power over the cast-iron engine it replaces. Mid-grade 89-octane gasoline delivers the best performance, but it will run fine on 87 octane. A host of new features, such as six-bolt main bearing caps, help reduce vibration. A highly refined four-speed electronically controlled transmission is standard.
The LHS uses the same suspension architecture as the new 300M, but the LHS strut valves were tuned with longer ride motions than on the 300M for a more luxurious ride quality. That's not to say the LHS is sloppy; it provides excellent handling response and agility for a car of its size. It does not feel like a traditional American luxobarge.
The front suspension and powertrain are mounted on a new system of four hydroformed steel tubes that are lighter, stiffer and dimensionally more accurate than the previous setup. Hydroforming involves forcing water into a tube at extremely high pressures to form the subframe, resulting in a structure that is far more rigid than welded parts. It's the latest, greatest thing in subframe structure. This system improves handling and ride quality, while reducing noise, vibration and harshness. The rear suspension uses multiple links and a Chapman Strut at each wheel. The geometry has been revised slightly over the previous model.
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard; ABS allows the driver to maintain steering control during hard braking. The LHS comes with a new brake system that provides better pedal feel, improved stopping performance with less noise and vibration from the ABS. Electronic traction control is also standard; it provides improved control when accelerating on slippery surfaces by limiting wheel spin. All-season Goodyear Eagle LS touring tires, size P225/55R17, are standard and provide good handling characteristics on wet or dry roads with low tread noise and good snow traction.
One model is available. The $28,090 LHS comes equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 and a lovely leather interior that's loaded with luxury features.