“The voters had good reason for choosing the Lexus LS 460,” Kevin Jost, Editor-In-Chief of Automotive Engineering International, said. ‘The LS 460 brings consumers at least nine world-firsts, including safety breakthroughs such as an advanced obstacle-detection system, emergency-steering assist and rear pre-crash systems. For driving pleasure, there’s also an eight-speed automatic transmission.’

The LS 460′s world-first highlights include:
- eight-speed automatic transmission;
- pre-crash safety system;
- advanced obstacle-detection system;
- driver-monitoring system;
- emergency-steering assist;
- intelligent powertrain control system;
- rear pre-crash safety system;
- roof climate diffusers;
- VVT-IE electrically actuated camshaft phasers.

The Best Engineered Vehicle award winners are announced in AEI’s April 2007 edition, its largest of the year as it also previews 2007 SAE World Congress, set for Cobo Center in Detroit April 16-19. While the LS 460 received Best Engineered Vehicle, second-place went to the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra, and the Porsche 911 Turbo finished third.

The Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra especially was recognized for its impressive fuel economy; these full-size pickups with V8 engines can attain more than 20 miles per gallon and can run on E85 fuel.

The Porsche 911 Turbo received high marks for its advanced materials and aerodynamic engineering, as well as its comparative fuel economy and good emissions characteristics.