Lexus was in attendance at the 2018 SEMA Auto Show with a number of show-stopping offerings, including a custom Lexus LS 500 F Sport. The new take on the LS 500 F Sport is far more subtle than you’d want it to be, but it does offer a glimpse of the LS 500 F Sport’s tuning potential. It comes with a full custom wrap, a new set of wheels, a performance brake kit, and an extensive aerodynamic kit that bolsters the LS F Sport’s appearance. For a car that acts as Lexus’ flagship sedan, these upgrades bring out a side of the LS that none of us get to see regularly. In other words, these upgrades are exactly what the doctor ordered.

What makes the Lexus LS Custom special

There’s something to be said for a flagship sedan that naturally pulls of a sporty look. Lexus did a great job in giving the LS 500 F Sport that kind of aesthetic appeal. But as they, just because it’s good, it doesn’t mean it can’t be better. That’s the rationale Lexus took, or at least I think it is, in giving the LS 500 F Sport an even sportier appearance. . The wrap exudes a professional business-like look that enhances the sedan’s status as the model that sits on top of Lexus’ version of a “car chain.”

That, of course, is just one part of the LS 500 F Sport’s custom upgrades. Complementing the custom wrap is an aerodynamic body kit from Japan-based tuning company Artisan Spirit. The aftermarket firm is known for its aero kits. Specifically those it builds exclusively for Lexus models. Granted, Lexus didn’t elaborate on the contents of Artisan Spirit’s aero kit for the LS 500 F Sport, so we took a peek at the tuner’s website. That’s where we discovered that the aero kit goes by the name “Black Label.”

It’s a fitting name considering what it includes. According to the Artisan Spirit website, the aero kit includes a front lip spoiler that’s exclusive to the bumper of the LS 500 F Sport, a side spoiler mounted on the bottom of the side step, and a rear diffuser mounted on the bottom of the rear bumper. With the exception of the wheels, all these components are also available in carbon fiber.

In addition to the wrap and aerodynamic body kit, the LS 500 F Sport Custom sits on a set of 22-inch WORK wheels, all of which come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Just behind the wheels is an aftermarket Brembo brake kit made of 15.9-inch six-piston calipers in the front and 15-inch four-piston calipers at the back.

Unfortunately, that’s the extent of the upgrades in the Lexus 500 F Sport Custom. It probably would’ve been better if Lexus did a little tuning of the engine, or sourced someone else to do it. But we’re not complaining because we know the purpose of this custom build. The Lexus 500 F Sport Custom isn’t about showcasing the sedan’s V-6 engine and the many tuning possibilities it offers. It’s about showcasing the car itself. We can appreciate that.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LS 500 F Sport.

Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LS.

Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LS 500h.