Kuala Lumpur, 23 April 2007 – The LEXUS LS 460 was declared the 2007 World Car of the Year at a press conference held at the New York auto show recently, beating 10 other short listed models. This is one of numerous accolades awarded to the LEXUS flagship since its global launch in mid 2006.

The selection process for the World Car of the Year started mid last year with a list of 28 entries. The Award is highly regarded globally as it is based on a fair and thorough assessment process that considered the needs and wants of consumers the world over.

Through a series of voting by a World Car jury of 44 automotive journalists from 22 countries, in which the candidates were graded on six separate sets of parameters, that group was reduced to three finalists in March: the Audi TT, Lexus LS 460, and Mini.

Bob Carter, LEXUS Group vice-president and general manager, upon receiving the award said, "From the outset, it was our goal to develop a luxury flagship vehicle that would be recognized as one of the finest cars in the world. Awards such as this go a long way toward realizing our goal."

The highly heralded LS 460 was also nominated for World Design of the Year category in the 2007 World Car of The Year Award, and has won numerous awards in the United States of America, Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

The LEXUS LS 460L, which is the long wheelbase version on the LEXUS flagship model, was launched in Malaysia in December last year. The embodiment of LEXUS’ ‘pursuit of perfection’, the LS 460L is classically luxurious, and unquestionably refined.

The LS 460L is powered by an all-new highly advanced 4.6-litre V8 engine combined with the world’s first eight-speed automatic transmission. Other impressive features in the long-wheelbase LS 460L include a power 45-degree reclining Ottoman rear-seat with multifunctional massage and power leg rest and a state-of-the-art 19-speaker Mark Levinson? audio system that provides a true theatre-level entertainment experience.

The LS 460L is available at the newly opened LEXUS Center Mutiara Damansara, at an on-the-road (OTR) price without insurance of RM777,448.

About World Car of the Year Awards
The World Car of the Year Awards programme was initiated, organised and conducted by automotive journalists from around the globe. It was established in 2003 and officially launched in January 2004. A non-profit association guided by a Steering Committee of journalists from Asia, Europe and North America administers the awards programme. WCOTY is intended to complement, not compete with, existing COTY awards by raising consumer awareness of regional Car of the Year award programmes as well as the World Car of the Year.