
149
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4 4
Driving Driving .
4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle ..................... 150
Cargo and luggage ................... 156
Vehicle load limits ...................... 158
Trailer towing ............................... 159
Dinghy towing ............................. 159
4-2. Driving procedures
Engine (ignition) switch ........... 160
Automatic transmission........... 163
Turn signal lever.......................... 169
Parking brake .............................. 170
Brake Hold.................................... 173
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ......................... 175
AHB (Automatic High Beam)
......................................................... 178
Windshield wipers and washer
......................................................... 180
4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap...... 185
4-5. Using the driving support sys-
tems
Lexus Safety System+A........... 187
Lexus Safety System+ .............. 194
PCS (Pre-Collision System) (vehi-
cles with Lexus Safety Sys-
tem+A) ....................................... 200
PCS (Pre-Collision System) (vehi-
cles with Lexus Safety System+)
......................................................... 210 FCTA (Front Cross Traffic Alert)
........................................................ 218
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) ...... 221
LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist)
........................................................ 231
RSA (Road Sign Assist).......... 238
Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range........................ 241
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ..... 251
PKSA (Parking Support Alert)
....................................................... 256
Intuitive parking assist ............. 257
RCTA (Rear cross traffic alert)
function....................................... 264
RCD (Rear Camera Detection)
function....................................... 268
PKSB (Parking Support Brake)
......................................................... 271
Parking Support Brake function
(static objects) ......................... 277
Parking Support Brake function
(rear-crossing vehicles) ...... 282
Parking Support Brake function
(rear pedestrians) .................. 286
Driving mode select switch .. 289
Electronically modulated air sus-
pension ........................................ 291
Driving assist systems.............. 294
4-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips .................... 299

1514-1. Before driving
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving ■
Restraining the engi ne output (Brake
Override System)●
When the accelerator and brake pedals
are depressed at the same time, the
engine output may be restrained.●
A warning message is displayed on the
multi-information display while the sys-
tem is operating.■
Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)●
When the following unusual operation is
performed, the engine output may be
restrained.
• When the shift position is shifted from R
to D, D to R, N to R, P to D *
, or P to R *
(D
includes M) with the accelerator pedal
depressed, a warning message appears
on the multi-information display. If a
warning message is shown on the
multi-information disp lay, read the mes-
sage and follow the instruction.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed
too much while the vehicle is in reverse. *
: Depending on the situation, the shift
position may not be changed.●
While Drive-Start Control is being acti-
vated, your vehicle may have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In
such case, deactivate TRAC ( → P.295)
to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the
vehicle may become able to escape from
the mud or fresh snow.■
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing
the following precautions is recommended: ●
For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●
For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for
extended periods.
■
Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type park-
ing brake system. This type of brake system
needs bedding-down of the brake shoes
periodically or whenev er the parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your
Lexus dealer perform the bedding down
operation. ■
Brake pads and discs (F SPORT models)
The brake pads and discs are designed for
use under high load conditions. Therefore,
brake noise may be generated depending
on the vehicle speed, braking force and
vehicle environment (temperature, humid-
ity, etc.). ■
Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registra-
tion laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( → P.449)■
Idling time before engine stop
To prevent damage to the turbocharger,
allow the engine to idle immediately after
high-speed driving or hill climbing.
Driving condition Idling time
Normal city driving Not neces-
sary
High-speed driving (Con-
stant speed of approx. 62
mph [100km/h]) Not neces-
sary
Steep hill driving or continu-
ous driving at 62 mph (100
km/h) or more (race track
driving etc.) Approxi-
mately 1
minute
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■
When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the engine run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from
creeping.

1634-2. Driving procedures
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving ■
When the shift control system malfunc-
tions
When attempting to turn the engine switch
off while there is a malfunction in the shift
control system, the engine switch mode
may change to ACCESSORY mode. In this
case, ACCESSORY mode may be turned
off by applying the parking brake and press-
ing the engine switch again. If there is a mal-
function in the system, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
*1
: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce
noise, set the shift position in D for nor-
mal driving. You can choose gear range
suitable for your driving situation by
operating the paddle shift switches. *2
: Any gear range can be fixed when driv-
ing in M mode.
■
For the shift positions ●
When the engine switch is off or in
ACCESSORY mode, the shift position
cannot be changed.
●
When the engine swit ch is in IGNITION
ON mode, the shift position can only be
changed to N.
●
When the engine is running, the shift
position can be changed from P to D, N
or R.
●
The shift position can only be changed to
M directly from D.
In addition, if an attempt is made to change NOTICE■
To prevent battery discharge●
Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long period s of time without
the engine running.●
If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meter, the
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the
engine switch off. Automatic transmission Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions Shift posi-
tion Objective or function
P Parking the vehicle/starting
the engine
R Reversing
N Neutral
(Condition in which the
power is not transmitted)
D
Normal driving *1
M
M mode driving *2
( → P.168)

1754-3. Operating the lights and wipers
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving 4-3.Operating the lights and wipers
Turning the end of the lever turns on
the lights as follows:
U.S.A.
Canada
1 The side marker, parking, tail,
license plate, instrument panel
lights, and daytime running lights
( → P.175) turn on.
2 The headlights and all lights
listed above (except daytime run-
ning lights) turn on.
3 The headlights, daytime run-
ning lights ( → P.175) and all the lights listed above turn on and off
automatically.
4 (U.S.A.) Off
(Canada) The daytime run-
ning lights turn on. ( → P.175)■
AUTO mode can be used when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON
mode. ■
Daytime running light system ●
The daytime running lights illuminate
using the same lights as the parking lights
and illuminate brighter than the parking
lights. ●
To make your vehicle more visible to
other drivers during daytime driving, the
daytime running lights turn on automati-
cally when all of the following conditions
are met. (The daytime running lights are
not designed for use at night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The headlight switch is in the (Can-
ada only), or *
position*
: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after
they illuminate, even if the parking brake is
set again. ●
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights
can be turned off by operating the switch. ●
Compared to turning on the headlights,
the daytime running light system offers
greater durability and consumes less
electricity, so it can help improve fuel
economy.
■
Headlight control sensorHeadlight switch The headlights can be operated
manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
A
B

1854-4. Refueling
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving 4-4.Refueling
Close all the doors and windows,
and turn the engine switch off.
Confirm the type of fuel. ■
Fuel types
→ P.457■
Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your vehi-
cle has a fuel tank opening that only accom-
modates the special nozzle on unleaded
fuel pumps.Opening the fuel tank cap Perform the following steps to open
the fuel tank cap:
Before refueling the vehicle
WARNING■
When refueling the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while
refueling the vehicle. Failure to do so may
result in death or serious injury.
●
After exiting the ve hicle and before
opening the fuel door, touch an
unpainted metal surface to discharge
any static electricity. It is important to
discharge static electricity before refu-
eling because sparks resulting from
static electricity can cause fuel vapors
to ignite while refueling.
●
Always hold the grips on the fuel tank
cap and turn it slowly to remove it.
A whooshing sound may be heard
when the fuel tank cap is loosened.
Wait until the sound cannot be heard
before fully removing the cap. In hot
weather, pressurized fuel may spray
out the filler neck and cause injury. ●
Do not allow anyone that has not dis-
charged static electricity from their
body to come close to an open fuel
tank. ●
Do not inhale vaporized fuel.
Fuel contains substances that are
harmful if inhaled. ●
Do not smoke while refueling the vehi-
cle.
Doing so may cause the fuel to ignite
and cause a fire. ●
Do not return to the vehicle or touch
any person or object that is statically
charged.
This may cause static electricity to
build up, resulting in a possible ignition
hazard. ■
When refueling
Observe the following precautions to
prevent fuel overflowing from the fuel
tank: ●
Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the
fuel filler neck. ●
Stop filling the tank after the fuel noz-
zle automatically clicks off. ●
Do not top off the fuel tank.
NOTICE
■
Refueling
Do not spill fuel during refueling.
Doing so may damage the vehicle, such
as causing the emission control system to
operate abnormally or damaging fuel
system components or the vehicle’s
painted surface.

186 4-4. Refueling
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 1 Press the opener switch.
2 Turn the fuel tank cap slowly and
remove it, then put it into the holder
on the fuel filler door.
■
If the fuel filler door cannot be opened
→ P.435
After refueling, turn the fuel tank cap
until you hear a click. Once the cap is
released, it will turn slightly in the oppo-
site direction.Opening the fuel tank cap
Closing the fuel tank cap WARNING■
When replacing the fuel tank cap
Do not use anything but a genuine Lexus
fuel tank cap designed for your vehicle.
Doing so may cause a fire or other inci-
dent which may result in death or serious
injury.

2894-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 4
Driving
Vehicles without Adaptive Variable
Suspension System
1 Normal modeProvides an optimal ba lance of fuel econ-
omy, quietness, and dynamic performance.
Suitable for city driving.
Press the switch to change the driving
mode to normal mode when not in normal
mode.
2 Eco drive modeHelps the driver accelerate in an
eco-friendly manner and improve fuel
economy through modera te throttle char-
acteristics and by controlling the operation
of the air conditioning system (heat-
ing/cooling).
When not in Eco drive mode, if the driving
mode select switch is turned backward, the
Eco drive mode indicator will come on.
3 Sport modeControls the transmission and engine to
provide quick, powerful acceleration. This
mode also changes the steering feel, mak-
ing it suitable for when agile driving
response is desired, such as when driving on roads with many curves.
When not in sport mode, if the driving
mode select switch is turned forward, the
sport mode indicator will comes on.
Vehicles with Adaptive Variable
Suspension System
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models
1 Normal mode/Custom mode Normal mode and custom mode are
selected by pressing the driving mode
select switch. Each time the switch is
pressed, the driving mode changes
between normal mode and custom mode.
When normal mode is selected, the normal
mode indicator comes on.
When custom mode is selected, the cus-
tom mode indicator comes on.
Press the switch to change the driving
mode to normal mode when not in normal
mode.
• Normal mode
Provides an optimal ba lance of fuel econ-
omy, quietness, and dynamic performance. Driving mode select switch The driving modes can be selected
to suit driving condition.
Selecting a drive mode
A
B

290 4-5. Using the driving support systems
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) Suitable for city driving.
When the shift position is in D, an appropri-
ate gear for sporty driving may automati-
cally be selected according to driver
performance and dr iving conditions.
•Custom mode
Allows you to drive with the powertrain,
chassis and air condit ioning system func-
tions set to your preferred settings. Cus-
tom mode settings can only be changed on
the drive mode customization display of
the Center Display. ( → P.306)
2 Comfort modeBy controlling the suspension, riding com-
fort is further enhanc ed. Suitable for city
driving.
When not in comfort mode and the driving
mode select switch is turned backward, the
comfort mode indicator comes on.
3 Eco drive modeHelps the driver accelerate in an
eco-friendly manner and improve fuel
economy through modera te throttle char-
acteristics and by controlling the operation
of the air conditioning system (heat-
ing/cooling).
When in comfort mode, if the driving mode
select switch is turned backward, the Eco
drive mode indicator comes on.
4 Sport mode•Sport S mode
Controls the transmission and engine to
provide quick, powerful acceleration. This
mode is suitable for when agile driving
response is desired, such as when driving
on roads with many curves.
When not in Sport S mode, if the driving
mode select switch is turned forward, the
Sport S mode indicator comes on.
•Sport S+ mode
Helps to ensure stee ring performance and
driving stability by simultaneously con- trolling the steering and suspension in
addition to the transmission and engine.
Suitable for sportier driving.
When in Sport S mode, if the driving mode
select switch is turned forward, the Sport
S+ mode indicator comes on. ■
If the driving mode select switch is oper-
ated while the opening screen is being
displayed
If the driving mode sele ct switch is operated
while the opening screen is being displayed,
the driving mode will be changed and the
meter display will chan ge accordingly after
the opening screen operation has com-
pleted. ■
Operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem in Eco drive mode
Eco drive mode controls the heating/cool-
ing operations and fan speed of the air con-
ditioning system to en hance fuel efficiency.
To improve air condit ioning performance,
perform the following operations: ●
Turn off eco air conditioning mode
( → P.317)●
Adjust the fan speed ( → P.313)●
Turn off Eco drive mode ■
Automatic deactivation of sport mode
and custom mode
If the engine switch is turned off after driv-
ing in sport mode or custom mode, the
drive mode will be changed to normal
mode.
■
Driving mode pop-up display
When the driving mode is changed, the
selected driving mode will be temporarily
displayed on the side display. ( → P.307)