Lexus launches LS 500 Heritage Edition in the United States, which may be discontinued afterwards
[PCauto] Lexus recently launched the limited 250-unit LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition in the U.S. market, which is not only the sole configuration for the 2026 model year but also the final chapter of the LS series in the North American market.
It is understood that after the Heritage Edition, there will be no successor models for the LS. In other words, this flagship sedan, which has been part of the brand since its inception in 1989, is about to conclude its 36-year journey.
LS rose to fame with the Champagne Tower Experiment
The legend of the LS series began with the launch of the LS 400 in 1989, a model that became famous thanks to the groundbreaking Champagne Tower Experiment.
In the classic commercial of that year, the LS 400, with 15 champagne glasses stacked on its hood, drove at a speed of 233 km/h. The scene of the tower remaining perfectly stable became one of the most iconic marketing cases in the automotive industry.
Over the course of 36 years of evolution, the LS series has continued to innovate and maintain its flagship status.
The current generation inherits the first-generation DNA, featuring a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 416 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system with a Torsen limited-slip differential.
Its Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 safety suite integrates advanced features like the Pre-Collision System and Lane Tracking Assistance, while configurations such as the Mark Levinson audio system and Ottoman executive seats set the benchmark for Japanese luxury.
LS 500 Heritage Edition adopts an exclusive design language to pay tribute to history
As Lexus officially confirms that the LS series will exit the North American market after the 2026 model year, the limited edition of 250 units, LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition, marks the swan song of this legendary flagship.
Every detail of this special edition embodies the 36 years of technical accumulation and design philosophy of the LS series, with elements meticulously designed far beyond mere surface decorations.
The most striking feature of the Heritage Edition is its unique Ninety Noir paint finish. This paint finish is achieved through a seven-layer coating process, incorporating specially formulated mica particles that create a subtle gradient effect from deep black to warm gray under light refraction.
Compared to the standard LS paint finish, this special formulation requires an additional three days of application time, with each Heritage Edition’s body paint undergoing an intricate polishing process that lasts up to 22 hours.
The matched 20 inch forged aluminum alloy wheels are coated with “Dark Graphite” deep graphite color, and their ten spoke design is inspired by the wheel shape of the first generation LS 400. However, modern manufacturing technology has reduced the weight by 1.8 kilograms while maintaining classic aesthetic elements.
In the interior, the seats wrapped in Rioja Red semi-aniline leather are the most prominent feature of the Heritage Edition. This leather is sourced from premium hides from specific European ranches, processed using a vegetable tanning technique that preserves the natural grain while ensuring excellent durability.
In terms of stitching technology, Lexus craftsmen use unique patterned stitching that requires 12 precision stitches per inch, and the seat alone takes over 18 hours of manual production time.
The Heritage Edition exclusive badge on the center console is not a simple decorative sticker; instead, it is created using laser engraving technology with a precision of 0.3 millimeters, permanently etching the LS body silhouette onto the surface of the wooden panel.
In terms of technical configuration, the Heritage Edition comes standard with an upgraded Advanced Park system. This system adds a “Memory Parking” function, capable of recording a driving path up to 100 meters long, enabling fully autonomous parking operations in complex parking environments.
The Mark Levinson® Reference surround sound system equipped in the car has also been specially tuned. The newly added “Heritage Mode” can simulate the sound field characteristics of the first-generation LS 400 audio system, paying tribute to the classic.
As for the chassis, although it retains the same 3.4-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine as the standard LS model, engineers have re-optimized the active noise cancellation system, with adjustments specifically compensating for the acoustic characteristics of the 20-inch wheels.
Faced with the fact that consumers are increasingly preferring SUVs in the market, the sales scale of LS has shrunk before BMW 7 Series and Benz S-Class, so it has to face the end of production stoppage. As an important market for Lexus, the plan of LS in the United States may soon be implemented in other parts of the world, but the time is uncertain.
Mercedes Benz Service in Pune: 10 Reasons Wrenchit Beats the Dealership Every Time
.jpg)
To own a Mercedes-Benz in Pune is to own a fine machine representing luxury, performance, and world-class engineering. A car that draws stares and beats any other driving experience available! A vehicle with such finesse deserves the best care while you enjoy the experience of driving a world-class, engineered machine.
When it comes to Mercedes-Benz service in Pune, your conventional choice is the authorised dealer. But what if we told you there’s a revolutionary alternative in Pune that’s setting new benchmarks in premium Mercedes service?
Many Mercedes owners in Pune are rethinking the usual dealership route, and for good reason. From unpredictable pricing to impersonal service, the experience often falls short of the standards these cars deserve.
That’s where Wrenchit Mercedes service Pune steps in. Designed specifically for luxury vehicles, it provides a premium yet transparent service experience that exceeds the basics. Whether it’s a routine checkup or something more complex, the team offers deep expertise in Mercedes-Benz engineering with a personalized touch. If you’re weighing your options, here are 10 reasons why Wrenchit might just be the smarter choice over the dealership.
1. Specialised Mercedes-Benz Knowledge & Equipment
Wrenchit is not a place where you can get your car fixed. It’s a special Mercedes workshop in Pune for high-end cars, especially German luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz. Every Wrenchit technician knows how Mercedes cars are built, how their electronics work, and how their mechanics work.
Wrenchit’s team has hands-on experience and uses diagnostic systems designed for Mercedes, whether it’s a standard C-Class, a hybrid GLC, or a performance AMG model.
Wrenchit’s workshop has tools that are specific to each brand for coding, resetting software, scanning ECUs, and calibrating. This is different from generic garages that use tools that work with many brands. This level of accuracy makes sure that problems are fixed right the first time.
Also Read: PPF vs Ceramic Coating: The Ultimate Guide For Luxury Car Owners in Pune
2. Experienced, Certified Technicians You Can Trust
Wrenchit’s outstanding Mercedes repair centre in Pune is built around a team of highly experienced and licensed specialists. All technicians have a vast amount of hands-on experience working on luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz for many years.
Besides experience, our technicians undergo an extensive training and certification process to ensure they are well-qualified. Their commitment to learning ensures that they are sufficiently trained on the latest repair methods and are qualified to meet with the detailed repair specifications of modern Mercedes-Benz cars. You can feel confident that the best Mercedes-Benz mechanic in Pune is working on your Mercedes-Benz.
3. Transparent Pricing – No Confusing Bills
At dealerships, many customers feel out of control during the billing process. It’s not uncommon to be handed a list of “recommended” add-ons after your car has already been taken in, with very little explanation.
Wrenchit Mercedes service Pune solves this with a simple, clear pricing model.
Every job starts with a detailed estimate. If additional work is required after inspection, customers are consulted before anything is done. No hidden charges, misleading labour prices or unexplained charges. The price you are paying is transparent and explained.
It’s this kind of financial transparency that makes Wrenchit a trusted Mercedes repair centre in Pune.
4. Genuine Parts and OEM-Grade Materials Only
Use quality materials to keep your Mercedes-Benz in excellent working condition, and Wrenchit Mercedes service Pune is a certified shop that only uses genuine Mercedes-Benz parts and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)-grade materials for all repairs and replacements. This ensures that every part is installed correctly, functions as intended during service, and meets extremely high Mercedes-Benz standards.
Genuine parts give you the most assurance that your car will perform in the best way possible and that you are operating safely. Using genuine parts is a good idea because it preserves your warranty and vehicle resale value, which is even more important for luxury vehicle owners.
5. Advanced Diagnostics for Modern Mercedes Systems
Today’s Mercedes-Benz vehicles are full of electronic systems, sensors, and software. Troubleshooting problems requires more than experience; it also requires digital equipment to communicate with the onboard systems.
Wrenchit’s diagnostic capabilities are on par with those used in authorised dealerships. Their scanners read manufacturer-specific fault codes, analyse performance metrics, and suggest preventive action, all in real time.
Whether it’s a failing ABS sensor or a gearbox calibration issue, this Mercedes workshop in Pune can detect and resolve it with accuracy.
6. Quick Service that Doesn’t Compromise on Quality
We understand that being without your car can be a little frustrating. That is why Wrenchit Mercedes service Pune is structured to provide efficient services with a faster turnaround than large dealerships, which can be bureaucratic and slow.
We standardised our process and pay attention to the individual vehicle so we can service it quickly and efficiently, but we’ll never sacrifice efficiency for quality. Each service and repair is performed carefully and according to quality-control protocol.
We aim to provide premium Mercedes service in Pune while making sure no compromises are made to get your Mercedes-Benz back on the road safely and quickly.
7. Pick-Up & Drop Facility Across Pune
Convenience matters. Not everyone can afford to spend time driving to a workshop, waiting for a diagnosis, and arranging alternate transport.
Wrenchit makes things easier with a city-wide pick-up and drop service. We will pick your car up from your location (home or office), service it, and then drop it back to you — clean, safe, and ready to go!
Every car is treated with care and safety. You also receive updates at all times from the initial pick-up to the final drop-off. For many customers, this single feature has made Wrenchit their preferred choice for Mercedes-Benz service in Pune.
8. Comprehensive Suite of Luxury Car Services
Wrenchit is a complete servicing destination for your Mercedes-Benz, not just a place for standard maintenance. We offer a comprehensive range of luxury car services in Pune that are carefully designed to pamper, maximise, and preserve the immaculate condition of your car. Our wide range of products includes:
- Professional Repair Services: Our expert professionals perform all mechanical and electrical repairs with precision, from complicated electrical system issues to engine diagnostics and gearbox overhauls.
- Master Dent & Paint: We offer full body repaints, precise spot painting, expert paint blending, thorough paint correction, and seamless dent removal, restoring your car’s exterior to its original, showroom-quality finish.
- Luxury Detailing: We use modern processes to fully clean, repair and protect every area of your luxury vehicle (inside and out). We don’t just wash it.
- Routine Maintenance: To keep your Mercedes-Benz in running condition, you should have maintenance services on a regular basis, like full inspections, oil changes, filter changes, and system inspections.
This wide range of services makes Wrenchit your reliable Mercedes workshop in Pune.
9. Personalised, One-on-One Support
An assigned advisor monitors every service appointment and is with you the entire way. If you need technical assistance or a quick update, they are only a phone call away.
This kills the separation many people experience at dealerships, where you are sent from department to department and rarely speak to the person “taking care” of your vehicle.
The team at Wrenchit believes that clear communication leads to better service and better customer satisfaction — a trait that makes us a top-rated Mercedes repair centre in Pune.
10. Consistently Recommended by Mercedes Owners in Pune
Our happiest customers make the strongest case for our quality and reliability. The great bulk of our business has come from repeat clients and referrals from the community of Mercedes-Benz owners in Pune, who trust us and actively refer us for servicing.
The ratings we receive and reviews speak to our continuous improvement, transparency in our services, and quality of our work. When you pick Wrenchit, you’re picking the best Mercedes-Benz mechanics in Pune, ones that your community trusts.
Final Thoughts
With a luxury vehicle like a Mercedes-Benz, you would expect the service to match that same level of quality. While dealerships serve a purpose, for brand-specific expertise in Pune, Wrenchit is a far better option.
- Certified Mercedes mechanics
- Transparent pricing
- Doorstep pick-up/drop
- Genuine parts
- Advanced diagnostics
- One-on-one customer support
Wrenchit makes Mercedes servicing simple, efficient, and professional.
Ready to experience a better way to care for your Mercedes?
Visit wrenchit.co.in to book your next appointment.
Mercedes-Benz Vitoria plant has launched VLE pre-production, and the new car will be released in 2026
JohnSep 26, 2025, 02:07 PM
[PCauto] Mercedes-Benz has announced the successful launch of pre-production for the all-new all-electric VLE at its Vitoria, Spain factory, a step that lays a solid foundation for mass production scheduled for 2026.
This marks a significant milestone in the electrification transformation of the Mercedes-Benz Vans division. As the first model based on the brand-new modular architecture Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), VLE will redefine the luxury multipurpose vehicle market.
The Vitoria factory adopts a wide range of advanced production technologies
Located in the Basque Country, Spain, this factory has been in operation for over 70 years since it started production in 1954, with a current production area of 665,000 square meters.
After the expansion begins in March 2024, the factory will support the production of both VAN.EA electric architecture and VAN.CA fuel architecture models, becoming an important facility for Mercedes-Benz’s dual-track strategy.
Factory manager Bernd Krottmayer stated that over 90% of the facility upgrade projects have been completed, including the construction of a modernized body shop and a fully flexible paint shop. The assembly hall has also been upgraded while maintaining ongoing production.
The factory adopts advanced production technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital twin, introducing the Mercedes-Benz operating system MB.OS for the first time in the van series.
These technological transformations allow the plant to flexibly manufacture models with different powertrains (including the VLE, V-Class, Vito, and eVito) and can reconfigure the production line in real time according to customer demand.
Since 2013, the factory has fully utilized renewable energy, achieving carbon-neutral production through photovoltaic power generation, geothermal heating, and waste heat recovery from painting processes.
Approximately 5,000 employees have adapted to the new production standards through more than 160 training courses, covering cross-disciplinary skills such as integration of new IT systems and the application of new materials.
Thomas Klein, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, emphasized that cross-functional teams adopted digital development methods, completing the entire development process of the VLE from concept to mass production readiness in record time.
The VLE model itself also incorporates a wealth of advanced technologies
As the debut product of the new VAN.EA platform, the VLE combines sedan-level handling performance with MPV-level spatial practicality, offering up to an eight-seat configuration and catering to diverse scenarios such as family driving and business shuttles.
During the development process, measured data demonstrated the VLE’s remarkable competitiveness:
· Achieved best-in-class aerodynamic performance in wind tunnel tests;
· Successfully completed a long-distance test from Stuttgart, through the Alps, to Rome with only two 15-minute fast charging stops;
· Showcased agility at high speeds at the Nardò testing facility in Italy;
· Validated reliability under extreme conditions during winter testing in the Arctic Circle.
These achievements rely on core technologies such as the 800-volt high-voltage platform and four-wheel steering system. Some versions will also feature the Drive Pilot L2+/L3 autonomous driving function, which has been adapted from the S-Class.
VLE is Mercedes-Benz’s response to the demands of the electrification market
Unlike the existing EQV and other models based on fuel vehicle platforms, VLE is designed from the ground up for electric driving, offering better spatial utilization and energy efficiency performance.
Although initially focusing on pure electric versions, the platform’s compatibility allows for the introduction of hybrid models in the future (VAN.CA architecture). This flexibility helps balance the fluctuating demand in the current electric vehicle market.
As the first base in the global production network to launch VLE, the Vitoria plant’s successful experience will be replicated in other factories, including the production system of the next-generation Sprinter in the future.
