LS is dead, long live LS. Lexus’ flagship sedan is on its way out, but it looks like an entirely new family of cars is taking its place. Apart from A A strange six-wheeled minivanToyota’s premium brand also unveils an SUV. It’s incorrectly labeled a coupe, but we’ll leave that segment since the concept doesn’t look half bad. It borrows the sexy minivan design but packages it as being much easier on the eyes than the exotic people mover.
Beaten with a coupe stick, this SUV features rear-hinged doors reminiscent of Ferrari borosanguiBut that’s not the most attractive part. Although the sloping roofline might make you think it ends in a tailgate, the concept actually has a proper trunk. The back panel slides down to reveal the load floor that automatically extends outward. It does seem like you’ll need to bend down to get to the luggage area, and there’s limited space for longer items, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.
Lexus He didn’t go into detail about the LS Coupe, but all signs point to it being fully electric. The four-seater features a large panoramic glass roof and a surprising number of air vents for an SUV. Angular lighting at either end evokes its funky minivan cousin, while four small fans divide the vertical third brake light.
Inside, things get even stranger. The dual-layer instrument cluster includes expansive digital displays, complemented by a larger screen for the passenger. Rear passengers relax in individual seats with huge vertical touchscreens mounted on the backs of the front seats.
Photo by: Lexus
The completely flat floor reinforces the impression that this is an electric car, and the bamboo accents echo those seen in the LS pickup truck. The blue driver’s seat stands out against the cream passenger seats, while a yoke replaces the steering wheel. Traditional buttons are almost non-existent, although the window controls appear to be mounted on the front-left corner of the front passenger seat.
Lexus vaguely describes the LS Coupe concept as something that “satisfies the desire for the best in everything.” The marketing fluff continues: “The ability to discover the duality of a car that is as enjoyable for the driver as it is for the passenger. A balance of contradictions that has always been Lexus’ forte.”
It is unclear whether the concept will develop into a production model. However, between this and the pickup truck, it’s becoming increasingly likely that the LS name will expand to include an entire family of models. Hopefully, the traditional sedan body style, part of the nameplate since Lexus’ founding in 1989, won’t be left behind.
