What is Lexus Planning for the Next-Generation LS?

Posted by Kevin on May 14th, 2015

One of the most interesting exchanges in our podcast interview with Lexus International executive vice-president Mark Templin was a discussion on the definition of a Lexus halo car:

Mark Templin: A lot of people saw the LFA as the halo car that it really was, but I think there’s a lot of forms for a halo car.

To us, the RC F, the GS F, and other products we have coming will also be halo cars. In a way, we may even have versions of the LS that are halo cars in the future as well.

Lexus Enthusiast: So you really do see the F brand as the halo of Lexus…

Mark: We see it as one of the halos, that’s the performance halo. So you’re going to see performance halos, you’re going to see luxury halos, and you may even see halos that are…how do I say this without giving up too much information…I think you’ll see several segments of halo cars within the Lexus brand.

There’s plenty of room for speculation here in regards to the future of the LS. My initial guess would be the introduction of a high performance LS F, as this would be the logical progression for the model.

Even so, there’s something very curious in the idea of a “luxury halo” as well. Could we see an LS model above the current LS 600hL, perhaps powered by fuel cell technology?

The above image is the Project LS F SPORT SEMA build from Five Axis

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    Adrian de Leon
  • May 14, 2015
"Luxury halo" could lexus be hinting at something to compete with the s600 maybach?
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    Lexus Cohen
  • May 14, 2015
Whatever they have planned I'm anxious to see.
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    corradoMR2
  • May 14, 2015
I'm optimistic the Mirai's Hydrogen fuel cell tech will make it on a grander scale in the next top-end LS. hmmm... guesses on the new moniker... LS 600FC
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    Lexus Cohen
  • May 14, 2015
LS F and LC F to rival the Mercedes s class sedan and coupe respectively.
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Is this related to my rant? Haha Awesome! If not, awesome either way! Mercedes-Benz is doing something that I really want, and I am not being sarcastic. I do NOT want Lexus to lose touch with the luxury side! Stop making everything about sport! If it were up to me, I would price the Maybach S600 the same as the S65 AMG. Why should purchasing the luxury version be considered a compromise?! Unless Lexus can figure out how to make a car entirely F but also the most comfortable car in the world (not just in comparison with sports vehicles), then Lexus should not make the LS F and tell those who want comfortable cars to go for the "lesser" variant. Of course, the purely luxury version should have good reason to be priced the same as the F. But it would be nice to have those things in the F... Now, I'm ranting again. By the way, I always considered the LS and LX the halo cars along with the LFA. Also, there are many things that the LX just does better than the LS. Simply being a fully-capable vehicle makes the LX even more of a halo. However, Lexus would then disappoint us by sharing large chunks of body panels with the Land Cruiser, not offering a full-leather interior, and neglecting the most special LS feature: electronically powered seat belt height adjustment.
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    Hemi
  • May 15, 2015
I am relly interested what powertrain will be implemented into the LS F if it will be produced. The version of LS F as a hybrid version could be reasonable since they are the most advanced in this area.
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    PTien
  • May 15, 2015
Though I agree that a Hybrid version of the LS is a very reasonable assumption for the LS or any Lexus flagship model, I don't agree with you that Lexus us the most advanced in Hybrid technology. Though Lexus (Toyota) did really bring the first successful mass production hybrid to market and were innovators in the technology, they haven't done much with the technology since it was first released. Sure they have refined the technology but I would argue that they have not advanced the technology. There hasn't even been any advancement in battery technology while companies that laughed at hybrid have now much more advanced systems (ie BMW i series vehicles). Anyway this is off topic...... The LS, as amazing of a vehicle as it is, is old and uncompetitive vs the Mercedes S Class. Its due for a complete redesign and I think/hope, Lexus will do something amazing with it.
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    Gecko
  • May 15, 2015
Can't wait for this. Aside from the LFA, I can't recall a Lexus launch that had as much buzz around it as the next LS. Here's to hoping Lexus has big, big things planned!
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I just want to say again that the Project LS F SPORT SEMA build from Five Axis looks sick!
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    Lasse J. Nordvik
  • May 15, 2015
I'd love that!
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    TheCarolinaKing
  • May 16, 2015
I agree with you whole heartedly GuoxJason. The push for "sport" seems to be causing the design to stray away from what made Lexus what it is ....Classic Luxury! It was my understanding that Toyota was going to push Scion as more of a sports brand, which to me makes the most sense. I'm a Lexus Loyalist but the direction to making everything sport is unsettling to me. A sport edition of a car is fine but we don't see Rolls Royce straying away from its roots as the ultimate in luxury. Like Robbie Abruzzese said comparing the current LS to the current S550 is like comparing the iPhone to the iPhone 6. The LS should provide all the technology and luxury the brand has to offer, as a halo car. Unless there is a plan to produce a car above the LS to compete with the Maybach S600, the goals for the LS should be aimed at Luxury not just sport. I hope what's produced for the next generation LS is a timeless luxury sedan with a possible F edition, and not something that resembles the RX update.
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    Lexus Cohen
  • May 17, 2015
Going to be called the LC.
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    lexlthr
  • May 18, 2015
A LS coupe is defiantly needed. I would love to see Lexus go the Tesla route and introduced at least on new all electric plug in vehicle that updates can be sent to over the air as new technology is introduced.

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