The Lexus International website has an interview with Lexus LS chief designer Koichi Suga on the stunning interior details shown at last week’s Geneva Motor Show:
Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which Suga was determined to showcase in the LS. Suga conveyed his vision to a color designer, who worked with a skilled fabric artisan from Kyoto and, together, they developed Hand Pleats, a special fabric pleat with a three-dimensional pattern that’s both pleasing to the eye and touch.
“The pattern in this fabric has the ability to change its expression, depending on whether it is struck by daytime sunlight or illuminated by interior lighting at night,” says Suga. “The result is a comfortable space that envelops the driver and passengers in elegance.”
Glass has rarely been used as an interior door-trim piece, but like the origami-inspired pleated fabric, a special kiriko-cut glass piece gives the LS instant distinctiveness and a level of artistry never before seen in an automobile. Through repeated trial and error, craftsmen created a high-quality piece of glass that appears beautiful and delicate but is in fact incredibly strong, thanks to advanced glass-reinforcement technology.
“This special ornamentation piece boasts the best of both worlds in terms of an industrial product that is also a work of art,” says Suga. “The look and feel of this glass trim piece, like the hand-pleated fabric, transforms depending on the viewing angle and time of day.”
I would be remiss not to repost the video that illustrates these two new interior finishes, it’s really worth rewatching: