Mystery Lexus LS Mule Spotted in Arizona!

Posted by Kevin on July 27th, 2017

A Lexus LS mule has been spotted in Arizona looking more Mad Max than luxury flagship:

Lexus LS Mule Rear

Lexus LS Rear View Mirror

The rear bumper, separated spindle grille, and overall size give the vehicle away as the current LS — considering the next-generation LS has been already been revealed, this mule is likely to be testing a new powertrain than some future Lexus model.

My guess? We’re looking at a test mule for the long-rumored LS fuelcell vehicle — the rumor is that Lexus wants to have a hydrogen-powered version of their flagship ready for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and advanced testing in the Arizona heat makes a lot of sense. What do you think?

Special thanks to Travis Lee Deephouse for sending in these photos!

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Comments
Ian Schmidt
Fuel cell means electric drive, so whoever took those pictures should've been able to (not) hear if that was the case, much as the turbo whine gave away the earlier LS test mule.
Gecko
I think we are looking at a new ES mule, personally. Back and front ends don't line up for an LS.
Michael
It could be the next generation GS. or the ES.
R
  • R
    RAL
  • July 27, 2017
Gecko
I think we are looking at a new ES mule, personally. Back and front ends don't line up for an LS.
Agreed ... despite the mad max camouflage ... the styling doesn't appear to align with the current generation LS front, rear, and C-pillar profiles. The mule's C-pillar would seem to be a milder reflection of the new LS's C-pillar, which is a common ES mimic of the LS. Further, styling does appear to be ES conservative-ish. Carmaker1 reports the next generation ES will hit dealerships in October 2018. I would think we should begin to see next-gen ES mules about now.
mmcartalk
Ian Schmidt
Fuel cell means electric drive, so whoever took those pictures should've been able to (not) hear if that was the case. Same as how the turbo whine gave away the earlier LS test mule.
Yes.....Ian's got a good point. An electric fuel-cell vehicle would be eeringly silent most of the time.
mmcartalk
Gecko
I think we are looking at a new ES mule, personally. Back and front ends don't line up for an LS.

Given the car's width (unless that is a optical-distortion from the camera-lens)........I'd say more LS than ES.
maiaramdan
But why they are veiling it all if its a fuelcell LS unless it will have nothing to do with the new LS design
M
maiaramdan
But why they are veiling it all if its a fuelcell LS unless it will have nothing to do with the new LS design
It could be an old mule running FC before LS was shown in production form. But oh my did Toyota bet on the wrong tech here, hopefully it would turn out good for them as they could either use the technology for BPEV or be the leading FC manufacturer is some markets where FC will take off eventually.
bogglo
IMO the rear does not have any resemblance to LS can't tell from the front either. what stood out though is that rear looks like it has some kind of spoiler.
R
  • R
    RAL
  • July 28, 2017
I deleted a response I had written earlier supporting the idea this mule is not an LS, but a next generation ES mule. But, then I took the time to make a careful comparison between pictures of the current LS taken from the identical angles of focus we have in the three pictures of the mule. Everything seems to match ... down to the shape of the rearview mirrors. The C-pillar on the mule is camouflaged to actually mimic the C-pillar of the new LS. But this is just camouflage as is the heightened shape of what appears to be a rear spoiler.

Carmaker1 has told us we can expect the next generation ES to begin production in August 2018 with an October 2018 launch at dealerships. So I would think we should begin to see ES mules about now. However, I don't believe this is it.
C
Third brake light is up top in the rear window. This is a characteristic of the LS.
R
  • R
    RAL
  • July 29, 2017
Chase C.
Third brake light is up top in the rear window. This is a characteristic of the LS.
sharp eyes!
Tragic Bronson
LOL i thought they would be self-driving since Phoenix has a lot of SD vehicles testing as well.

T