Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Autumn Shimmer

The LF FC Concept was way more attractive for me. This LS - hmmm, I don't know ... It's growing on me - but I still prefer the concept car - MUCH BETTER!

The LF FC Concept was way more attractive for me. This LS - hmmm, I don't know ... It's growing on me - but I still prefer the concept car - MUCH BETTER!

In regards to a lot of commentary about the concept vs production these are my thoughts...

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.
2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.




Looking above, like the LC, I find the production model even better looking and way more detailed than the concept.
3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS. Carmaker 1 I hope can come in and bring his thoughts. So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

In regards to a lot of commentary about the concept vs production these are my thoughts...

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.
2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.




Looking above, like the LC, I find the production model even better looking and way more detailed than the concept.
3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS. Carmaker 1 I hope can come in and bring his thoughts. So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

In regards to a lot of commentary about the concept vs production these are my thoughts...

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.
2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.




Looking above, like the LC, I find the production model even better looking and way more detailed than the concept.
3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS. Carmaker 1 I hope can come in and bring his thoughts. So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

In regards to a lot of commentary about the concept vs production these are my thoughts...

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.
2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.




Looking above, like the LC, I find the production model even better looking and way more detailed than the concept.
3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS. Carmaker 1 I hope can come in and bring his thoughts. So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

mikeavelli

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.

I'll go a step further and say that Lexus will design the feasible, realistic production vehicle first, with all of the constraints imposed by stuff like platform/architecture hard points, providing enough interior space (especially headroom and legroom), crumple zones, etc. Then, the designers will go back and come up with the idealized concept that reflects how they wish the car had really looked like were it not for those constraints.

CT was the first time Lexus insiders admitted to me that this was sometimes their modus operandi. In other words, the production CT was designed first, then came the LF-Ch Concept which is probably the way they really wished CT could've looked. Or perhaps the design process led to LF-Ch, then reality intervened with the constraints I listed above, plus European pedestrian safety rules, adequate suspension travel, and so on, leading to the production CT. Still, LF-Ch was unveiled 6 months ahead of CT 200h, even though it was put together after the production CT design was finalized.

I don't know if Krew or anyone else on here has heard one way or the other, but I strongly suspect the same thing happened with 5LS vs the LF-FC concept.

mikeavelli

2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.

Indeed, I strongly suspect this is the case. And seeing the LF-FC and 5LS pictures together in the post above shows what the main proportional differences are. The production greenhouse is taller and more ovoid, with more "ragged" and segmented elliptical shapes, versus the cleaner strokes of the concept. On the other hand, it's obvious that headroom would suffer big-time had the 5LS greenhouse hewed closely to LF-LC's. And Lexus does deserve mad props for the way it handled the side window/pillar transitions in such a flush and nearly seamless manner.

mikeavelli

3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS... So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

mikeavelli

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.

I'll go a step further and say that Lexus will design the feasible, realistic production vehicle first, with all of the constraints imposed by stuff like platform/architecture hard points, providing enough interior space (especially headroom and legroom), crumple zones, etc. Then, the designers will go back and come up with the idealized concept that reflects how they wish the car had really looked like were it not for those constraints.

CT was the first time Lexus insiders admitted to me that this was sometimes their modus operandi. In other words, the production CT was designed first, then came the LF-Ch Concept which is probably the way they really wished CT could've looked. Or perhaps the design process led to LF-Ch, then reality intervened with the constraints I listed above, plus European pedestrian safety rules, adequate suspension travel, and so on, leading to the production CT. Still, LF-Ch was unveiled 6 months ahead of CT 200h, even though it was put together after the production CT design was finalized.

I don't know if Krew or anyone else on here has heard one way or the other, but I strongly suspect the same thing happened with 5LS vs the LF-FC concept.

mikeavelli

2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.

Indeed, I strongly suspect this is the case. And seeing the LF-FC and 5LS pictures together in the post above shows what the main proportional differences are. The production greenhouse is taller and more ovoid, with more "ragged" and segmented elliptical shapes, versus the cleaner strokes of the concept. On the other hand, it's obvious that headroom would suffer big-time had the 5LS greenhouse hewed closely to LF-LC's. And Lexus does deserve mad props for the way it handled the side window/pillar transitions in such a flush and nearly seamless manner.

mikeavelli

3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS... So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

mikeavelli

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.

I'll go a step further and say that Lexus will design the feasible, realistic production vehicle first, with all of the constraints imposed by stuff like platform/architecture hard points, providing enough interior space (especially headroom and legroom), crumple zones, etc. Then, the designers will go back and come up with the idealized concept that reflects how they wish the car had really looked like were it not for those constraints.

CT was the first time Lexus insiders admitted to me that this was sometimes their modus operandi. In other words, the production CT was designed first, then came the LF-Ch Concept which is probably the way they really wished CT could've looked. Or perhaps the design process led to LF-Ch, then reality intervened with the constraints I listed above, plus European pedestrian safety rules, adequate suspension travel, and so on, leading to the production CT. Still, LF-Ch was unveiled 6 months ahead of CT 200h, even though it was put together after the production CT design was finalized.

I don't know if Krew or anyone else on here has heard one way or the other, but I strongly suspect the same thing happened with 5LS vs the LF-FC concept.

mikeavelli

2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.

Indeed, I strongly suspect this is the case. And seeing the LF-FC and 5LS pictures together in the post above shows what the main proportional differences are. The production greenhouse is taller and more ovoid, with more "ragged" and segmented elliptical shapes, versus the cleaner strokes of the concept. On the other hand, it's obvious that headroom would suffer big-time had the 5LS greenhouse hewed closely to LF-LC's. And Lexus does deserve mad props for the way it handled the side window/pillar transitions in such a flush and nearly seamless manner.

mikeavelli

3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS... So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

mikeavelli

1. Lexus usually shows an actual "concept" which previews some of the intended design but not the actual vehicle. Usually things are either very exaggerated or sometimes the concept previews design thoughts and not a particular vehicle.

I'll go a step further and say that Lexus will design the feasible, realistic production vehicle first, with all of the constraints imposed by stuff like platform/architecture hard points, providing enough interior space (especially headroom and legroom), crumple zones, etc. Then, the designers will go back and come up with the idealized concept that reflects how they wish the car had really looked like were it not for those constraints.

CT was the first time Lexus insiders admitted to me that this was sometimes their modus operandi. In other words, the production CT was designed first, then came the LF-Ch Concept which is probably the way they really wished CT could've looked. Or perhaps the design process led to LF-Ch, then reality intervened with the constraints I listed above, plus European pedestrian safety rules, adequate suspension travel, and so on, leading to the production CT. Still, LF-Ch was unveiled 6 months ahead of CT 200h, even though it was put together after the production CT design was finalized.

I don't know if Krew or anyone else on here has heard one way or the other, but I strongly suspect the same thing happened with 5LS vs the LF-FC concept.

mikeavelli

2. I think most are talking about the biggest change which was going away from the traditional doorline of the LS to one that adds the rear 3/4 window and D-Pillar.

Indeed, I strongly suspect this is the case. And seeing the LF-FC and 5LS pictures together in the post above shows what the main proportional differences are. The production greenhouse is taller and more ovoid, with more "ragged" and segmented elliptical shapes, versus the cleaner strokes of the concept. On the other hand, it's obvious that headroom would suffer big-time had the 5LS greenhouse hewed closely to LF-LC's. And Lexus does deserve mad props for the way it handled the side window/pillar transitions in such a flush and nearly seamless manner.

mikeavelli

3. DO NOT expect every Lexus to look like the LC in regards to production from concept. The LC was not intended for production. Only after the RAVE RAVE reviews of the design and it winning every award in design did Lexus decide to build the exact same car. Contrarily the LF FC was a concept to showcase what was already coming in the LS... So the LS and LC initial concepts are from a totally different mind frame.

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

Joaquin Ruhi

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

True, the 5LS is more typical of Lexus' typical concept-to-production process. Even though the 5LS comes after the LC, it's my guess that the LS was just too far in development to change into the LC's process of full integration of design and engineering development. I think that in the future, we will see Lexus adopting the LC's fully-integrated design & engineering process into their other cars. We might see this in the UX, the upcoming 4IS and 5GS if it's not cancelled.

Joaquin Ruhi

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

True, the 5LS is more typical of Lexus' typical concept-to-production process. Even though the 5LS comes after the LC, it's my guess that the LS was just too far in development to change into the LC's process of full integration of design and engineering development. I think that in the future, we will see Lexus adopting the LC's fully-integrated design & engineering process into their other cars. We might see this in the UX, the upcoming 4IS and 5GS if it's not cancelled.

Joaquin Ruhi

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

True, the 5LS is more typical of Lexus' typical concept-to-production process. Even though the 5LS comes after the LC, it's my guess that the LS was just too far in development to change into the LC's process of full integration of design and engineering development. I think that in the future, we will see Lexus adopting the LC's fully-integrated design & engineering process into their other cars. We might see this in the UX, the upcoming 4IS and 5GS if it's not cancelled.

Joaquin Ruhi

This cannot be emphasized enough. The LF-LC to production LC transition was unique in that regard. LF-Ch vs CT, and LF-FC to 5LS are more typical of Lexus' processes.

True, the 5LS is more typical of Lexus' typical concept-to-production process. Even though the 5LS comes after the LC, it's my guess that the LS was just too far in development to change into the LC's process of full integration of design and engineering development. I think that in the future, we will see Lexus adopting the LC's fully-integrated design & engineering process into their other cars. We might see this in the UX, the upcoming 4IS and 5GS if it's not cancelled.

krew

An EV button reveals the surprise that is no surprise.

View the original article post

krew

An EV button reveals the surprise that is no surprise.

View the original article post

krew

An EV button reveals the surprise that is no surprise.

View the original article post

krew

An EV button reveals the surprise that is no surprise.

View the original article post

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car. At least in the market where I work, it constantly gets compared with the Tesla Model S (since there's a Tesla store literally across the street). To summarize my thoughts: 1) Exterior: blandly elegant in the grand tradition of Lexus sedans, 2) interior: gorgeous and very reminiscent of an S-class, but burdened with a stale infotainment system out of the box, 3) powertrain: uninspired but competitive. All in all, a strong effort, but not enough to retake leadership in this class let alone reinvent it like the original did.

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car. At least in the market where I work, it constantly gets compared with the Tesla Model S (since there's a Tesla store literally across the street). To summarize my thoughts: 1) Exterior: blandly elegant in the grand tradition of Lexus sedans, 2) interior: gorgeous and very reminiscent of an S-class, but burdened with a stale infotainment system out of the box, 3) powertrain: uninspired but competitive. All in all, a strong effort, but not enough to retake leadership in this class let alone reinvent it like the original did.

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car. At least in the market where I work, it constantly gets compared with the Tesla Model S (since there's a Tesla store literally across the street). To summarize my thoughts: 1) Exterior: blandly elegant in the grand tradition of Lexus sedans, 2) interior: gorgeous and very reminiscent of an S-class, but burdened with a stale infotainment system out of the box, 3) powertrain: uninspired but competitive. All in all, a strong effort, but not enough to retake leadership in this class let alone reinvent it like the original did.

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car. At least in the market where I work, it constantly gets compared with the Tesla Model S (since there's a Tesla store literally across the street). To summarize my thoughts: 1) Exterior: blandly elegant in the grand tradition of Lexus sedans, 2) interior: gorgeous and very reminiscent of an S-class, but burdened with a stale infotainment system out of the box, 3) powertrain: uninspired but competitive. All in all, a strong effort, but not enough to retake leadership in this class let alone reinvent it like the original did.

automovista

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car.

I agree, especially since Tesla recently abandoned any pretense at luxury by deleting the ventilated seats.

automovista

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car.

I agree, especially since Tesla recently abandoned any pretense at luxury by deleting the ventilated seats.

automovista

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car.

I agree, especially since Tesla recently abandoned any pretense at luxury by deleting the ventilated seats.

automovista

Lexus would be wise to introduce a fully electric and/or fuel cell version of this car.

I agree, especially since Tesla recently abandoned any pretense at luxury by deleting the ventilated seats.

It would be cool if the electric motor of the hybrid was fuel cell rather than a traditional battery so they are using stuff from the LF-FC Concept but they are not ready for a fully electric Fuel Cell Vehicle, so they just use the motor in a hybrid for now. Still, using Fuel Cell technology for hybrid vehicles, let alone fully electric vehicles by Toyota is foolish when it is lacking infrastructure and its not as efficient as regular electric vehicle batteries.

It would be cool if the electric motor of the hybrid was fuel cell rather than a traditional battery so they are using stuff from the LF-FC Concept but they are not ready for a fully electric Fuel Cell Vehicle, so they just use the motor in a hybrid for now. Still, using Fuel Cell technology for hybrid vehicles, let alone fully electric vehicles by Toyota is foolish when it is lacking infrastructure and its not as efficient as regular electric vehicle batteries.

It would be cool if the electric motor of the hybrid was fuel cell rather than a traditional battery so they are using stuff from the LF-FC Concept but they are not ready for a fully electric Fuel Cell Vehicle, so they just use the motor in a hybrid for now. Still, using Fuel Cell technology for hybrid vehicles, let alone fully electric vehicles by Toyota is foolish when it is lacking infrastructure and its not as efficient as regular electric vehicle batteries.

It would be cool if the electric motor of the hybrid was fuel cell rather than a traditional battery so they are using stuff from the LF-FC Concept but they are not ready for a fully electric Fuel Cell Vehicle, so they just use the motor in a hybrid for now. Still, using Fuel Cell technology for hybrid vehicles, let alone fully electric vehicles by Toyota is foolish when it is lacking infrastructure and its not as efficient as regular electric vehicle batteries.