Video: The Lexus LF-1 Limitless Crossover Concept Debut

Joaquin Ruhi

Bottom line: I see Lexus taking a dual-prong LX body-on-frame SUV / L? (production LF-1 Limitless) crossover strategy akin to the way Mercedes has both G-Class and GLS atop its SUV offerings.

G Class is closer to LC70 than LC200.

Levi

G Class is closer to LC70 than LC200.

If you take a holistic, international point of view and factor in all the more humble, less-equipped Geländewagen variants sold outside North America, then, yes, you're right. But here in the U.S., where all they offer is upmarket trims with no less than 8 cylinders, I'd say the LX comparison is a fair one.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/forums/...over-concept-gets-aftermarket-treatment.4174/

Oh yes!!!

Fullsize CUV Would Fill Missing Spot in Lexus Lineup, Exec Says
2018 North American International Auto Show
Jan 16, 2018Steve Finlay | WardsAuto

“We have to build this vehicle,” says an enthusiastic Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager of Lexus in the U.S.



DETROIT – On stage introducing the Lexus F-1 Limitless concept CUV at the North American International Auto Show, Jeff Bracken addresses his boss sitting in the audience.

“We have to build this vehicle,” Bracken, general manager of the Lexus in the U.S., tells Yoshihiro Sawa, head of Toyota’s luxury brand overall.

Bracken is quick to qualify. “I’m not saying that as an announcement,” he tells the audience as he stands next to the striking concept vehicle at center stage.

His enthusiasm remains unabated as he talks with a few journalists after the vehicle debut. “We couldn’t be happier if we turned this into a production vehicle. It clearly is one of the most gorgeous concepts we’ve revealed.”

Created at Toyota’s Calty Design Research in California, the F-1’s “design visualization fuses the organic shapes of liquid metal with the sharp edges of a traditional Japanese sword,” Lexus says in a press release.

But more than aesthetics fuels Bracken’s enthusiasm. He says on the sidelines the fullsize CUV would fill a missing spot in the lineup.

“We clearly have a gap at the high-end premium cross-utility segment,” he says.

“So we are motivated. This would be a huge addition for us in the cross-utility segment. When you think of the volume we are missing, there’s a high-end gap for us.”

If the LF-1 makes it into production, the vehicle would weigh in above the midsize RX, currently the Japanese luxury brand’s biggest CUV to date.

Lexus also offers the LX and GX SUVs, but those are truck-based. A production LF-1 would rest on a car platform, likely that of the brand’s LS fullsize sedan.

In a hot CUV market, “we absolutely need this vehicle,” Bracken says of the LF-1.

“Utility vehicles were 65% of the U.S. market for the year and 72% in December, so they are going higher.”

The concept vehicle holds two rows and four seats. No decision has been made whether the automaker would fit a potential production version with three rows.

“We’d strongly evaluate those kinds of matters should we go down that path of production,” Bracken says.

Lexus would sell the vehicle globally, including Europe and China, the world’s biggest vehicle market. The U.S. represents nearly 50% of the brand’s sales.

But Lexus has lost market share in the U.S, selling 305,132 units last year, down 7.9% from 2016.

The RX saw 2017 sales of 102,606 units, a 1.8% decrease from the year before.

Lexus seems overly dependent on the RX, auto analyst Rebecca Lindland of Kelley Blue Book says here.

But Bracken tells WardsAuto: “The RX is the No.1-selling luxury vehicle in the industry. We would never walk away from it.”

http://wardsauto.com/2018-north-ame...v-would-fill-missing-spot-lexus-lineup-exec-s

I absolutely love the LF-1 concept, just as much as I did the LF-LC. If Lexus puts their strong A-game with the LF-1 production vehicle like they did with the LC 500, they will have a huge, critical hit on their hands. Lexus needs to strengthen their lineup in the upper price ranges. I also love that they hear people's pleas of a next-generation LFA.

Can I just say that I LOVE the interior and steering wheel? It's the first Lexus steering wheel design that I've loved since the LFA.

that steering wheel looks production ready almost.

The Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept: First Impressions

Thinking about the flagship crossover.

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krew

The Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept: First Impressions




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Great read KREW. For whatever reason your last sentence made me think that this is truly what Lexus needs along the LS. As we all know sedan sales continue to drop, why offer just one "flagship". Offer multiple "Flagships". Their L_ lineup really would be awesome with this addition.

For my edification.What is a crossover ????

Spunky D

For my edification.What is a crossover ????

Off-road car that can't go off-road.

One aspect of LF-1 Limitless worth commenting on is the exterior rose gold/copper color, inspired (per one account) by high-end, copper cookware. I'm a big fan, and Mikeavelli correctly noted in another post that it could be construed as a contemporary Lexus take on the signature Liquid Copper hue from the original, seminal "bionic cheetah" Infiniti FX.

This is further proof of how Lexus has regained its "exterior color" mojo after nearly a decade lost in the wilderness. From the eye-popping (in a good way) original IS color palette of Absolutely Red, Auburn Sky, Solar Yellow and Spectra Blue Mica, the marque settled into an unremarkable palette of meh colors until the turn-of-this-decade Ultrasonic Blue (in both its original and 2.0 iterations). Also worth noting is the ne plus ultra of automotive silvers: the 2014 award-winning Atomic Silver, Infrared, the limited-edition Structural Blue, Autumn Shimmer and Flare Yellow. This rose gold/copper (has Lexus even given it a name yet?) is a worthy addition to that pantheon.

Joaquin Ruhi

One aspect of LF-1 Limitless worth commenting on is the exterior rose gold/copper color, inspired (per one account) by high-end, copper cookware. I'm a big fan, and Mikeavelli correctly noted in another post that it could be construed as a contemporary Lexus take on the signature Liquid Copper hue from the original, seminal "bionic cheetah" Infiniti FX.

Everyone seems very impressed with the copper paint, but I struggle personally due to color blindness.

It reminded me of a much-improved version of the Daybreak Yellow that was offered with the CT -- this illustrates my issue, as these colors are likely very different from each other. :joy:

krew

Everyone seems very impressed with the copper paint, but I struggle personally due to color blindness.

It reminded me of a much-improved version of the Daybreak Yellow that was offered with the CT -- this illustrates my issue, as these colors are likely very different from each other. :joy:

It's not as far out from Daybreak Yellow as you might think, but it's definitely distinctly different from it. Lexus should send you some of those color blindness correction glasses to make sure you're getting the full effect of their paint colors :)

Joaquin Ruhi

One aspect of LF-1 Limitless worth commenting on is the exterior rose gold/copper color, inspired (per one account) by high-end, copper cookware. I'm a big fan, and Mikeavelli correctly noted in another post that it could be construed as a contemporary Lexus take on the signature Liquid Copper hue from the original, seminal "bionic cheetah" Infiniti FX.

This is further proof of how Lexus has regained its "exterior color" mojo after nearly a decade lost in the wilderness. From the eye-popping (in a good way) original IS color palette of Absolutely Red, Auburn Sky, Solar Yellow and Spectra Blue Mica, the marque settled into an unremarkable palette of meh colors until the turn-of-this-decade Ultrasonic Blue (in both its original and 2.0 iterations). Also worth noting is the ne plus ultra of automotive silvers: the 2014 award-winning Atomic Silver, Infrared, the limited-edition Structural Blue, Autumn Shimmer and Flare Yellow. This rose gold/copper (has Lexus even given it a name yet?) is a worthy addition to that pantheon.

I agree, they need more unique color options in their lineup and the rose gold/copper would be perfect. Browsing through the options for the LS/LC (at least in the US), you're really only limited to black and white with 3 shades of silver/gray in between, brown, red, and blue...

Video: The Lexus LF-1 Limitless in Detail

The new concept is ready for its close-up.

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krew

Video: The Lexus LF-1 Limitless in Detail




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Nice and visually informative as that video is as far as LF-1, I can't help but wonder what the point is of having the last 2 minutes or so showing nothing but the house it was filmed in...

Joaquin Ruhi

Nice and visually informative as that video is as far as LF-1, I can't help but wonder what the point is of having the last 2 minutes or so showing nothing but the house it was filmed in...

Must have been one of the conditions of its use. :D

Joaquin Ruhi

This rose gold/copper (has Lexus even given it a name yet?) is a worthy addition to that pantheon.

This photo from the Motor Trend article suggests it might. Champagne Titanium, anyone?

senar

By the way, a good size/price comparison for the LF-1 may actually be the Maserati Levante. The dimensions are close (197″ L x 77.5″ W x 66.1″ H + 118.1 wheelbase) to the LF-1 (197.4" L x 78.2" W x 63.2" H + 117.1" wheelbase), both are RWD with long hoods, and I can imagine the MSRP will be similar to its $74K.

Bingo! Give the man a prize! Another photo from the Motor Trend LF-1 article includes comparisons to its RX and NX FWD-centric crossover siblings, the Jaguar F-Pace... and the Maserati Levante. :D Notably, nary a mention of the Germans...

A random thought: If LF-(chronological number) (Blank)less becomes the new naming protocol for Lexus concepts, will LF-1 Limitless be followed by LF-2 Boundless and LF-3 Peerless?

Now that Toyota (through Lexus) will have a luxury crossover and Toyota is doing quite well with non luxury crossovers, I can't wait to see what they will do with the next Land Cruiser, and hope that this Lexus crossover will allow the Land Cruiser to be an even better off-road car (powerful, solid, reliable, 'simple'), as it will no more have to compete with others for road handling. IFS and IRS with three lockers would be really nice on the new Land Cruiser. The same aged Pajero is a very modern yet capable car (IFS and IRS, unibody, 2WD and 4WD and two lockers, low range). It is really sad how the market for real off-roaders got replaced by fake crossovers. Imagine if all women had fake...