Interview with Lexus LS Interior Designer Junko Itou

Posted by Kevin on January 31st, 2018

Design Milk has an insightful interview with Lexus LS interior designer Junko Itou on the need to balance tradition with innovation inside the flagship sedan:

Design Milk: Is there any friction in the process of bridging tradition with the necessity of innovation?

Junko Itou: No. While I admit there is difficulty in simultaneously working between tradition and progress, I find the conflicting elements can ultimately create harmony. We believe that we are the brand who always overcomes these difficulties. It is Lexus. We believe the definition of luxury changes over time, and it is our mission to balance traditional and visionary luxury.

Design Milk: There seems to be a material narrative across every panel and surface inside your design – distinct yet coexisting harmoniously. What was the process in determining which materials to use and how to coordinate their coexistence without creating visual/tactile disharmony?

Junko Itou: We’ve been thinking how we can make things seem conflicting, yet compatible at a high level when choosing each material. Also, choosing materials in line with interior designer’s intention is paramount. To coordinate the coexistence of several materials, we began by formulating three concepts: Superior, Emotional, and Timeless.

Based on each of those themes, we selected color, material and finish as our focus. As the idea of the LS interior world became clear, we were able to coordinate the appropriate color, material and finish, even if it seemed difficult. Additionally, Takumi craftsmanship was necessary to complete it.

Lexus LS: Fourth Generation
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Comments
Ian Schmidt
Rhambler
In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.
I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.
Ian Schmidt
Rhambler
In this day and age, when SUVs are taking center stage, the only thing cars can offer is power, speed and performance.
I don't know what experience you have as a buyer/driver in this class, but basically nobody buys an $80k+ flagship sedan to go stoplight drag racing. That would be seen as uncouth, and you'd lose your Grey Poupon permit.
R
Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...
R
Well then why does the Mercedes S, BMW 750 and Audi A8 can legitamitely rocket to 60 in under 4.5 seconds? Heck the S8 can reach that slightly over 3 seconds.

Someone is buying these cars.

It's an amazing experience being able to rocket off that quickly in such a large car. That is part of the $100k experience imo.

Heck, even Bentley, Rolls and other luxury yachts are designing in rocket speeds, just because those buyers expect it even if they may never use it.

That "everything" I was mentioning is just a decent engine, something the new LS lacks.

You know what type of customer doesn't care? Old people. Right up Lexus' alley...
Ian Schmidt
They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.
Ian Schmidt
They do it because in Germany you used to be able to use nearly 1/4th of that capability on the Autobahn and it was a fun domestic dork-waving contest for all involved. In the rest of the world, that largely didn't happen; smoothness/luxury, design, and tech won out. Cadillac was still the "Standard of the World" at a time when you could easily buy about 8 other GM models that would smoke it 0-60 for a lot cheaper.

Nowadays if blistering 0-60 times are a major thing for you, you buy a Tesla. Even the Model 3 will probably be fast enough off the line in the best configurations to brutally murder the AMG and M flagships. So it's pointless for ICE manufacturers to try and compete with it; it'll just lead to more YouTube videos featuring crudely-drawn weeping 3-pointed stars. Given that environment, Lexus has threaded the needle and done the smart thing: the TTV6 beats the Germans' base configurations handily, but it's not so insane that it endangers smoothness and reliability.
R
Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
R
Well that remains to be seen whether that engine can beat the other V6s. Like I said, Toyota overstates, the German understates. We shall see soon enough I'm sure.

Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
Ian Schmidt
Rhambler
However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.
Ian Schmidt
Rhambler
However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
They've fended it off because the top 5% in the US run on pure status power. BMW and Mercedes have it, Audi and Lexus don't.
Gecko
Rhambler
Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
If you think anyone is buying flagship luxury sedans solely because of a few tenths of a second 0-60, you don't understand anything about this segment.

The LS is 11 years old and the S Class and 7 Series have seen 2 full generations since it was introduced.
Gecko
Rhambler
Tesla is definitely eating away at this segment from a price-point perspective and that ludicrous mode definitely helps. However, the Germans have seemingly fended off a sales decline more so than Lexus simply because, imo, they are relatively fast or faster.
If you think anyone is buying flagship luxury sedans solely because of a few tenths of a second 0-60, you don't understand anything about this segment.

The LS is 11 years old and the S Class and 7 Series have seen 2 full generations since it was introduced.
bogglo
I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.
bogglo
I love cars that I can push to their limit . Not a car for bragging right.
Rydo
Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).
Rydo
Why not just offer a V8 at least, don't restrict engine choices?

You can wax lyrically about how good the TTV6 is and that's fine, but at least offer a V8 for those where that will be a dealbreaker (and there will be).
Gecko
There will be a V8 - it's just going to cost $100k or more, so basically, you'll be able to buy an LS F for about the same price as a decently optioned S560.
Gecko
There will be a V8 - it's just going to cost $100k or more, so basically, you'll be able to buy an LS F for about the same price as a decently optioned S560.
R
It will be interesting where Lexus prices the v6. If it prices it in the same league as the German V8s, it will never sell, especially if the actual performance falls well short of what Lexus thinks it will perform.

I honestly believe Lexus will price it like a BMW 750 or A8 4.0t. I also believe because of this and because it will probably perform worse than comparable V6s yet priced like a V8, it won't sell.

0-60 times isn't everything but it's definetely part of the equation. Ignore it at your own peril. Look at Lexus now, most of their lineup is falling off the sales chart and they're all slow and boring and boring is synonymous with slow. I recently got a very fast, large and comfortable car and that speed is amazing. Being able to switch from a comfortable cruiser to absolute stop light beast at the press of the button is amazing and something the LS 460 lacked big time. I didn't appreciate it because I never experienced it, but once you do, there's no going back.
R
It will be interesting where Lexus prices the v6. If it prices it in the same league as the German V8s, it will never sell, especially if the actual performance falls well short of what Lexus thinks it will perform.

I honestly believe Lexus will price it like a BMW 750 or A8 4.0t. I also believe because of this and because it will probably perform worse than comparable V6s yet priced like a V8, it won't sell.

0-60 times isn't everything but it's definetely part of the equation. Ignore it at your own peril. Look at Lexus now, most of their lineup is falling off the sales chart and they're all slow and boring and boring is synonymous with slow. I recently got a very fast, large and comfortable car and that speed is amazing. Being able to switch from a comfortable cruiser to absolute stop light beast at the press of the button is amazing and something the LS 460 lacked big time. I didn't appreciate it because I never experienced it, but once you do, there's no going back.
Gecko
Rhambler
It will be interesting where Lexus prices the v6. If it prices it in the same league as the German V8s, it will never sell, especially if the actual performance falls well short of what Lexus thinks it will perform.

I honestly believe Lexus will price it like a BMW 750 or A8 4.0t. I also believe because of this and because it will probably perform worse than comparable V6s yet priced like a V8, it won't sell.

0-60 times isn't everything but it's definetely part of the equation. Ignore it at your own peril. Look at Lexus now, most of their lineup is falling off the sales chart and they're all slow and boring and boring is synonymous with slow. I recently got a very fast, large and comfortable car and that speed is amazing. Being able to switch from a comfortable cruiser to absolute stop light beast at the press of the button is amazing and something the LS 460 lacked big time. I didn't appreciate it because I never experienced it, but once you do, there's no going back.
You continue to make the same assumptions over and over again with absolutely no factual data, so at this point, all we can do is wait to see how Lexus prices the car and also how it performs.
Gecko
Rhambler
It will be interesting where Lexus prices the v6. If it prices it in the same league as the German V8s, it will never sell, especially if the actual performance falls well short of what Lexus thinks it will perform.

I honestly believe Lexus will price it like a BMW 750 or A8 4.0t. I also believe because of this and because it will probably perform worse than comparable V6s yet priced like a V8, it won't sell.

0-60 times isn't everything but it's definetely part of the equation. Ignore it at your own peril. Look at Lexus now, most of their lineup is falling off the sales chart and they're all slow and boring and boring is synonymous with slow. I recently got a very fast, large and comfortable car and that speed is amazing. Being able to switch from a comfortable cruiser to absolute stop light beast at the press of the button is amazing and something the LS 460 lacked big time. I didn't appreciate it because I never experienced it, but once you do, there's no going back.
You continue to make the same assumptions over and over again with absolutely no factual data, so at this point, all we can do is wait to see how Lexus prices the car and also how it performs.
R
Well that is the point of these forums to some extent: speculate on what may come.

I made no declarations that what I'm saying is factual. It's just like the posts saying a 600 HP v8 tt is coming. It's all speculation.

However, if you rewind and go back, I tried to make sound arguments as to why I believe it will be as such.

Heck people all over Clublexus were up in arms when I suggested it needed to be priced like the German V6s.

But you're right, we shall see...
R
Well that is the point of these forums to some extent: speculate on what may come.

I made no declarations that what I'm saying is factual. It's just like the posts saying a 600 HP v8 tt is coming. It's all speculation.

However, if you rewind and go back, I tried to make sound arguments as to why I believe it will be as such.

Heck people all over Clublexus were up in arms when I suggested it needed to be priced like the German V6s.

But you're right, we shall see...
mikeavelli
Another thing is MSRP means less when most of these cars are discounted and leased aggressively. BMW offered some ridiculous incentives to me to get out of my LS.....
mikeavelli
Another thing is MSRP means less when most of these cars are discounted and leased aggressively. BMW offered some ridiculous incentives to me to get out of my LS.....
meth.ix
Also, some rich people have a big ego, so they like knowing that they have ***hp in their car, go 0-60 under 4 secs, etc. even though these things are irrelevant to them because their drivers will never actually go so fast. That's why 12-cylinder versions of the S-Class and previous A8 existed, some people like to know that they have a dozen cylinders pulling them around.
meth.ix
Also, some rich people have a big ego, so they like knowing that they have ***hp in their car, go 0-60 under 4 secs, etc. even though these things are irrelevant to them because their drivers will never actually go so fast. That's why 12-cylinder versions of the S-Class and previous A8 existed, some people like to know that they have a dozen cylinders pulling them around.
M
There was a LS preview in Shanghai yesterday. Many people disappointed about the small rear seat space compare to its competitors.
M
There was a LS preview in Shanghai yesterday. Many people disappointed about the small rear seat space compare to its competitors.

M