Interview with Lexus LS Interior Designer Junko Itou


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
Comments
Interesting to now several months later re look at all these original comments. I think with the rumored lauch of the V8 model that Lexus have been teasing us! This car continues to look better and better and will move Lexus right up with the old big timers. Lexus can and will continue to move upwards they know what they have to do.
One wonders about the bottom of the range I am hoping that the CT will be renewed and that it is substantially improved with more luxury features, to own a Lexus is a unique experience and Lexus has to ensure that this remarkable attribute not only continues but improves further.
Interesting to now several months later re look at all these original comments. I think with the rumored lauch of the V8 model that Lexus have been teasing us! This car continues to look better and better and will move Lexus right up with the old big timers. Lexus can and will continue to move upwards they know what they have to do.
One wonders about the bottom of the range I am hoping that the CT will be renewed and that it is substantially improved with more luxury features, to own a Lexus is a unique experience and Lexus has to ensure that this remarkable attribute not only continues but improves further.
Rob Grieveson
Interesting to now several months later re look at all these original comments. I think with the rumored lauch of the V8 model that Lexus have been teasing us! This car continues to look better and better and will move Lexus right up with the old big timers. Lexus can and will continue to move upwards they know what they have to do.
One wonders about the bottom of the range I am hoping that the CT will be renewed and that it is substantially improved with more luxury features, to own a Lexus is a unique experience and Lexus has to ensure that this remarkable attribute not only continues but improves further.

Rob, CT might survive but quite likely not for USA, but I might be wrong.

As to the features, I would guess they would be similar to the Nx. It all depends on price of course.
Rob Grieveson
Interesting to now several months later re look at all these original comments. I think with the rumored lauch of the V8 model that Lexus have been teasing us! This car continues to look better and better and will move Lexus right up with the old big timers. Lexus can and will continue to move upwards they know what they have to do.
One wonders about the bottom of the range I am hoping that the CT will be renewed and that it is substantially improved with more luxury features, to own a Lexus is a unique experience and Lexus has to ensure that this remarkable attribute not only continues but improves further.

Rob, CT might survive but quite likely not for USA, but I might be wrong.

As to the features, I would guess they would be similar to the Nx. It all depends on price of course.
Rob Grieveson
Interesting to now several months later re look at all these original comments. I think with the rumored lauch of the V8 model that Lexus have been teasing us! This car continues to look better and better and will move Lexus right up with the old big timers. Lexus can and will continue to move upwards they know what they have to do.
One wonders about the bottom of the range I am hoping that the CT will be renewed and that it is substantially improved with more luxury features, to own a Lexus is a unique experience and Lexus has to ensure that this remarkable attribute not only continues but improves further.

Rob, CT might survive but quite likely not for USA, but I might be wrong.

As to the features, I would guess they would be similar to the Nx. It all depends on price of course.
bogglo
That wheel gap though...
That wheel gap is a result of the air suspension, which lifts when the passenger is seated.
bogglo
That wheel gap though...
That wheel gap is a result of the air suspension, which lifts when the passenger is seated.
bogglo
That wheel gap though...
That wheel gap is a result of the air suspension, which lifts when the passenger is seated.
  • krew
  • September 24, 2017
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]

A brand new exterior color debuting with the 2018 Lexus flagship.
View the original article post
  • krew
  • September 24, 2017
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]

A brand new exterior color debuting with the 2018 Lexus flagship.
View the original article post
  • krew
  • September 24, 2017
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]

A brand new exterior color debuting with the 2018 Lexus flagship.
View the original article post
krew
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]


View the original article post
This color and black are my favorite so far. Another color I would like to see is Smokey granite.
krew
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]


View the original article post
This color and black are my favorite so far. Another color I would like to see is Smokey granite.
krew
Video & Photo Gallery: 2018 Lexus LS 500 in Manganese Luster

[​IMG]


View the original article post
This color and black are my favorite so far. Another color I would like to see is Smokey granite.
Sick shots and colors.....
Sick shots and colors.....
Sick shots and colors.....
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
mikeavelli
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
I was wondering about that as well. However, I'm less concerned about the rear lux options as I would not be transporting passengers in the back very much or very far. But i would like more luxury in the front on a F-sport.

Anyway, I have not seen the car in person yet. I will on February 1st at the official reveal at my local Lexus dealership. I can't see myself buying one now; I've bought too many cars in the recent past and certainly my wife would be calling a Psychiatrist on my behalf. I want to see it in person and would love to take it for a spin.
mikeavelli
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
I was wondering about that as well. However, I'm less concerned about the rear lux options as I would not be transporting passengers in the back very much or very far. But i would like more luxury in the front on a F-sport.

Anyway, I have not seen the car in person yet. I will on February 1st at the official reveal at my local Lexus dealership. I can't see myself buying one now; I've bought too many cars in the recent past and certainly my wife would be calling a Psychiatrist on my behalf. I want to see it in person and would love to take it for a spin.
mikeavelli
Pricing and packages... very aggressive base pricing... I can't believe the LS F-Sport starts like 4K less than my old one. Crazy.....

23k package!!!!!

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases...standard+luxury+sedan+value.htm?view_id=39709

Not a fan that if you want the F-Sport you are again shut out of the luxury options....
I was wondering about that as well. However, I'm less concerned about the rear lux options as I would not be transporting passengers in the back very much or very far. But i would like more luxury in the front on a F-sport.

Anyway, I have not seen the car in person yet. I will on February 1st at the official reveal at my local Lexus dealership. I can't see myself buying one now; I've bought too many cars in the recent past and certainly my wife would be calling a Psychiatrist on my behalf. I want to see it in person and would love to take it for a spin.
Finally! Now you can build a LS 500 to your specification on the Lexus website.

http://www.lexus.com/build-your-lexus/#!/zip/63141/series/LS/year/2018/trim
Neat, although it's easy to crash it right now :) Also, you must have the interior upgrade package to have the HUD, even though I think everything in that package is also in the Luxury and Executive packages.









Some of these interior combinations are unreal:











G