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
W
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
I think they are taking on a horsepower-/torque-related numbering system.But really, what the others are naming their cars is probably the most important factor. The marketing people would want an LS350 competing with an S550 (or whatever...too lazy to look up exact model names).
W
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
I think they are taking on a horsepower-/torque-related numbering system.But really, what the others are naming their cars is probably the most important factor. The marketing people would want an LS350 competing with an S550 (or whatever...too lazy to look up exact model names).
White Beach
Quite in-depth review of the exterior/interior of the new LS!



View attachment 2052
White Beach
Quite in-depth review of the exterior/interior of the new LS!



View attachment 2052
Gecko
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
Truth is that Lexus has been doing this for a long time with hybrids: GS 450h with 3.5L V6, LS 600hL with 5.0L V8, IS/RC/GS 300h with 2.5L I4, etc. Pretty soon, everything is going to be F/I and that just creates another layer with naming.

Lexus LS 350t F-Sport AWD.

Omg. No!
Gecko
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
Truth is that Lexus has been doing this for a long time with hybrids: GS 450h with 3.5L V6, LS 600hL with 5.0L V8, IS/RC/GS 300h with 2.5L I4, etc. Pretty soon, everything is going to be F/I and that just creates another layer with naming.

Lexus LS 350t F-Sport AWD.

Omg. No!
Gecko
mikeavelli
It's stunning in person. It's a complete 180 from past designs.

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[​IMG]
Gecko
mikeavelli
It's stunning in person. It's a complete 180 from past designs.

[​IMG]

[​IMG]
mikeavelli
meth.ix
too bad the windows were tinted :(
I could not share the interior. It's stunning. And I loved the color :)
mikeavelli
meth.ix
too bad the windows were tinted :(
I could not share the interior. It's stunning. And I loved the color :)
Y
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
Sorry but that's not how consumer perception works. If you visit Lexus's official website now, they've already gone as far as removing the "200t" moniker from the names of ALL models with the 2.0L turbo engine, replacing it with just the word "TURBO". "200t" just sounds that much inferior to the 328i and the C300, when they really are supposed to be competing at the same level, with a ~240hp 2.0L turbo I-4 engine (BMW's underrating practices notwithstanding). See for yourself:

NX TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/NX

IS TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/IS

GS TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/GS

What makes Lexus' intention more obvious is the fact that the rest of the lineup retain the same numeric monikers (GS350, GS450h, IS300, IS350, etc.). It's because the 200t just sounds weak, when its performance really is on par with a 2.8L-3.0L NA engine. As cars are marketed towards regular consumers, not engineers, their names should reflect consumer perceptions, not engineer requirements. Most consumers only want to know a car's market position, not what's actually under the hood. This new, now industry-wide naming trend simply makes more sense for consumers, whether you agree with it from an engineer/enthusiast's perspective or not.

As for worrying about telling a theoretical 5.0L NA V8 LS500 apart from the 3.5L V6 TT LS500, it simply won't happen. There's too little marketing differentiator between the two to build both at the same time. The LS hybrid, on the other hand, has a clear differentiator being a greener alternative, so it can use the LS500h moniker even if it shares the same numeric designation.
Y
Joaquin Ruhi
I understand that's the rationale that Lexus' new LS, BMW and Mercedes are using, but I guess I personally prefer the approach Lexus used with the NX 200t and Audi's (which uses the actual displacement in liters plus a "t" do denote boost in its badges beyond the A, Q or R model names) versus the arbitrary equivalencies. And now, at Lexus, "500" is just as likely to denote a 5-liter V8 as a 3.5-liter twin turbo V6. How do you tell them apart were Lexus to offer the 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 in the LS or the 3.5-liter twin turbo in the LC?
Sorry but that's not how consumer perception works. If you visit Lexus's official website now, they've already gone as far as removing the "200t" moniker from the names of ALL models with the 2.0L turbo engine, replacing it with just the word "TURBO". "200t" just sounds that much inferior to the 328i and the C300, when they really are supposed to be competing at the same level, with a ~240hp 2.0L turbo I-4 engine (BMW's underrating practices notwithstanding). See for yourself:

NX TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/NX

IS TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/IS

GS TURBO:
http://www.lexus.com/models/GS

What makes Lexus' intention more obvious is the fact that the rest of the lineup retain the same numeric monikers (GS350, GS450h, IS300, IS350, etc.). It's because the 200t just sounds weak, when its performance really is on par with a 2.8L-3.0L NA engine. As cars are marketed towards regular consumers, not engineers, their names should reflect consumer perceptions, not engineer requirements. Most consumers only want to know a car's market position, not what's actually under the hood. This new, now industry-wide naming trend simply makes more sense for consumers, whether you agree with it from an engineer/enthusiast's perspective or not.

As for worrying about telling a theoretical 5.0L NA V8 LS500 apart from the 3.5L V6 TT LS500, it simply won't happen. There's too little marketing differentiator between the two to build both at the same time. The LS hybrid, on the other hand, has a clear differentiator being a greener alternative, so it can use the LS500h moniker even if it shares the same numeric designation.
Ian Schmidt
Black Dynamite
It is reasonable to expect it to look something like the concept, not nothing like the concept
We had *months* of notice from Carmaker1 that the LF-FC was designed *after* the LS500 was final; it's effectively Lexus' own stylists idea of what an aftermarket modded LS500 might look like. I would expect the next LS refresh (2020/2021?) to probably draw in some more LF-FC details, but it was always known this one wasn't going to, because those details didn't exist when it was finalized.
Ian Schmidt
Black Dynamite
It is reasonable to expect it to look something like the concept, not nothing like the concept
We had *months* of notice from Carmaker1 that the LF-FC was designed *after* the LS500 was final; it's effectively Lexus' own stylists idea of what an aftermarket modded LS500 might look like. I would expect the next LS refresh (2020/2021?) to probably draw in some more LF-FC details, but it was always known this one wasn't going to, because those details didn't exist when it was finalized.
Rydo
I am 70% in Black Dynamite's corner. As someone who obsessed over the LF-FC for over a year and couldn't wait for the day Lexus would pull another concept to reality, this just seems a little weak.

Something about the C-pillar is ugly compared to the concept, and the rear of this 5LS...please. That's just a facelift of what was there...the LF-FC was far more radical. Far more striking. Far more individual in that sense. This rear is just...plain. It doesn't match the front of the car which they did actually do a very good job on replicating the concept on.

I am going to put in my disclaimer right away that I do realise 5LS was signed off before LF-FC...but as BD has said...don't do 5LS until LF-FC can be released them. Sacrifice LS for another few years but bring your big guns to the show, not your kind of half looks like LF-FC guns.

I know a lot of Audi/Merc/BMW fans who had to admit the LF-FC was just beyond gorgeous, even the very snobby British motoring press loved it. They are all already slating this clumsy at angles interpretation of it.

I have still got to make some points, there just seem to be little aspects that just don't match the Mercedes the Japanese should and can beat.

  • There is no Magic Body Control equivalent? Really?
  • The door hinges aren't free running like a Merc S.
  • That rear middle seat being folded down to make the centre control seems...cheap. I can't put my finger on it but seeing the head rest hanging down just makes it look silly.
  • The infotainment...seriously? No Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Lexus are already embarassingly behind in terms of even how sharp the graphics are, let alone functionality. Autogefeuhl point it out themselves, the whole trackpad thing is hopeless in every test. The last time I checked you don't even get album artwork on a Lexus entertainment screen, but this next gen system doesn't really have any details yet.

Also I must point out the fascination with the flush glass on the car is a little fanboyish, my 2007 Honda Legend has the same thing.
Rydo
I am 70% in Black Dynamite's corner. As someone who obsessed over the LF-FC for over a year and couldn't wait for the day Lexus would pull another concept to reality, this just seems a little weak.

Something about the C-pillar is ugly compared to the concept, and the rear of this 5LS...please. That's just a facelift of what was there...the LF-FC was far more radical. Far more striking. Far more individual in that sense. This rear is just...plain. It doesn't match the front of the car which they did actually do a very good job on replicating the concept on.

I am going to put in my disclaimer right away that I do realise 5LS was signed off before LF-FC...but as BD has said...don't do 5LS until LF-FC can be released them. Sacrifice LS for another few years but bring your big guns to the show, not your kind of half looks like LF-FC guns.

I know a lot of Audi/Merc/BMW fans who had to admit the LF-FC was just beyond gorgeous, even the very snobby British motoring press loved it. They are all already slating this clumsy at angles interpretation of it.

I have still got to make some points, there just seem to be little aspects that just don't match the Mercedes the Japanese should and can beat.

  • There is no Magic Body Control equivalent? Really?
  • The door hinges aren't free running like a Merc S.
  • That rear middle seat being folded down to make the centre control seems...cheap. I can't put my finger on it but seeing the head rest hanging down just makes it look silly.
  • The infotainment...seriously? No Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Lexus are already embarassingly behind in terms of even how sharp the graphics are, let alone functionality. Autogefeuhl point it out themselves, the whole trackpad thing is hopeless in every test. The last time I checked you don't even get album artwork on a Lexus entertainment screen, but this next gen system doesn't really have any details yet.

Also I must point out the fascination with the flush glass on the car is a little fanboyish, my 2007 Honda Legend has the same thing.
Rydo
mikeavelli
I got a text with the press brochure....

View attachment 2046




Thank you!
Anyone else trawling eBay daily for this.
Rydo
mikeavelli
I got a text with the press brochure....

View attachment 2046




Thank you!
Anyone else trawling eBay daily for this.
Ian Schmidt
I've gotten album artwork from my iPod on the infotainment on every LS since my '05. Doesn't mean every automaker not named "Tesla" shouldn't just admit they suck at this stuff and give us CarPlay, but there you have it :)
Ian Schmidt
I've gotten album artwork from my iPod on the infotainment on every LS since my '05. Doesn't mean every automaker not named "Tesla" shouldn't just admit they suck at this stuff and give us CarPlay, but there you have it :)
M
mikeavelli
Okay one more.. full video coming.. I'll try to upload tonight...

Great remarks on the C-Pillar Glass... we learned a lot about that particular detail..

#lexuslens

View attachment 2050
That back looks so good! I didn't think much about it but it looks great in video. The wheels look a little small because the LS is such a huge car.
M
mikeavelli
Okay one more.. full video coming.. I'll try to upload tonight...

Great remarks on the C-Pillar Glass... we learned a lot about that particular detail..

#lexuslens

View attachment 2050
That back looks so good! I didn't think much about it but it looks great in video. The wheels look a little small because the LS is such a huge car.
Alexander Li
Excitingly enough, looks like Lexus has an engine for the new IS F, one with TONS more torque than the comparable M3 and so much more than the old Lexus V8. A hot-rod version of this would likely go to the Fs, and expect an IS F that might have 0-60 times in the 3s.
Alexander Li
Excitingly enough, looks like Lexus has an engine for the new IS F, one with TONS more torque than the comparable M3 and so much more than the old Lexus V8. A hot-rod version of this would likely go to the Fs, and expect an IS F that might have 0-60 times in the 3s.
mikeavelli
Alexander Li
Excitingly enough, looks like Lexus has an engine for the new IS F, one with TONS more torque than the comparable M3 and so much more than the old Lexus V8. A hot-rod version of this would likely go to the Fs, and expect an IS F that might have 0-60 times in the 3s.
Funny you mention that. The new TT-v-6 has the power of the old IS-F with more torque. I know apples to oranges but it's just a random footnote.
mikeavelli
Alexander Li
Excitingly enough, looks like Lexus has an engine for the new IS F, one with TONS more torque than the comparable M3 and so much more than the old Lexus V8. A hot-rod version of this would likely go to the Fs, and expect an IS F that might have 0-60 times in the 3s.
Funny you mention that. The new TT-v-6 has the power of the old IS-F with more torque. I know apples to oranges but it's just a random footnote.
mikeavelli
Rydo
Also I must point out the fascination with the flush glass on the car is a little fanboyish, my 2007 Honda Legend has the same thing.
Is is not the same thing and not really close. I'm glad you posted here as I need pictures to help better explain.

Here is a 2007 Honda Legend (our Acura RL). The frameless glass is within the door completely. The window ends at the door. Yes this has been done a few times before and relatively easy compared to what Lexus just did.


Here is the 2018 Lexus LS 500 rear window up close. Even the B-Pillar is flush. It gives it a very coupelike profile. Note how not just the window that drops down into the door is frameless but the window trim to the door and after the door into the C Pillar.

It's really a breathtaking piece of work.



Also note everyone how detailed the chrome trim is in the rear. Its not just the usual slab sided piece of chrome.
mikeavelli
Rydo
Also I must point out the fascination with the flush glass on the car is a little fanboyish, my 2007 Honda Legend has the same thing.
Is is not the same thing and not really close. I'm glad you posted here as I need pictures to help better explain.

Here is a 2007 Honda Legend (our Acura RL). The frameless glass is within the door completely. The window ends at the door. Yes this has been done a few times before and relatively easy compared to what Lexus just did.


Here is the 2018 Lexus LS 500 rear window up close. Even the B-Pillar is flush. It gives it a very coupelike profile. Note how not just the window that drops down into the door is frameless but the window trim to the door and after the door into the C Pillar.

It's really a breathtaking piece of work.



Also note everyone how detailed the chrome trim is in the rear. Its not just the usual slab sided piece of chrome.
R
  • R
    RAL
  • January 14, 2017
White Bear
......

P.S. The "maturity" of the discussion (both positive and negative) on this site is why it's one of the only places on the internet where I bother reading comments.
good to know ...
R
  • R
    RAL
  • January 14, 2017
White Bear
......

P.S. The "maturity" of the discussion (both positive and negative) on this site is why it's one of the only places on the internet where I bother reading comments.
good to know ...

R