Production Lexus LF-1 Limitless Crossover Could Get Three Row Option

Posted by Kevin on February 8th, 2018

The production model of the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept could have a three-row option, according to a WardsAuto interview with Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken:

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.

Compared to the current LX 570, the LF-1 concept is 2.6 inches shorter, but with an extra 4.9 inches of wheelbase. There’s certainly enough room for a third row. In fact, Lexus is employing a new strategy with both the RX & LX by offering both a two-row and a three-row version.

(That said, I feel strongly that the production LF-1 deserves a similar setup to the concept, with four seats and plenty of room. It would be disappointing to see a bench backseat.)

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Comments
R
Hopefully a new top crossover to go against Porsche and Range Rover. The LX is to my mind a different kind of vehicle from these it is more rugged go anywhere type of vehicle, I see this as a slick top class top crossover not really meant for Africa but for city and highway driving powerful and very luxury, Bently Bentago rival?
maiaramdan
@Gecko
The GX was meant to be the GL competitor from the beginning
So this means that it's the competitor of current Benz GLS which is one of 2 flagships in the current benz
Gecko
maiaramdan
@Gecko
The GX was meant to be the GL competitor from the beginning
So this means that it's the competitor of current Benz GLS which is one of 2 flagships in the current benz
Not really. GX has always been body-on-frame, came out before the GL/GLS and costs significantly less ($51k base vs $70k base).

If anything, the GLS has always been a bit of a half-assed, stop-gap effort from Mercedes and is more geared towards being a family hauler than a flagship vehicle. Yes, it's their largest SUV, but the interior is no more plush than a decade-old ML/GLE. It's far from being the "S Class" of Mercedes' SUV line, and many regard it as a bit of an "in betweener" among cars like GX and LX. I think the next generation will be different as GLE and GLS will both grow and leave behind their awkward sizes and status, becoming truly midsize (GLE) and full size (GLS). GLS is most often compared to X5 and Q7, not truly flagship SUVs like LX, Escalade, Range Rover, etc.

I'm failing to see how a sporty two-row, admittedly "flagship" crossover will challenge what has historically been a three-row family hauler? If anything, the best competition for this new Lexus will be the GLE Coupe. If Mercedes makes the GLS larger and more luxurious in the next gen, as is widely rumored, it will compete more directly with the LX. If they make the GLE slightly larger with three rows, it will compete somewhat with the GX.
maiaramdan
@Gecko

I am not talking this from your or most of people point of view, I am saying this from Lexus own point of view, depending on a past conversation with executive from year 2007

I am searching this conversation for you , he said that the GL competitor inside the Lexus lineup is the GX not the LX
meth.ix
See that grey piece going along the top on the side? I think that may be a roof rack that comes up when activated from the inside. Probably only a concept gimmick, however.
krew
meth.ix
See that grey piece going along the top on the side? I think that may be a roof rack that comes up when activated from the inside. Probably only a concept gimmick, however.
Haha, similar to the speed activated rear wing on the LC. Like that idea. :)
mikeavelli
maiaramdan
@Gecko

I am not talking this from your or most of people point of view, I am saying this from Lexus own point of view, depending on a past conversation with executive from year 2007

I am searching this conversation for you , he said that the GL competitor inside the Lexus lineup is the GX not the LX

Something must be lost in translation that was never the case. The GX and GL are far too different in size and drive really different. Not to mention the GLE (today) offers an amazing AMG model for 120-130k.
Black Dynamite!
I'll have assume this is a fullsized crossover. Why would they use the term "flagship" if it is a small or midsized crossover?
I think those screens are from the screens parked on the back of the front seat headrests.

Looking forward to something above the RX in the crossover realm. The HPX Concept was great, over 15 years ago, and they dropped the ball.
Time to pick it up and run with it.....

BD
L
HPX was great, too bad that car did not come from Lexus but from Infiniti first.
mikeavelli
Levi
HPX was great, too bad that car did not come from Lexus but from Infiniti first.
Yeah but now the FX is going to be FWD going forward. If anything seems the Germans found success with that formula. I really wish they would stuck it out with the FX and figured it out. Its one of my favorite SUVs.
L
mikeavelli
Yeah but now the FX is going to be FWD going forward. If anything seems the Germans found success with that formula. I really wish they would stuck it out with the FX and figured it out. Its one of my favorite SUVs.
I do not understand how they could make it (QX50) FWD, because if not it is good looking in and out. A pity.
Joaquin Ruhi
Returning to the LF-1 Limitless, the full 2018 Detroit Auto Show press conference schedule has finally been published. With a handful of exceptions and off-site unveilings, the vast majority of the reveals will take place on Monday 15 January. Lexus, in fact will host the very first carmaker press conference that day, starting at 8:35 AM Eastern Time.

https://naias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/18-PressConference12-18.pdf
krew
A New Look at the Upcoming Lexus LF-1 Crossover Concept

[​IMG]

The front lights, animated.
View the original article post
krew
Here's the full animation, reposted from the front page:

View attachment 2669
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Returning to the LF-1 Limitless, the full 2018 Detroit Auto Show press conference schedule has finally been published. With a handful of exceptions and off-site unveilings, the vast majority of the reveals will take place on Monday 15 January. Lexus, in fact will host the very first carmaker press conference that day, starting at 8:35 AM Eastern Time.

https://naias.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/18-PressConference12-18.pdf
Man, I hate early mornings. :oops:
D
krew
Man, I hate early mornings. :oops:
Bring it on! I'm in the office at 6am haha
bogglo
I think its going to be some kind of flagship due to the kind of Hybrid power train it would use (Solid state battery, Full EV...). Lets Just say it might be the flagship for Lexus EV line up.
Michael
I really like the lights on the concept. Be afraid BMW and Mercedes there is a new player in the coupe suv.
OlFius
Michael
I really like the lights on the concept. Be afraid BMW and Mercedes there is a new player in the coupe suv.
Not so fast, Michael.
At Lexus there may be some time between concept and production...Unfortunately.
mikeavelli
Looking forward to this....
L
OlFius
Not so fast, Michael.
At Lexus there may be some time between concept and production...Unfortunately.
Not necessarily, if the car is already scheduled for production.
M
Levi
Not necessarily, if the car is already scheduled for production.
Which still takes 5 years in Lexus-time.
Michael
OlFius
Not so fast, Michael.
At Lexus there may be some time between concept and production...Unfortunately.[/QU
mordecai
Which still takes 5 years in Lexus-time.
I can agree with that.
L
If it takes 5 years for Lexus to bring a car, the LF-1 better be electric, or it will be the only premium brand to not have any BEV in its lineup for 3 years, given that Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar will have one in 2020, 2023 being 5 years from now.
mikeavelli
I think Lexus realizes they are missing out on the sporty SUV market. No matter if its a "4 door SUV coupe" or a Cayenne/X5 type. I can only hope this is RWD based with AWD from the LS/LC.

In Miami in particular the GLE Coupe is everywhere. Even when I was in Atlanta recently I was shocked at how many I saw. It is a huge huge hit. It is a topic of conversation all the time here and with other people. Oddly the X6 isn't even though it started the genre but it is older.

The new Cayenne will sell but looks very similar to the old one. From Japan (I guess technically America) the Acura ZDX was a disaster and for whatever reasons the FX/QX70 is barely limping along. The FX could be credited with creating the 4 door SUV segment but Infiniti didn't market it as such. Credit the Germans here for creating that terminology.

My hope is Lexus doesn't stop at one and brings two sporty RWD SUV coupes. Hopefully the LF-1 would preview a possible GF-1 (though no idea whats going on with the GS or GX lol).
OlFius
mikeavelli
I think Lexus realizes they are missing out on the sporty SUV market. No matter if its a "4 door SUV coupe" or a Cayenne/X5 type. I can only hope this is RWD based with AWD from the LS/LC.

In Miami in particular the GLE Coupe is everywhere. Even when I was in Atlanta recently I was shocked at how many I saw. It is a huge huge hit. It is a topic of conversation all the time here and with other people. Oddly the X6 isn't even though it started the genre but it is older.

The new Cayenne will sell but looks very similar to the old one. From Japan (I guess technically America) the Acura ZDX was a disaster and for whatever reasons the FX/QX70 is barely limping along. The FX could be credited with creating the 4 door SUV segment but Infiniti didn't market it as such. Credit the Germans here for creating that terminology.

My hope is Lexus doesn't stop at one and brings two sporty RWD SUV coupes. Hopefully the LF-1 would preview a possible GF-1 (though no idea whats going on with the GS or GX lol).
I can follow you completely. The same story, but in a different segment, is the UX. Hopefully it will not take so long for the LF-1 and certainly also for the GS successor because it is coming. They have to take a step up at Lexus ....
L
mikeavelli
I think Lexus realizes they are missing out on the sporty SUV market. No matter if its a "4 door SUV coupe" or a Cayenne/X5 type. I can only hope this is RWD based with AWD from the LS/LC.

In Miami in particular the GLE Coupe is everywhere. Even when I was in Atlanta recently I was shocked at how many I saw. It is a huge huge hit. It is a topic of conversation all the time here and with other people. Oddly the X6 isn't even though it started the genre but it is older.

The new Cayenne will sell but looks very similar to the old one. From Japan (I guess technically America) the Acura ZDX was a disaster and for whatever reasons the FX/QX70 is barely limping along. The FX could be credited with creating the 4 door SUV segment but Infiniti didn't market it as such. Credit the Germans here for creating that terminology.

My hope is Lexus doesn't stop at one and brings two sporty RWD SUV coupes. Hopefully the LF-1 would preview a possible GF-1 (though no idea whats going on with the GS or GX lol).
The Cayenne 'Coupe' is also in the plan, based on the idea of what will be the Audi Q8 (Q7 'Coupe'), which is first known as the Lamboghini Urus. However, it is possible that the Cayenne 'Coupe' will be electric, the Porsche version of the e-Tron Sportback/Allroad/Quattro or whatever its name. Quite glad Lexus Crossover indicates a flagship model, much needed besides the GX and LX.
Ian Schmidt
Same in Baltimore, GLE dominates, X6 is invisible.
maiaramdan
So , if this formula can fail in a lot of automakers as you said yourselves Acura , Infiniti & BMW why we are sure it will succeed in Lexus ? Hence we also will have Audi and Lamborghini with the same exact design language
S
2019 Toyota Avalon, Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept to be revealed at NAIAS

S