Lexus Teases “LS Concept” MPV

[Gecko]

In a preview for the upcoming Japan Mobility Show later this month, Lexus teased a new “LS Concept,” though it’s not what you’re likely expecting. Just after the iconic LS sedan received its death certificate last month, news of an LS concept vehicle was exciting for many, but even more puzzling when seen.

Lexus’ promotional video revealed a six wheel, large multi-purpose vehicle that seems to redefine LS from “luxury sedan” to “luxury space.” Space indeed with a vehicle this size and needing six wheels.
Oversized luxury vans with three rows and plentiful space have...

Continue reading...

 

[CRSKTN]

If it's a success it will become the Alphard and the subsequent LS will become some sort of personal drone air transport or other weird moonshot project, leaving all it's die-hard shipping container go-kart fans raging online.

Anyone who wants a drone LS though you've got maybe 15 or 20 years only left to wait so get hype!

 

[DarkSpace6383]

Call this the LMV. I have posted this in other places within this forum but ill do it here aswell.
I think Lexus L Flagship line should have several vehicles:

1. LFR: Based on the sport concept unveiled at the Quail which WILL BE COMING. I think it should also come with a hybrid 6 or 8 cylinder engine in addition to the EV powertrain, and ideally around 1000 horsepower. I would also like it to race in GT3, maybe alongside the GR GT in something similar to the Lamborghini-Audi R8-Huracan situation that has been happening of the last 10 years.
2. LX/LXL: Make it a proper Range Rover, GLS, and Escalade Rival, rather than a defender rival. It should be gunning towards luxury. V6, possibly EV in the future aswell. This doesnt mean it has to lose that much offroad prowess, but it shouldnt be the main priority. The GX has gotten big enough to handle that domain.
3. LFX: Basically the LF1-Limitless concept with the same powertrains as the LFR, designed to compete against the Audi Q8, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport etc. V6, possibly EV in the future aswell.
4. LM/LMV: The upcoming van/minivan concept (though ideally with a better looking design). EV, maybe Hybrid?
5. LS: Not a traditional sedan, but something similar, kind of like the Audi Grand sphere concept. It could serve as something more executive idk. V6 maybe

Lexus L should be standing for the best of the best that Lexus has to offer. Century will be much higher, and then Gazoo Racing will be made as a pure performance brand. Lexus can offer similar levels of performance but be more upscale. This allows Lexus F to survive alongside the products from the new Gazoo Racing sub-brand.. I believe I had stated earlier that it may make sense to just consolidate everything into Gazoo Racing, however I have since changed my mind on this. F still has a place amongst Lexus Performance models, and in motorsport. I think the LFR could be the concept that Lexus released at the quail, and that GR GT thing could be the hardcore Gazoo Racing version, so there is hope!

As for motorsport I would love to see Lexus maybe join Formula E (fits the brand quite well, take a potential LFR GT3 to various championships as a cousin to the GR GT, and also as Toyota will be running hydrogen in the top class at WEC (Hypercar Class), maybe Lexus could take over the hybrid Hypercar program).

What are your thoughts?

 

[Gor134]

I still don't think the concept at the Quail was the LFR. I think that's an upcoming SC.

 

[CRSKTN]

I still don't think the concept at the Quail was the LFR. I think that's an upcoming SC.

I doubt Lexus knows what it's going to be yet either.

 

[Trexus]

I will truly miss the traditional luxury sedan. It appears Lexus is breaking tradition and rules and I look forward to seeing this LS concept in person. Just don't make it a complete BEV.

 

[DarkSpace6383]

I will truly miss the traditional luxury sedan. It appears Lexus is breaking tradition and rules and I look forward to seeing this LS concept in person. Just don't make it a complete BEV.

It will absolutely be completely BEV if I were to guess.

 

[Trexus]

It will absolutely be completely BEV if I were to guess.

Then the LS concept will be DOA or never mass produced for the market and just be a "pipe dream"...

It's unfortunate that Lexus didn't keep the LS as a traditional luxury sedan and make it better than the S Class, 7 Series or Audi A8.

 

[CRSKTN]

I'd like to highlight something:

If this is the drivers side, then we can see it potentially ONLY has a drivers side exit so that the entire side of the vehicle can be engineered to be affixed in place.

ALSO, if you look closely here:


You can see that the entire opposite side of the vehicle appears to slide open. The portion with the horizontal lines is the door sliding back, the space ahead of it is open, and the line of the door matches the line of the front A pillar angle.

So it seems they aren't showing the full craziness yet. I wonder if it doesn't have a passenger seat in the front either, and passengers step in via the front towards the driver and the step into the back cabin area.

The driver has a modest door to come and go from to avoid exposing cabin via open sliding door.

Also I bet you it has a separator behind the driver segment ala the LM with some sort of pass through, or the door slides back far enough to bypass it.

 

[bogglo]

I love it. Hahaha

 

[DarkSpace6383]

View attachment 10640
View attachment 10641
View attachment 10642

I'd like to highlight something:

If this is the drivers side, then we can see it potentially ONLY has a drivers side exit so that the entire side of the vehicle can be engineered to be affixed in place.

ALSO, if you look closely here:
View attachment 10643

You can see that the entire opposite side of the vehicle appears to slide open. The portion with the horizontal lines is the door sliding back, the space ahead of it is open, and the line of the door matches the line of the front A pillar angle.

So it seems they aren't showing the full craziness yet. I wonder if it doesn't have a passenger seat in the front either, and passengers step in via the front towards the driver and the step into the back cabin area.

The driver has a modest door to come and go from to avoid exposing cabin via open sliding door.

Also I bet you it has a separator behind the driver segment ala the LM with some sort of pass through, or the door slides back far enough to bypass it.

View attachment 10646
View attachment 10645
View attachment 10647
View attachment 10648

Is this it the official rendering?

 

[CRSKTN]

Is this it the official rendering?

Nope, just something I managed to put together from other concepts, AI, etc.

 

[Trexus]

This is the 3LM.

1LM (AH30, 2020-2023)
2LM (AW10, 2024-Present)

Lexus should have had the LS (traditional luxury sedan) just ride off into the sunset never to return and bow out gracefully...i.e. SC, GS, RC, CT, HS, etc. Lexus do not repurpose the LS name into a completely different vehicle. Keep the LS name and history behind it intact so the public will have fond memories of what the LS stood for and what it accomplished..

 

[mediumhot]

Its obvious they are testing the waters with this one. Bare in mind that Lexus has made LM their flagship across the globe now, sans Americas. Wish I could be wrong but when this thing unfolds it will be very underwhelming from the perspective of traditional Lexus fan.

As for the positioning this minivan sold better in Europe for one year than LS did combined for the last five years or so but keep in mind that 5LS has also killed in Europe in it's first year then it dropped off radically. Lets wait for the next year to see how LM is actually doing.

I've never been inside an LM but from what I've seen online it has all the bells and whistles but it lacks panache that LS had, little attention to details. Its very clinical inside like a private jet of yesterday, clean surgical cuts and gaps between compartments, cold ornament trims that are just stuck on panels, you can't mix copper trim pieces with silver trim pieces unless you really know what you are doing, nothings is ambiguous, nothing is concealed and nothing makes up the composition of modern contemporary premium seating space. Everything is so very analogue but in an outdated kind of way.

 

[Sebass]

View attachment 10640
View attachment 10641
View attachment 10642

I'd like to highlight something:

If this is the drivers side, then we can see it potentially ONLY has a drivers side exit so that the entire side of the vehicle can be engineered to be affixed in place.

ALSO, if you look closely here:
View attachment 10643

You can see that the entire opposite side of the vehicle appears to slide open. The portion with the horizontal lines is the door sliding back, the space ahead of it is open, and the line of the door matches the line of the front A pillar angle.

So it seems they aren't showing the full craziness yet. I wonder if it doesn't have a passenger seat in the front either, and passengers step in via the front towards the driver and the step into the back cabin area.

The driver has a modest door to come and go from to avoid exposing cabin via open sliding door.

Also I bet you it has a separator behind the driver segment ala the LM with some sort of pass through, or the door slides back far enough to bypass it.

View attachment 10646
View attachment 10645
View attachment 10647
View attachment 10648

Front end is a shameless VW Atlas ripoff

 

[Kelvin2020]

Its obvious they are testing the waters with this one. Bare in mind that Lexus has made LM their flagship across the globe now, sans Americas. Wish I could be wrong but when this thing unfolds it will be very underwhelming from the perspective of traditional Lexus fan.

As for the positioning this minivan sold better in Europe for one year than LS did combined for the last five years or so but keep in mind that 5LS has also killed in Europe in it's first year then it dropped off radically. Lets wait for the next year to see how LM is actually doing.

I've never been inside an LM but from what I've seen online it has all the bells and whistles but it lacks panache that LS had, little attention to details. Its very clinical inside like a private jet of yesterday, clean surgical cuts and gaps between compartments, cold ornament trims that are just stuck on panels, you can't mix copper trim pieces with silver trim pieces unless you really know what you are doing, nothings is ambiguous, nothing is concealed and nothing makes up the composition of modern contemporary premium seating space. Everything is so very analogue but in an outdated kind of way.

During my trip to Asia last year I had the chance to sit in the four seater LM, and I can say its interior quality and attention to detail are on a completely different level. I mean It’s hard to describe in words but the moment you touch and experience it, you just know it feels expensive in every sense.

And tbh I’m not sure if an MPV that’s even larger than the current LM and with six wheels is really what Lexus needs. Instead of going down that weird path, it would make much more sense to build a true full size SUV, a proper Escalade competitor.

 

[CRSKTN]

Front end is a shameless VW Atlas ripoff

To be clear mine is AI, but I would be surprised if that's not what it looks like.
Almost like that new VW hippie van reboot.

 

[Sulu]

During my trip to Asia last year I had the chance to sit in the four seater LM, and I can say its interior quality and attention to detail are on a completely different level. I mean It’s hard to describe in words but the moment you touch and experience it, you just know it feels expensive in every sense.

And tbh I’m not sure if an MPV that’s even larger than the current LM and with six wheels is really what Lexus needs. Instead of going down that weird path, it would make much more sense to build a true full size SUV, a proper Escalade competitor.

A proper, extended wheelbase Escalade competitor would have a limited market -- USA and maybe GCC -- but it seems Lexus' markets in the future will be Japan, China and other prospering East and Southeast Asian nations.

 

[DarkSpace6383]

Its obvious they are testing the waters with this one. Bare in mind that Lexus has made LM their flagship across the globe now, sans Americas. Wish I could be wrong but when this thing unfolds it will be very underwhelming from the perspective of traditional Lexus fan.

As for the positioning this minivan sold better in Europe for one year than LS did combined for the last five years or so but keep in mind that 5LS has also killed in Europe in it's first year then it dropped off radically. Lets wait for the next year to see how LM is actually doing.

I've never been inside an LM but from what I've seen online it has all the bells and whistles but it lacks panache that LS had, little attention to details. Its very clinical inside like a private jet of yesterday, clean surgical cuts and gaps between compartments, cold ornament trims that are just stuck on panels, you can't mix copper trim pieces with silver trim pieces unless you really know what you are doing, nothings is ambiguous, nothing is concealed and nothing makes up the composition of modern contemporary premium seating space. Everything is so very analogue but in an outdated kind of way.

Still I don't think changing this to an LS would help with pinache in anyway. They should just improve the interior and retain the LM naming.

 

[mediumhot]

A proper, extended wheelbase Escalade competitor would have a limited market -- USA and maybe GCC -- but it seems Lexus' markets in the future will be Japan, China and other prospering East and Southeast Asian nations.

Is there is some reason why Lexus can't have both? For whatever reason when it comes to discussion about Lexus models its "either-or" argument that very often rises as an issue. What premium Germans are doing better than anyone else is they have universal portfolio and they bend markets according to their product while everyone else adjusts to the market with their cars. China L midsize sedans are exception to this rule but Lexus has a lot of models that are unique to one market and absent in others.

Altered GMC Yukons with four front facing chairs are very popular in Central and South Americas with particular clientele. They all come from Mexico as used car imports. While a flagship mini van might not work in Americas big ass extended LX for sure would.