Lexus Ls Moves Into The Unknown With Wild Six-wheel And Coupe-suv Concepts

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik

The Lexus LS sedan — successful nan U.S. astatine slightest — is astir apt dead, and that intends nan Japanese automaker needs a caller flagship to capable nan abstraction occupied by nan large luxury cruiser since its debut successful 1989. Since sedans are truthful yesterday, Lexus has decided to deliberation extracurricular nan container erstwhile it comes to its replacement... measurement extracurricular nan box. It unveiled a trio of LS concepts astatine nan 2025 Japan Mobility Show that are meant to correspond wherever Lexus could return nan LS next. One of them makes a batch of consciousness and is reasonably conventional. One is perfectly chaotic successful nan astir absurd ways possible, and 1 is simply a dumb pod point I couldn't attraction little about.

We've gotta talk astir nan chaotic and absurd 1 first, because it's really conscionable something. Lexus is simply calling it nan "LS Concept," but that's really underselling it, don't you think? I mean, conscionable look astatine this freaking thing. It's a van pinch six wheels. Are you joking? It's been a agelong clip since a mainstream automaker, particularly 1 arsenic reserved arsenic Lexus, put retired a conception this complete nan top. Up front, location is simply a accepted 20-something-inch instrumentality astatine each corner. Then, erstwhile you get to nan back, you'll find four smaller wheels, making this a benignant of Tyrell P34 successful reverse. It's magnificent. Of course, it's each location to support a monolithic van body.

Lexus

Inside, we find seating for six folks who want to recreation astir successful ultra-luxury while being sheltered from nan hustle and bustle of nan extracurricular world. This instrumentality is each about being driven — not driving. Lexus made it very clear that nan 2nd statement is nan focal point, and that's wherever passengers are capable to footwear backmost and relax pinch what looks for illustration a monolithic reclining bench. Behind that, you'll find 3rd statement captain's chairs that look to person plentifulness of room successful their ain right. This beast looks heavy, truthful I'm not terribly amazed Leuxs decided to springiness it 2 rear axles. The beforehand seats are reasonably accepted pinch a steering yoke and integer gauge cluster flanked by existent buttons.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik

While luxury vans are undoubtedly very celebrated successful Japan, if I had to conjecture nan assemblage style that would transportation connected nan LS's nameplate, it would astir apt beryllium immoderate benignant of SUV aliases crossover. Despite nan truth that Lexus calls this car nan LS Coupe Concept, it intelligibly knows that too. Don't get it twisted: this point is very overmuch a crossover, and if I were a betting man, it's a very bully practice of wherever nan LS nameplate is heading.

I won't beryllium present and show you nan LS Coupe is production-ready, but it doesn't look excessively far-fetched. The car follows successful nan footsteps of different coupe-SUVs earlier it, for illustration nan BMW X6, original Acura ZDX and Mercedes-Benz GLE pinch its operation of a precocious thrust tallness and sloping roofline. I cognize it's not a look that everyone is into, but I deliberation it useful alternatively good successful this application.

Lexus

One point that surely won't make accumulation is nan LS Coupe's rear-hinged doors, but erstwhile you unfastened them up, you'll find a four-seater layout that promotes a consciousness of openness — arsenic these sorts of concepts often do. Up front, nan car, rather strangely, has 2 different colored and shaped seats. I'm not judge what that's about, but it's interesting, I suppose. There's besides a dual-level surface pinch a ample support brace moving crossed nan correct broadside of nan dashboard. At nan very least, it's an absorbing portion of design.

There's nary connection connected what either of these vehicles are powered by. It could beryllium gas, electrical aliases immoderate mysterious 3rd point nary 1 has thought of yet.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik

Oh, Lexus besides debuted immoderate portion of crap called nan LS Micro Concept, which is simply a single-occupant self-driving pod thing. It's not worthy getting into, since it'll ne'er beryllium existent but isn't nosy successful nan aforesaid measurement arsenic nan LS Concept. Anyway, some nan van and crossover connection very absorbing ideas of wherever nan LS could spell next, because nan automotive world is changing — and fast.