Not too long ago, Lexus released a teaser for its upcoming concept car dubbed the Lexus LF-1 Limitless. Now the company has unveiled the show car in full at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
The new concept car serves as a design study for the brand’s flagship crossover, the RX. The designers adopted a design concept called Molten Katana, inspired by the organic shapes of liquid metal with the sharp edges of a traditional Japanese sword. Lexus exemplified their new design language with this: “Imagining that shift from a smooth, flowing mass into a solid, chiselled shape formed the basis for the fluid, yet aggressive design of the LF-1 Limitless.”
The LF-1 Limitless’ proportions start off with an exaggerated dash-to-axle ratio to give it an athletic profile that resembles a grand tourer rather than a jacked-up wagon. Its lowered roofline and tall ride height scream a car designed for performance with practicality.
Like all modern Lexus vehicles, the spindle grille is the main highlight of the car’s front profile. Except here, the grille now features a three-dimensional effect and no chrome was used on the surface of the spindle grille. Instead, the grille is illuminated by LED lighting.
Luxurious comfort for every passenger was the main focus when creating the cabin of the concept SUV. Like the LS sedan, the cabin design adheres to the Japanese tradition of Omotenashi or Japanese hospitality. The cockpit was designed with minimal buttons to create an unobstructed dashboard for the front passengers.
Although there are only four seats present on the concept car, rest assured that the production version will come with five or more seats.
Lexus has big plans for the LF-1 Limitless, expressing that the concept car was designed to cater to all types of powertrains – fuel cell, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, gasoline and even all-electric. This is in accordance with Toyota Motor Corporation plans to have all Toyota and Lexus models to come with an electrified powertrain by 2025.
President of Lexus International, Yoshihiro Sawa said, “Lexus models such as the RX have helped drive the global popularity of the luxury SUV category. This new crossover concept captures a future that involves a high level of dynamic capability and utility matched by a more exciting, emotional design that we hope challenges expectations in the category,”
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