That colour is just stunning.
At the ongoing Detroit motor show, Lexus has unveiled a new concept car called the LF-1 Limitless, which is designed to preview a “new flagship crossover” that promises not to compromise on the luxury experience of a limousine as it crosses over from the traditional, low-riding four-door to the high-riding five door.
It’s interesting to see how the automotive industry is working so hard to plug gaps in the market. While Lexus may credit themselves for creating the luxury crossover segment with the original RX, it’s fallen back a tad insofar as embracing current crossover trends. While the RX has remained a regular feature, the NX compact came a bit after the competition had already found a footing in the segment, and while BMW’s slated to launch its X7 flagship SUV very soon, Lexus may not have a fully-formed idea of how it’ll tackle this market yet.
This concept, designed by the Lexus/Toyota design research team in California, explores the idea of a crossover that would, logically, sit above the RX but below the LX, and offer all the luxury, refinement, and unparalleled plushness of the LS limousine. A tall order.
“This is our vision for a new kind of flagship vehicle, that embraces crossover capability without giving up on the performance and luxury delivered by today’s top saloons. The Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept incorporates imaginative technology while creating a strong emotional connection by improving the human experience for driver and passenger.” — Kevin Hunter, President, CALTY Design Research
Sleek, curvaceous lines and a dramatic roofline mark this out as a truly astounding looking thing, with the profile of a coupe-like SUV. However, a glass roof promises to offer uncompromised headroom for the four passengers on board. Narrow LED headlights and slim wraparound taillights complete the look, while the rose-gold-ish hue that’s applied is nothing short of gorgeous.
If you noticed the lack of wing-mirrors, you’d have probably assumed that like most other concept cars, it’s ditched them in favour of all-seeing cameras that also feed data back to the car’s autonomous pilot. Lexus ‘Chauffeur’ is a feature here (it seems), which works as its name suggests, and works together with something called ‘Concierge’ that suggests places of interest, restaurants, and so on, based on your wants and desires.
The cabin of the LF-1 features just four seats, all designed and sculpted to offer effortless and unparalleled comfort and luxury, just as how you’d find yourself in the back of a limousine like the Lexus LS, or indeed high-riding limos like the Range Rover, or Bentley Bentayga. Up front you’ll find two small screens flanking the drivers’ display ahead of the steering wheel, which reportedly stand in stead of traditional wing mirrors.
Interestingly, the LF-1 Limitless doesn’t have a detailed powertrain, though sources suggest that the word ‘Limitless’ is nod towards the flexibility of the platform beneath the LF-1. There could be a fuel-cell, pure petrol, pure-electric, or hybrid powertrain beneath the skin, and it appears that the LF-1 could accommodate any of the suggested propulsion options.
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