Category Archives: CONCEPT CARS

CONCEPT CARS

Lexus LS Concept: The Six-Wheeled Future of Luxury Mobility

If you thought Lexus was content to let its LS flagship quietly fade into the background of an SUV-saturated world, think again. The Japanese luxury brand just detonated a conceptual bombshell at the Tokyo Motor Show: a six-wheeled, all-electric MPV that redefines what “luxury car” even means. Officially dubbed the Lexus LS Concept, it’s less a limousine and more a mobile private sanctuary—a statement of intent that luxury, in Lexus’s eyes, has evolved beyond leather, wood, and horsepower.

A Private Sanctuary on Six Wheels

Lexus calls the LS Concept “a private sanctuary that invites you to discover your own space.” It’s a poetic way of saying this is the most radical shift in the brand’s 35-year history. The exterior looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie—sleek, sculptural, and sitting on three axles, with smaller wheels tucked neatly under the rear to maximize interior room. The proportions are pure concept-car theater, but there’s real intent beneath the drama.

The six-wheel layout isn’t just for show. Lexus says the configuration frees up floor space for a cabin that’s more penthouse suite than passenger compartment. And judging by the first images, the LS delivers on that promise. Behind a grand, sliding door—what design boss Ian Cartabiano calls “the starting point of the concept’s conception”—lies a cavernous four-seat lounge lined with opulent materials, ambient lighting, and digital interfaces that ooze futuristic calm.

From Luxury Saloon to Luxury Space

The LS nameplate has long stood for “Luxury Saloon,” a symbol of Lexus’s original challenge to the European establishment. But the brand admits that world no longer exists. “Executive sedans used to rule the world,” says Cartabiano. “Now they’re fighting a losing battle with SUVs.”

So Lexus has redefined the initials: LS now means Luxury Space. It’s a philosophical pivot as much as a practical one, representing a brand that’s unshackled from tradition and intent on reshaping the luxury landscape for a new generation of buyers—especially in China, where demand for high-end MPVs is exploding.

A Bold New Lexus Identity

Simon Humphries, Toyota and Lexus’s global design chief, says the company’s creative freedom has expanded dramatically since Toyota spun off its Century nameplate into a standalone ultra-luxury brand. That move frees Lexus to explore more radical ideas like the six-wheeled LS. “We want to challenge your perception of what a luxury brand can be,” Humphries explains. The new motto—To Discover—underscores that mission.

And discover, it does. The driver’s seat looks more spaceship than chauffeur spec: a yoke steering controller, a sweeping digital dashboard, and tactile mechanical buttons that blend analog charm with next-gen minimalism. Lexus hasn’t released powertrain details, but all signs point to a version of Toyota’s E-TNGA modular EV platform, potentially shared with the upcoming Lexus RZ and other electric flagships.

The Future of Lexus: One Name, Many Faces

The LS Concept didn’t arrive alone. It shared the Tokyo stage with two more experiments in Lexus futurism: a LS Coupé SUV that channels the Porsche Cayenne’s athletic stance, and a Micro LS city pod that distills the brand’s luxury ethos into a single seat. Together, they preview a family of vehicles built not around segments—but around experiences.

Humphries sums it up best: “Lexus has always been about more than just four wheels.” That’s not marketing fluff anymore—it’s literal. The LS Concept’s six-wheeled silhouette marks the moment Lexus officially stepped beyond the bounds of traditional automotive thinking.

Our Take

Is the six-wheeled LS Concept destined for production? Probably not in this exact form. But that’s hardly the point. This is Lexus flexing its design and philosophical muscles—an exploration of how luxury mobility could look when function, technology, and serenity merge.

In a world where ultra-luxury SUVs and electric hyper-saloons are beginning to blur together, Lexus just redrew the map. And with six wheels on the ground, it’s rolling confidently toward a future where luxury is measured not in speed or badges—but in space, freedom, and imagination.

Source: Lexus

CONCEPT CARS

Lexus LS Coupé Concept: The Return of Luxury with a Twist

At the Tokyo motor show, Lexus pulled the wraps off a concept that feels at once familiar and daringly different — the new LS Coupé Concept, a sleek, high-riding four-door GT that reimagines what luxury means in a market where sedans are going the way of the fax machine.

Once the cornerstone of Lexus’s identity, the LS luxury saloon quietly bowed out earlier this year after a 35-year run that began in 1989 with the car that launched the brand itself. But Lexus clearly isn’t ready to let the LS nameplate retire to a museum display. Instead, it’s reviving it in unexpected ways — not just with this coupé, but also with a single-seat Micro LS and even a six-wheeled LS MPV concept. Call it an LS family reunion, if the family had collectively lost its mind in the best possible way.

Among the trio, the LS Coupé Concept looks the most ready to make the leap from design studio to showroom. Think of it as Lexus’s answer to the BMW XM, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé, or Porsche Cayenne Coupé — a rakish SUV with grand-touring flair and the proportions to match.

A Luxury SUV That Wants to Be a Driver’s Car

Lexus hasn’t given us any specs — no motor output, no range estimates, no zero-to-sixty times — but it has given us a mission statement. Ian Cartabiano, the head of Toyota’s California design studio, says the LS Coupé “lets you do it all, and do it all in style.” Translation: expect something that blends the comfort of an LS sedan with the engagement of a proper driver’s car.

The concept’s stance is pure power move: wide hips, a long hood, and a fastback profile that suggests performance more than practicality. Yet inside, Lexus is clearly chasing next-gen luxury.

Tech, Toys, and a Flying Camera

The cabin is dominated by three massive digital displays — two for the driver and one (which folds away) for the passenger. Lexus’s next-gen infotainment system lives here, along with a yoke-style steering wheel that hints the brand isn’t done refining its steer-by-wire tech from the RZ. The driver’s seat looks more Nürburgring than Nagoya, while in the back, passengers enjoy what Lexus claims is saloon-level space and comfort.

Rear occupants also get automatically deploying armrests, portrait-format screens built into the front seatbacks, and perhaps the most absurdly wonderful feature in any concept this year: a high-speed drone that deploys from the rear deck to follow the car and film your journey. Because if a luxury car does something amazing and no one captures it in 4K, did it really happen?

And instead of a conventional trunk lid, there’s a pull-out drawer for luggage — an idea so elegant and strange it almost feels like a concept from 2035, not 2025.

Under the Skin

If Lexus ever decides to greenlight this thing, the production version would likely ride on Toyota’s E-TNGA modular electric platform, the same bones that underpin the RZ. That would make it a close cousin to Lexus’s existing EV lineup — and potentially the brand’s electric counterpoint to the RX, the long-running, best-selling SUV that still defines Lexus’s modern success.

What It Means for Lexus

Whether or not the LS Coupé reaches production, it’s a signal that Lexus is ready to loosen its tie and experiment. The original LS rewrote the rules for luxury in 1989. This concept suggests Lexus might try to do it again — this time with a shape that fits the moment, a drivetrain that fits the future, and enough flair to make Stuttgart and Munich look over their shoulders.

Because when Lexus gets bold, interesting things tend to happen. And the LS Coupé Concept looks very interesting indeed.

Source: Lexus

CONCEPT CARS

Subaru Turns Up the Voltage: Two STI Concepts Steal the Spotlight at Japan Mobility Show 2025

Subaru’s booth at this year’s Japan Mobility Show is split cleanly down the middle — half electric future, half turbocharged nostalgia — but all heart. Under the banner “Driving the Subaru Difference,” the brand rolled out a lineup that captures both sides of its personality: the responsible EV innovator and the gravel-slinging, rally-bred thrill-seeker.

Performance-E: The Electric Flagship We’ve Been Waiting For

Leading Subaru’s performance charge is the STI Performance-E Concept, a sleek, all-electric sports wagon that signals where the brand is headed next. Subaru calls it the “flagship of a new generation,” and if looks are anything to go by, the future of the STI badge could be shockingly good.

The design language is sharp and cohesive — a blend of muscular tension and aerodynamic precision. Bold LED lighting cuts across the front fascia, flanking a wide, sculpted intake treatment. The proportions lean towards a long-roof sports wagon, with a low stance and a sloping roofline that tapers into a ducktail spoiler wearing twin vertical fins. Below, a chunky diffuser borrows cues straight from Formula 1, complete with a central rain light.

Gold aero wheel covers, black rims, and red calipers nod to Subaru’s performance heritage, but the clean surfacing and minimalist detailing speak to a new design philosophy — one that’s as much about efficiency as excitement.

Underneath, Subaru’s cutaway renders reveal a floor-mounted battery pack, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and a low-slung suspension geometry that hints at the brand’s engineering priorities. While no specs have been released, Subaru promises “intuitive, exciting driving experiences” and a “driver-friendly layout.” If this car indeed previews a future electric Levorg successor, it could mark the start of an entirely new chapter for STI.

Performance-B: A Boxer Revival with Old-School Fire

Then there’s the Performance-B Concept, Subaru’s nod to the faithful who still want to hear a turbo whistle rather than an inverter whine. This five-door hatch channels the STI spirit of the 2000s, looking every bit like a reincarnated third-gen WRX STI — only angrier and more sculpted.

Wide fenders with integrated vents, a functional hood scoop, a red-accented grille, and a race-ready rear wing all scream purpose. The aggressive bodykit and meaty alloy wheels with high-profile rubber make it clear this isn’t just a design exercise. Subaru confirms there’s a boxer engine under the hood, paired with its trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, though it’s keeping output numbers under wraps — for now.

No exhaust tips peek through the complex rear diffuser, suggesting this concept is more about aero experimentation than final production form. Still, it’s not hard to imagine this car becoming a direct rival to the Toyota GR Corolla — a modern-day hot hatch war that enthusiasts would gladly sign up for.

Adventure Awaits: The Electric Trailseeker and the Wilderness Lineup

Beyond the performance spotlight, Subaru also leaned into its outdoorsy DNA with a trio of Adventure-themed debuts. The Trailseeker, an all-electric crossover that could preview an E-Outback, joined refreshed versions of the Forester Wilderness and Outback Wilderness. Each was shown with bespoke roof gear — from canoes to bike racks — highlighting Subaru’s outdoors-first ethos.

And just for fun, Subaru brought back a crowd favorite: the Family Huckster, a restomod 1983 Subaru GL Wagon turned viral sensation. With its wild aero bits and performance upgrades, it’s a nostalgic wink to the brand’s quirky, rally-tuned past — the perfect counterpoint to all the futuristic sheetmetal around it.

The Takeaway

Subaru’s 2025 Mobility Show lineup feels like a brand in balance. The Performance-E shows it can think in kilowatts without losing character, while the Performance-B proves the boxer spirit still burns bright. In between, the Wilderness models remind everyone that adventure — not just acceleration — remains core to Subaru’s DNA.

If this is a preview of what’s next for the company, the Subaru Difference might soon mean something broader — and bolder — than ever before.

Source: Subaru