Category Archives: CONCEPT CARS

CONCEPT CARS

Lexus LS 6×6 Concept: The Last Salute Goes Off the Rails

As the world quietly watches the slow fade of the Lexus LS — the stately limousine that launched Toyota’s luxury crusade 36 years ago — the brand has decided to celebrate its heritage not with a nostalgic farewell, but with… a six-wheeled minivan. Yes, six. Wheels. On an LS.

Somewhere, a German engineer just spilled their espresso.

From Samurai Sedan to Super Shuttle

Back in 1989, the LS was Toyota’s moonshot — a four-door statement that Japan could out-Benz the Benz. Fast forward to 2025, and the people who once demanded walnut veneer and whisper-quiet V8s now want to be chauffeured in rolling spas with ambient lighting and built-in massage chairs. Preferably in something that looks like an airport lounge on wheels.

Enter the Lexus LM — the “Luxury Mover” — basically an Alphard that’s been sent to finishing school. But apparently, Lexus thought even that wasn’t extra enough. Because at the upcoming Japan Mobility Show (née Tokyo Motor Show), the company is rolling out what appears to be an LS-badged, six-wheeled, fully electric luxury van.

Think Rolls-Royce meets cyberpunk camper van. Then add two more wheels just to confuse everyone.

Six Wheels of (Questionable) Glory

During a recent 90-minute Lexus livestream — which we watched in full so you don’t have to — the long-teased LFR supercar was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a shadowy shape loomed out of the darkness: tall, boxy, and unmistakably weird. Cue the LS 6×6 Concept.

The design? Imagine a skyscraper in motion. The bodywork is upright and unapologetically rectangular, topped with a flat roofline that looks capable of hosting a rooftop sushi bar. The face is dominated by vertical LED DRLs that stretch from bumper to bonnet, while the taillight bar climbs skyward like an electric exclamation mark.

And then there’s the door layout — or lack thereof. The passenger side seems to forgo a conventional front door entirely, opting instead for a gigantic, power-sliding portal that opens onto what appears to be a cavernous, lounge-like interior. Judging by the proportions, this thing has more legroom than most Tokyo apartments.

EV Heart, Concept Soul

Lexus hasn’t spilled the specs, but it’s almost certainly electric. That makes sense: the extra battery packaging could justify that third axle while keeping the cabin as open and serene as a Kyoto tea house.

And make no mistake — this is not a production car. The third axle is pure theatre, a visual sledgehammer to make sure nobody mistakes this for your average family hauler. It’s concept-car madness, the sort of thing that makes you grin before you even understand why.

An LS in Name, Not in Nature

To call this a “flagship” is almost trolling. The LS name once meant refinement, restraint, and quiet confidence. Now it’s been strapped to something that looks like it escaped from a designer’s fever dream. Purists will wail. The internet will meme. Lexus will shrug — because, frankly, this is the kind of weird the world needs right now.

What Else is Coming

The LS 6×6 Concept won’t be alone on stage. Lexus is also showing off a Century Coupe — basically Japan’s answer to a Bentley Continental — and possibly a reimagined Corolla concept. But let’s be honest: it’s the six-wheeler that will dominate the headlines.

Because when Lexus says goodbye to its original flagship, it’s not doing it quietly. It’s doing it with six wheels, three axles, and a wink to the future.

Source: Lexus

CONCEPT CARS

Toyota Corolla Concept: The World’s Most Sensible Car Just Got a Bit Reckless

While we were busy refreshing our browsers for the long-awaited Lexus LFR supercar reveal, Toyota decided to pull a fast one. No mid-engined V10 symphony from Lexus yet, but Japan’s biggest carmaker still managed to drop a few megatons of surprise during its much-hyped livestream. Alongside a six-wheeled Lexus LS minivan (yes, really) and a Century coupe riding high on SUV stilts, Toyota quietly rolled out something far more significant: the new Corolla.

Yes, that Corolla — the world’s best-selling car, the automotive equivalent of sensible shoes. Only now, it seems those shoes are wearing carbon-fibre soles.

Toyota calls it a concept, but don’t let that fool you. The presence of perfectly normal side mirrors — not the usual camera-based gimmicks of far-future prototypes — suggests this thing is dangerously close to production. And then there’s the kicker: a charging port (or perhaps fuel cap) tucked into the front fender. That little flap whispers one word: electric.

Could it be a plug-in hybrid? Possibly, but that’s what the Prius is for — the Corolla doesn’t do niche; it does mainstream domination. So, an EV Corolla seems almost inevitable. Still, the idea of a Corolla lineup without a good old petrol engine feels about as likely as a tofu-only McDonald’s menu. Toyota, after all, is famously skeptical of going all-in on electric power, and it’s unlikely to toss away a nameplate that’s sold more than 50 million units worldwide.

So perhaps the future Corolla will come in pairs: one electric, one combustive, both wearing the same sharp suit. A bit like the new Lexus ES, where you can’t tell if it’s sipping petrol or electrons just by looking at it.

Speaking of looks — this thing’s a stunner. Gone is the safe, middle-of-the-road styling of the current model. In its place: pixelated DRLs that wouldn’t look out of place on a cyberpunk concept, a tidy ducktail spoiler, and a beltline that plunges dramatically toward the A-pillars. The proportions scream “dedicated EV platform” — short hood, long cabin, all the right hints. But just to keep us guessing, Toyota’s been teasing a new ultra-compact four-cylinder engine that could fit under there too. Internal combustion isn’t dead yet; it’s just getting sneakier.

Whatever’s powering it, this new Corolla concept marks a major design reboot for the world’s most famous car. After decades of quiet competence, Toyota’s golden child is finally embracing its rebellious side.

We’ll get the full story at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, which kicks off October 29th. Until then, we’re left wondering: is this the dawn of the electric Corolla — or just Toyota reminding us that the sensible choice can still turn heads?

Source: Toyota

CONCEPT CARS

Dacia Hipster Concept: Back to Basics, Electrified

The car industry has spent the past two decades inflating itself — literally. Electric or not, the trend is clear: bigger, heavier, more complex, and painfully more expensive. In a market obsessed with “more,” Dacia — Renault Group’s value-driven brand — has quietly thrived by offering less. Now, with the Dacia Hipster Concept, the brand wants to redefine what essential mobility means in an electric age.

Reinventing the People’s Car

Romain Gauvin, Dacia’s Head of Advanced Design, doesn’t mince words: “This is the most Dacia-esque project I have ever worked on.” For him, the Hipster Concept could be as pivotal as the original Logan was two decades ago — a democratic car designed to make mobility accessible to the masses.

The premise is deceptively simple: start from scratch and build an electric car that’s compact, honest, and genuinely affordable. The result is the Hipster Concept, a no-nonsense urban runabout that aims to cut the lifecycle carbon footprint of current EVs in half — not through software gimmicks or exotic materials, but through good old-fashioned efficiency.

Small Car, Big Thinking

At just 3.0 meters long and 1.55 meters wide, the Hipster Concept slots below today’s Dacia Spring. Yet, it somehow squeezes in four adult seats and a modular cargo space ranging from 70 to 500 liters. The design brief was clear: build a car around real-world needs, not marketing fantasies.

The result is a record-breaking exercise in packaging and lightness. Dacia claims the Hipster is 20 percent lighter than the Spring, thanks to a holistic “eco-smart” design approach — fewer materials, simpler production, and less mass to move. The payoff is straightforward: reduced energy consumption, lower manufacturing costs, and a drastically smaller carbon footprint.

And before you ask — no, it’s not a city-only toy. Dacia says the Hipster is just as happy on suburban and rural roads, with enough range for the average European driver’s weekly routine. For reference, 94% of motorists in France drive less than 40 kilometers per day. The Hipster covers that need with two charges per week.

Form Follows Function — and Philosophy

Visually, the Hipster Concept embodies Dacia’s minimalist ethos. “A car that can be sketched in three pencil strokes,” Gauvin says. Its stance is unapologetically boxy: wheels pushed to the corners, zero overhangs, and a body that looks carved from a single block.

The front end is flat and horizontal, featuring thin, serious-looking headlights that somehow still project friendliness. Around back, functionality takes over — a two-piece tailgate spans the car’s full width for easy access, while rear lights tucked behind the glass cut costs and complexity.

The color palette is intentionally spartan: a single body color with only three painted sections. Side panels and bumpers are wrapped in Starkle®, a Dacia-developed, recycled material that resists scratches and contributes to the car’s rugged charm. Even the door handles are replaced with simple straps — lighter, cheaper, and perfectly on brand.

Bigger Inside Than Out

Step inside, and the Hipster surprises again. The cabin’s cubic geometry, tall windows, and glass roof section maximize light and space. It’s not luxurious, but it’s warm, clever, and purpose-built.

Four adults fit comfortably, with a driving position borrowed from the larger Sandero. The front seats are merged into a bench, a nostalgic yet practical touch. Materials are chosen for efficiency: exposed frames, technical mesh fabrics, and openwork headrests that save weight.

Dacia’s “design-to-cost” philosophy continues with sliding side windows instead of electric ones, and a modular boot that morphs to fit your life. With the rear seats folded, you get up to 500 liters of storage — more than some crossovers twice its size.

Tech, the Dacia Way

Dacia’s approach to tech is refreshingly pragmatic. The Hipster doesn’t bother with a massive central screen or voice assistants you’ll never use. Instead, it doubles down on the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy. Your smartphone docks into the dash, transforming into the infotainment hub. It becomes your key, your navigation screen, and your audio system — paired with a detachable Bluetooth speaker that clips into Dacia’s proprietary YouClip® system.

Speaking of which, the interior is riddled with 11 YouClip anchor points, allowing owners to customize their car with Dacia’s range of plug-and-play accessories: cup holders, lights, armrests, even storage hooks. It’s simple, modular, and deeply human-centered.

A New Definition of Virtuous Mobility

The Dacia Hipster Concept isn’t a car that panders to trends or status. It’s a return to rationality — mobility designed for how people actually live. In a world where the average European new car now costs 77% more than it did in 2010, Dacia’s challenge is as urgent as ever.

This little concept might just remind the industry that progress doesn’t have to mean excess. Sometimes, less really is more — especially when it’s built to move people, not just impress them.

Source: Dacia