Lexus offers preview of future design direction

The world is getting a preview of the future of Lexus in the form of a very modern vehicle called the LS Coupe Concept. And yes, the definition of the iconic model name “LS” is changing.

“We thought about how to redefine what LS is. So, LS used to be ‘luxury sedan.’ Maybe in the future it’s all about ‘luxury space,’” said Ian Cartabiano, president of CALTY, the Toyota-Lexus advanced design studio in Newport Beach.

Space, meaning spacious like an upscale SUV. It would be a sea change for the LS, the model that started it all when the Lexus brand was first launched. A world-class luxury sedan to rival those from Europe. But in recent years, sales of the newest generation have slowed to a trickle. Buyers want SUVs these days, not sedans.

The current Lexus lineup is heavily stocked with plenty of SUVs, luxurious ones of course. And as Lexus plots its future course, look for models that will have distinction to attract buyers in premium segments.

“It’s always going to be innovative. It’s always going to be avant-garde, I would say. It’s always going to challenge tradition, give you something unexpected,” said designer Cartabiano on the Lexus design mission moving forward.

Yes, who could have predicted that the iconic flagship would be pushed aside for a different kind of flagship. The new vehicle with LS in its name officially a concept, but looks almost ready to become a production vehicle. And it foretells a future of a vehicle that could not only be driven, but also fully autonomous when needed.

The 2026 model year will be the last for the big LS sedan. The original LS 400 is the one that got the whole brand started back in 1989. Coupes soon followed in 1992, further defining Lexus as a luxury brand. The current LC coupe and convertible, which by the way are the last Lexus models to have a V8 engine, may see their days as numbered too.

Lexus hasn’t said anything officially, but the sleek two-doors launched way back in 2017, with the hardtop coupe arriving first. No hint of a second generation LC, though Lexus has taken the wraps off an exotic coupe called the LFA Concept. It borrows it name from an earlier Lexus supercar called the LFA with an exotic V10 engine. This one’s a very high-tech EV, and possibly or even likely headed to Lexus showrooms in the coming years as a halo vehicle.

So it is the world of SUVs these days, even when talking about the epitome of luxury. If you always pined for an LS sedan, you’d better hurry, as it will soon be no more after a very long run. The SUV-style LS Coupe Concept foretells the beginning of a passing of the torch, moving forward.