13
October
2017
|
17:43
Europe/Amsterdam

2018 LEXUS LS TAKUMI CRAFTSMANSHIP STORIES. Chapter 2: Kiriko glasswork

It’s the details that matter when it comes to making a car more than simply a means of transport, creating a comfortable environment that’s an expression of discerning personal taste and a place where you want to spend time.

For Lexus, it is about seamlessly anticipating your needs with the hospitality principles enshrined in Omotenashi and providing a luxurious interior space, rich in Takumi craftsmanship. With the new LS flagship sedan it is taking these qualities to an unprecedented level.

As an example of the exquisite detailing customers can expect, Lexus has made its new Lexus LS unique among contemporary vehicles by using hand-cut glass to create distinctive and beautiful ornamentation, inspired by fine Japanese Kiriko glassware.

A world first for a production vehicle, it’s a perfect example of how Lexus is using Japanese craftsmanship to create innovative elegance.

Masters of Kiriko worked closely with Lexus designers and engineers to replicate the hand-carved appearance of their glasswork. Traditional Kiriko patterns are created by hand cutting clear colours and delicate lines in the glass, which is then repeatedly polished to a soft glow.

The new LS features the Kiriko glass in a section of the door panel, striking a rich visual and tactile contrast with the stitched leather upholstery, cool metal release handle, and hand-pleated Alcantara surfacing. Although the glasswork looks beautiful and delicate, it is in fact remarkably strong, thanks to advanced glass reinforcement technology.

The finished design gives the LS a distinctive, artistic quality that exemplifies Lexus’ attention to detail.

Chief Designer of the LS, Koichi Suga, is proud of the results: “This special ornamentation represents the best of both worlds – it is an industrial product that is also a work of art. Its look and feel, like the hand-pleated door panel fabric, changes according the angle at which you look at it, and the time of day.”