Good afternoon!

Lexus is – again – coming with great news to the Paris Motor Show, and I’m extremely happy to stand in front of you today!

If we look back over the last couple of years, Lexus underwent a tremendous change.

We have fully rejuvenated our line-up and added exciting new models such as NX and RC, as well as a growing range of performance cars including the RC F and the GS F.

Today, we offer the broadest line-up of premium hybrid vehicles in the industry - no less than 10 models globally! We sell more premium hybrid vehicles than any other manufacturer, by far!

And our region leads: no less than 98% of Lexus sales in Western Europe are hybrids.

Our design has become much bolder, our cars more emotional, and this, while retaining Lexus’ ultimate craftsmanship and quality credentials.

And we are very pleased to see that our efforts are met with enthusiast consumer response on the global market. In Europe for instance, the home of the premium car market, with probably the most demanding customers, Lexus has a clear lead in many customer satisfaction surveys.

This also results in a sustained sales momentum, with double-digit year-on-year sales growth. We are well on our way to exceed our target of 70 thousand sales in Europe this year, a new record for our brand.

But Lexus transformation is only starting to unfold and there’s much more to come in the near future to establish Lexus as a truly global luxury lifestyle brand.

The LC, our new flagship coupe, which we revealed earlier this year, is the symbol of this journey. LC is pure emotion, both from design and driving perspectives, supported by innovative technologies.

With LC, we introduce our next generation performance hybrid system: the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System. This new powertrain brings more power, greater acceleration higher efficiency, and last but certainly not least, more fun to drive.

LC is coming on the market next year, but this summer we already took it to an extensive tour in Europe, from the Nürburgring to Goodwood, from Madrid to Amsterdam, to connect with customers and car enthusiasts. We wanted to hear their first-hand feedback, and their response was fantastic!

Our next product launch is just around the corner and I am very happy to present it today, for the first time in Europe: the new Lexus IS sports sedan.

The IS is one of Lexus’ most successful models ever. Since the launch of the first generation, back in 1999, we have delivered more than one million units to consumers worldwide.

The new IS features revised exterior styling, an even more refined cabin and enhanced equipment such as a multimedia screen up to 10.3 inches.

Also, we have revised suspensions and steering for an even better dynamic experience, and the new IS now includes our benchmark package of active safety technologies, the Lexus Safety System +.

You can expect the new IS in Lexus showrooms by January next year.

Now… time to look deeper into the future! And I’m referring to the vehicle hidden behind this screen, which you will discover in a few moments.

This vehicle is all about anticipation but it is also rooted in Lexus’ unparalleled expertise in the SUV market.

In the 90’s Lexus pioneered the premium SUV world with the RX and the LX, for the first time in the industry combining off-road capabilities with premium luxury. Then in 2004, we launched the RX hybrid, the first premium hybrid SUV on the market.

In 2014 we further expanded our line-up with NX demonstrating that ‘Utility’ can be combined with a unique, striking design personality. And NX is already our best-seller in Europe!

From the outset our vision for SUVs was based on luxury and quality, then expanded to innovative hybrid technology and striking design.

Now we are ready for the next chapter - even bolder, even more emotional and unique on the market.

I am very proud to introduce today, in world premiere, our vision of the premium urban crossover of the future. Ladies and gentlemen, here is the Lexus UX Concept!

The dynamic compact SUV packaging is designed to appeal to progressive, urban customers who live in an ever-connected environment.

The UX Concept delivers an immersive driver experience with futuristic 3D holographic displays and other innovative electronic features. The seat design is inspired by Lexus’ Kinetic Seat Concept … a ground breaking technology that stimulates the drivers’ senses by involving the whole body in the driving experience.

The UX Concept showcases a modern expression of Lexus’ ultimate craftsmanship … married with hi-tech manufacturing techniques.>

This is what we call a design statement! It’s clearly a Lexus, you can recognize all our signature elements: the spindle grille, the L-shaped lights, the striking lines… but in an entirely new execution, and one that will turn heads.

And by the way, the UX Concept was conceived here in France, in ED2, our European Design Centre. Our design philosophy has Japanese roots, but it is also truly global in its expression.

As highlighted by this new concept, Lexus always seeks to anticipate. We are passionate about cars … about design, quality, driving emotions, and not to forget … customer experience. In the coming months and years, we will work even harder to transmit our passion to consumers worldwide.

Thank you for your attention!

MOVABLE SEAT CUSHION AND BACK REST

In humans, the spine acts to stabilize the head. It allows the pelvis and chest to rotate in opposite directions, stabilizing movement of the head even while walking or jogging.

In order to recreate this movement in car seats, the seat cushion and back rest were designed to be move kinetically with occupant weight and external force. Thus, simply sitting in the seat helps stabilise head movement caused by vehicle motion, keeping the field of vision steady. This reduces the burden on occupants, improving ease of driving and comfort.

SPIDER WEB-PATTERN NET SEATS

The seat frame upholstery comprises of a spider web-pattern net with threads that spread out radially from the centre of the back rest. The net is sufficiently flexible to closely fit the shape of the body, dispersing the load to make it possible to sit comfortably for prolonged periods.

The centre of the back rest is at shoulder blade height, which induces rotational movement of the chest around the seat's pivotal axis. This helps stabilise the head and ensure a high level of support. The seat has also been made slimmer, making the overall car lighter in weight.

PROTEIN MATERIAL

The threads of the spider web-pattern construction at the back rest are made from environmentally-friendly, synthetic spider silk materials* instead of petroleum-derived materials. The main component of this material is protein, which is created through microbial fermentation, then spun and processed into a new material offering superior shock absorbance (toughness) propreties.

Following the success of the Lexus CT and IS Sport editions, the brand's mid-size Crossover, the NX, will also be equipped with the Sport package.

Available on the NX 300h and NX 200t models, the Sport edition includes exclusive exterior and interior visual design features, while the F SPORT grade additionally provides dynamic enhancements and more aggressive styling.

The NX Sport features Black alloy 18’’ wheels, Black capped door mirrors, and a Black finish to the spindle grille and its frame.

The NX Sport interior is finished with an exclusive choice of fabric or synthetic leather seats, both available in Black and Garnett with silver inserts.

Exclusive to the Business and Comfort grades, the Sport edition aims at increasing the accessibility of the NX’s sporting design enhancements.

The NX Sport edition will be available in most European countries from October 2016.

Featuring revised styling, enhanced Human Machine Interface (HMI) technology, new exterior and interior colour schemes, an improved driving experience and an upgraded safety specification, the new Lexus IS model range makes its European debut at the 2016 Paris motor show.

Global sales of the Lexus IS broke through a significant barrier in July this year; three generations of the compact sports sedan achieving sales of over one million units since the original model launch in 1999.

This constitutes a major milestone in the history of the first Lexus to be designed primarily for the European market; a region wherein its popularity remains strong to this day, with European sales accounting for almost 20% of worldwide IS sales to date.

The current, third generation IS marked the beginning of a new era for the model with the introduction of Lexus Hybrid Drive to the range for the first time. Since its launch in 2013, the IS 300h has proved by far the most popular choice for European customers, claiming 90% of IS sales.

The IS continues to be a key element of Lexus' worldwide model range, currently marketed in more than 70 countries and achieving more than 6,000 sales every month. The revised IS model range will go on sale at the beginning of 2017.

REVISED EXTERIOR DESIGN

Because the original styling of the current IS has proved so popular, Lexus has kept the essence of car’s exterior appearance intact; however, the front of the new model has undergone a transformation, highlighted by new headlamps, large air intakes in the front bumper and an evolution of Lexus’ spindle grille.

The reshaped headlamps are more pronounced than before and extend inward, resulting in an eye-catching shape that accentuates the L-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The bumpers, with incorporated air intakes, flow dynamically from the fenders, giving the new front a more powerful road presence.

The new grille folds back at a higher point, its top and bottom proportions changing to enhance its sporting look with a visually lower centre of gravity, while blending effortlessly into the reshaped hood.

The new F SPORT’s dark chrome grille features an exclusive 3-dimensional F-mesh pattern that incorporates functional brake ducts. These brake ducts provide a sense of continuity with the side garnishes that enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance.

The profile of the IS is made sleeker by an enhanced character line that runs down the side of the car, and a choice of 16- 17- and 18-inch wheel designs add to the vehicle's new-found dynamic flair. A 5-twin-spoke, 17-inch wheel with a bright machine finish, and a multi-spoke, 18-inch luxury grade wheel are both new to the model range.

Changes to the rear are highlighted by more pronounced L-shaped LED light guides that are now triple layered within the taillight housing, and new rectangular chrome exhaust tips that further accentuate the car’s sporting nature.

Finally, two new colours —Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black— are now available in the IS’s exterior paint palette.

ENHANCED INTERIOR DESIGN AND HMI

Numerous carefully considered enhancements have been incorporated into the new IS’s cabin. The size of the multimedia display screen has been increased from 7 inches to 10.25 inches. The new high-resolution monitor offers a larger and clearer image of the various functions of Lexus’ innovative multimedia system.

An 'Enter' button has been added to the side of the Remote Touch Interface (RTI) on the centre console, making the system easier to use. On the centre dash the audio and ventilation-control panel has been refined to fit completely within the knee bolsters, and a new hairline-finish surface provides both a high-quality feel and improved appearance.

New stitching on top of the driver's instrument binnacle hood enhances the sporting feel of the IS cockpit, as do the refined speedometer and tachometer. Further enhancements include new cup holders, a new, larger, leather-wrapped palm rest with stitching for the RTI and new dial markings on the in-dash analogue clock.

For select markets, two new shades -Nuance Black (exclusive to Sport grade) and Noble Brown- have been added to the choice of interior colour schemes. And the Moonstone and Ivory colour schemes have been replaced by Sandstone; a new light shade that blends the elegance of Ivory with a more modern light-gray hue. 

CHOICE OF POWERTRAINS

The new IS model line-up will remain unchanged, with a choice of full hybrid petrol or 2.0 litre turbo powertrains.

Accounting for the vast majority of European sales, the full hybrid IS 300h delivers exceptional smoothness and efficiency whilst preserving the driver rewards fundamental to the IS's traditional appeal.

The full hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine with a compact, powerful electric motor for smooth and responsive performance, supported by the use of Dual VVT-i intelligent variable valve timing, Lexus’ D-4S fuel injection technology and a high-efficiency exhaust gas recirculation system.

This advanced engineering delivers unprecedentedly low exhaust emissions and fuel economy, with official emissions and fuel consumption figures from just 97 g/km of CO₂ and 4.3 l/100 km, strengthening the model’s appeal in a market where environmental performance and ownership costs are key customer considerations.

The IS 200t will be powered by the recently-added, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged unit, which comes mated to a smooth-shifting, 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission developed for the high-performance RC F.

This engine features a number of innovative technologies including Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide (VVT-iW), which allows the engine to switch between Otto and Atkinson cycles by varying the intake-valve opening angles, and the D-4ST direct injection system.

It combines a high pressure fuel system for injection directly into the cylinders with a low pressure system for injection into the ports. Power is rated at 245 DIN hp/180 kW at 5,800rpm and torque delivery 350Nm from 1,650 to 4,400rpm.

CLASS LEADING SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Committed to offering state-of-the-art technology to a wider audience at an attractive price, the new IS’s safety equipment has been upgraded with the adoption of the Lexus Safety System +, a newly developed set of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of traffic situations.

Combining a camera and millimetre-wave radar for a high level of detection performance, the Lexus Safety System+ features a Pre-Crash Safety (PCS) system with a pedestrian detection function, which helps prevent or mitigate the severity of collisions, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam (AHB) and All-speed Adaptive Cruise Control.

IMPROVED DRIVING DYNAMICS

The driving dynamics of the new Lexus IS has been improved through key revisions to the front and rear suspension systems, and the steering.

The front double wishbone suspension benefits from a new lower arm assembly forged in aluminium, which offers a 49% increase in rigidity over the steel member it replaces and new No. 1 bush with a 29% increase in rigidity. In combination, these new elements offer a marked improvement in steering response at cruising speeds. The front suspension system further benefits from a new upper support bush, a change to the coil spring rate, new shock absorber components and a revised damper setting.

The rear multi-link suspension features a new upper arm No. 1 bush and a new stabiliser bar, new shock absorber components and a revised damper setting.

The ECU settings of the Electric Power Steering system (EPS) have also been revised.

As a result of the comprehensive measures, both standard and F SPORT IS models demonstrate an improvement in ride quality, body control, rear traction and straight line stability, as well as better steering response and feedback.

Brussels, Belgium - A new Lexus compact crossover concept vehicle, the UX Concept, makes its world debut at the 2016 Paris motor show, showcasing Lexus’ vision for a compact SUV of the future. The Lexus UX Concept represents a new step in the company's design journey and a redefinition of the driving experience.

The bold UX Concept design is combined with imaginative, forward-thinking technologies to provide occupants with a fully immersive experience. All on-board HMI technology has been designed to offer progressive customers who live and work in an ever-connected environment an innovative, three-dimensional driver experience.

The driver's instrument binnacle houses a transparent globe, floating in the manner of a hologram, in which a combination of analogue and digital information express a functional yet unexpected user interface. And the centre console features a prominent, facetted crystal structure within which a hologram-style display of air-conditioning and infotainment information is clearly visible to both driver and front passenger.

The latest advanced in-vehicle electrical technologies are also on display in the new UX Concept. It features electro-chromatic windows, and the door mirrors are replaced by e-mirror camera housings far slimmer than conventional mirror housing. All switchgear is electrostatic, and housed under transparent covers.

Finally, the fin motif of the A pillar is repeated in a new audio experience for the younger Lexus customer -a demountable sound bar built into the passenger side of the dashboard.

'Our brief was to create a new genre of compact crossover; a vehicle that could create something unique from a customer’s point of view -an innovative, three-dimensional, fully immersive user experience.' Stephan Rasmussen, Designer at European Design Centre, ED2

A new Lexus compact crossover concept vehicle, the UX Concept, makes its world debut at the 2016 Paris motor show, showcasing Lexus’ vision for a compact SUV of the future. The Lexus UX Concept represents a new step in the company's design journey and a redefinition of the driving experience.

The bold UX Concept design is combined with imaginative, forward-thinking technologies to provide occupants with a fully immersive experience. All on-board HMI technology has been designed to offer progressive customers who live and work in an ever-connected environment an innovative, three-dimensional driver experience.

The driver's instrument binnacle houses a transparent globe, floating in the manner of a hologram, in which a combination of analogue and digital information express a functional yet unexpected user interface. And the centre console features a prominent, facetted crystal structure within which a hologram-style display of air-conditioning and infotainment information is clearly visible to both driver and front passenger.

The latest advanced in-vehicle electrical technologies are also on display in the new UX Concept. It features electro-chromatic windows, and the door mirrors are replaced by e-mirror camera housings far slimmer than conventional mirror housing. All switchgear is electrostatic, and housed under transparent covers.

Finally, the fin motif of the A pillar is repeated in a new audio experience for the younger Lexus customer -a demountable sound bar built into the passenger side of the dashboard.

Brussels, Belgium - The revolutionary Lexus Kinetic Seat Concept makes its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show; its radical fibre net construction re-evaluates the principles of car seat occupancy.

In humans, the spine acts to stabilize the head. It allows the pelvis and chest to rotate in opposite directions, stabilising movement of the head even while walking or jogging.

In order to recreate this movement in car seats, the seat cushion and back rest were designed to move kinetically with occupant weight and external force. Thus, simply sitting in the seat helps stabilise head movement caused by vehicle motion, keeping the field of vision steady. This reduces the burden on occupants, improving ease of driving and comfort.

The seat frame upholstery comprises of a spider web-pattern net with threads that spread out radially from the centre of the back rest. The net is sufficiently flexible to closely fit the shape of the body, dispersing the load to make it possible to sit comfortably for prolonged periods.

The centre of the back rest is at shoulder blade height, which induces rotational movement of the chest around the seat's pivotal axis. This helps stabilise the head and ensure a high level of support. The seat has also been made slimmer, making the overall car lighter in weight.

The threads of the spider web-pattern construction at the back rest are made from environmentally-friendly, synthetic spider silk materials* instead of petroleum-derived materials. The main component of this material is protein, which is created through microbial fermentation, then spun and processed into a new material offering superior shock absorbance (toughness) properties.

The Kinetic Seat Concept will be shown on a stand-alone display for the first time at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

*QMONOSTM material developed by Spiber Inc.

Brussels, Belgium - Created at Lexus' European Design Centre, ED2, the Lexus UX Concept takes Lexus' bold design language to the next level. Its strongly differentiated identity is meant to appeal to a progressive, urban audience living in a connected environment. The UX Concept also showcases imaginative technologies for an immersive driver experience, while the interior marries traditional craftsmanship with high-tech manufacturing techniques.

Other highlights of Lexus at the 2016 Paris Motor Show will include the refreshed Lexus IS in European premiere, as well as the new Lexus NX Sport Edition and the brand’s new flagship coupe, the LC.

The Lexus Press Conference will take place on September 29 at 13:30 pm at the Lexus stand in hall 4.