Since 2016, Lexus has been reaching for the skies in a unique collaboration with Japanese champion race pilot Yoshihide Muroya, winner in 2017 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship series. In this rare cross-industry partnership, the Japanese luxury carmaker benefits from aeronautic technology while the air race pilot leverages Lexus’ automotive breakthroughs. One of the tangible results from this collaboration is a new aviation-inspired rear wing for the 2022 LC Flagship Coupe.

With the principal aim of winning air races, Lexus and Muroya worked together to develop championship-winning aircraft using the technology, craftsmanship and experience from Lexus. The Lexus design and engineering team has helped develop flight technologies in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and ergonomics.

The collaboration has produced notable innovations, including a control column grip for Muroya’s cockpit that incorporates Lexus’ sensitivity technologies and a new turning manoeuvre for the aircraft based on aerodynamic data from Lexus.

Race pilot Muroya commented: “It was with strong support from Lexus that I became the first Japanese Red Bull Air Race champion back in 2017 and our collaboration continues to deliver real mutual benefit.”

NEW CARBON-FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC REAR WING FOR LEXUS LC

For 2022, the Lexus LC flagship coupe will sport a new carbon-fibre reinforced plastic rear wing developed together with Muroya. This lightweight, highly rigid and sleek wing maximises aerodynamic performance and makes for more agile driving. The design draws its inspiration from the wing-tip vortices that influence the design of winglets on jet aircraft.

Lexus Takumi master driver, Yoshiaki Ito: “The winglets sharpened the LC’s handling, but without using drag-creating downforce, resulting in better performance without sacrifices.”

AERODYNAMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT                                                                                                         

During demanding test flights with Yoshihide Muroya, Lexus engineers analysed his plane’s drag-reducing winglets and the associated vortices, that are normally problematic. In the Lexus wind tunnel, engineers found that vehicle dynamics on the ground could be improved by turning the wing upside down and adding winglets.

CRAFTED IN CARBON FIBRE

Once computer and wind tunnel tests were completed, Lexus’ elite team of designers, engineers and Takumi artisans set to work milling an aluminium prototype, which, like Yoshi’s race plane wings, was later produced in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRC). Laminated in carbon-fibre and epoxy resin with a hollow core, after baking in an autoclave, the woven texture is visible through the lacquered finish. Long and lean, the LC’s new wing is nearly 2 metres wide, yet very durable and warp resistant.

AVAILABLE VIA THE NEW LEXUS BESPOKE BUILD

The carbon fibre rear wing spoiler is available exclusively with the new Lexus Bespoke Build programme*. The vehicle will be built by an elite team of Lexus’ ‘Takumi’ master craftspeople at the legendary Lexus Motomachi factory that built the LFA supercar. For the first time ever, customers can personalise their Lexus LC exclusive features. Lexus Bespoke Build is further distinguished with a personalised interior badge installed on the centre console.

YOSHIHIDE "YOSHI" MUROYA

48-year-old Yoshihide "Yoshi" Muroya (室屋 義秀) is a Japanese aerobatic and race pilot who takes part in events like the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. He started flight training in a glider in 1991 and went to the United States privately to earn his pilot’s license by the age of twenty. At the same time, he continued glider training in Japan and learned long-distance flight techniques in Australia. In 2009, Muroya was the first Asian pilot to participate in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship and went on to become the 2017 World Champion. To date he has taken part in around 170 air shows without a single incident.

*Rear wing spoiler available in limited quantity

Lexus is taking its advanced technologies into the skies in a new partnership with aerial team Pathfinder and race pilot Yoshihide Muroya. The partnership agreement, announced today, targets winning the first Air Race World Championship series – The Air Race – which will take place next year.

The launch of The Air Race has helped spur the formation of a new joint race team, Lexus/Pathfinder Air Racing. With the principal aim of winning races, Lexus and Pathfinder will work together to accelerate the development of competition aircraft using technologies, expertise and experience from both sides. Lexus will support the effort with technical advisors to help develop and verify technologies in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and ergonomics. It will also work to build a strong team structure to help Muroya’s bid for victory.

Muroya commented: “With the strong support of Lexus, I will strive to become the first champion in the new Air Race. I believe that an exciting story will emerge as fans and team come together as one.”

Koji Sato, Lexus International Chief Branding Officer, said: “Lexus will take on the challenge of an exciting air race together with Muroya, a world-class athlete. With the excitement and joy that motorsports bring and the gratitude that we learn from athletes as our inspiration, we will tackle the goal of Lexus Brand Holder Akio Toyoda to create a better car based on motorsports, from a different perspective.”

Working on the principle that “gruelling air races train people and train technology,” Lexus and Muroya will use experience gained through their partnership to improve their activities’ impact on society and the environment. For Lexus, involvement with the team will help it develop cars with ever-better environmental performance, helping it progress towards the goal of carbon neutrality. Focus areas will include aerodynamics, cooling and weight reduction.

In addition to his air racing, Muroya will continue to develop new talent that can help bring forward next-generation mobility. He also plans to develop a new airfield for testing, in co-operation with Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. Working with local businesses, he will promote the development of carbon-neutral aircraft, initially by giving educational support in light-sports aircraft (LSA) manufacturing techniques. Lexus and Pathfinder will both work to explore new possibilities in the fields of both automobiles and aircraft.

Lexus has supported Muroya, a world-renowned competition flier based in Japan, since 2016, sharing his inspirational “never give up” approach. In 2017 the sponsorship enabled the founding a new Technology Exchange Group, through which Lexus and Muroya have been able explore how new automotive and aeronautical technologies might be usefully shared.

This has produced notable innovations, including the development of a control column grip for Muroya’s cockpit that incorporates Lexus’ sensitivity technologies and a new turning manoeuvre for his aircraft based on aerodynamic analysis developed from Lexus’ vehicle testing data. In turn, this year has seen Lexus produce a new carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) spoiler using aerodynamic know-how from aircraft design. The new unit has been adopted for use on the Lexus LC flagship coupe and will be introduced in Europe in 2022.