The 10^th year of the annual awards – “Kiwami” being a Japanese word expressing “outstanding excellence” – has seen 16 Lexus Centres honoured, from among more than 300 eligible businesses.

Andre Schmidt, Head of Lexus Europe, said: “The retailers receiving the Kiwami Awards this year have each consistently delivered outstanding results and an extraordinary Lexus Omotenashi guest experience to their customers. This is the result of leadership, teamwork and an unwavering focus on putting the customers at the heart of everything we do.”

Omotenashi is a Lexus core principle, based on the finest traditions of Japanese hospitality where people’s every need is anticipated and catered for. This extends from the comfort, luxury and convenience designed into every Lexus vehicle, to the care and attention given to all customers. It is this commitment to outstanding service quality which differentiates the Lexus brand within the industry. The interaction between dealer and customer is an integral and consistent part of the overall luxury experience.

This year’s awards reached their climax in Oxford, a British city that is rich in history and culture and respected worldwide as a centre of learning and academic excellence. Representatives from the winning retailers joined Lexus executives for a three-day programme of activities from 31 August to 2 September. Their varied itinerary included craftsmanship skills learning, team challenges on the River Thames and sampling traditional British hospitality. The climax was a graduation-style awards presentation ceremony in the historic surroundings of the University of Oxford’s Brasenose College.

The 16 Kiwami Award winners for 2026:

Lexus Almaty, Kazakhstan

Lexus Belfast, United Kingdom

Lexus Bergamo, Italy

Lexus Brno, Czech Republic

Lexus Bucharest, Romania

Lexus Castellon, Spain

Lexus Kielce, Poland

Lexus Kraków, Poland

Lexus Kyiv West, Ukraine

Lexus Linköping, Sweden

Lexus Melun, France

Lexus Mühldorf, Germany

Lexus Orléans, France

Lexus Tblisi, Georgia

Lexus Varese, Italy

Lexus Zaragoza, Spain

Lexus has released additional visual assets from the Lexus LFA Concept battery electric supercar’s appearance at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

They include high-resolution studio shots and new images and summary video (B-roll) footage of the car on the festival’s hill climb course, together with the GAZOO Racing GR GT and GR GT3.

These, together with images and a press release that have already been published, can be viewed and downloaded on the official Lexus Europe media website here: https://newsroom.lexus.eu/lexus-sport-concept

Lexus sprang a major surprise at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the world-first dynamic drives of its LFA Concept electric supercar.

Its appearance came 17 years after the original V10 Lexus LFA first appeared in prototype form at the world-famous celebration of motoring performance in the south of England.

Scheduled to appear only on static display in the festival’s Supercar Paddock, the LFA Concept was an unannounced addition to the high-speed sessions on the festival’s hill climb course. Its bodywork still bearing camouflage wrapping, it formed a trio of high-performance stars alongside GAZOO Racing’s prototype GR GT and GR GT3, with which it shares some common technologies. Together, they further signalled Toyota’s multipath approach to powertrain development, across a spectrum from road-going and circuit-tuned hybrid systems to ultra-high-performance battery electric technology.

Driving duties over the four days of the festival (9-12 July) were shared by a company of distinguished drivers, including Elfyn Evans from Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), Toyota Racing Vice Chairman Kazuki Nakajima, GR GT, GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Concept development driver Hiroaki Ishiura, four-time Super GT Champion Sho Tsuboi, Super GT driver Yuichi Nakayama and German racing driver and Nürburgring specialist Uwe Kleen.

The Lexus LFA Concept presents Lexus’ vision for a next-generation electric sports car, blending advanced performance with emotional appeal and invoking the spirit of the original LFA.

Introducing the car ahead of its festival appearance, Project General Manager Yukihiro Yukita said: “The Lexus LFA Concept will pursue delivery of a multi-sensory experience unique to Lexus and challenge the possibilities of what a battery electric sports car can be, unlike anything that has gone before. 

“This next-generation LFA is a car that provides an immersive experience like no other, imitating nothing else. This sense of immersion was born from the pursuit of a high-level fusion of aerodynamic performance and sculptural beauty. Our focus is emotive performance that evokes ‘immersion’ and ‘lasting resonance’, creating a truly one-of-a-kind car.”

Born from motorsport rivalry and shaped by uncompromising feedback from the world’s most demanding circuits, the GR GT and GR GT3 embody GAZOO Racing’s philosophy of learning through competition. The Lexus LFA Concept builds on competition-honed insights and technologies, translating them into values that resonate directly with driver in an immersive, multi-sensory experience in which man and machine can feel as one.

They follow a bloodline established by past icons such as the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA, reflecting the belief of Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, that the skills of sports car craftsmanship must be nurtured and passed on to future generations.

It’s an approach inspired by the principle of “Shikinen Sengu”, an ancient Japanese ritual in which a Shinto shrine is dismantled and rebuilt once in every generation to preserve and enhance the craftsmanship skills used in its creation.

The GR GT is a track-inspired road car with racing DNA, powered by a new 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine paired with a single-motor hybrid system. In addition to high power and torque for exceptional performance, the car’s development focused on achieving a low centre of gravity, low weight with high rigidity, and aerodynamic performance.

The GR GT3 shares the GR GT’s core elements but has a different profile as a track-focused race car. It’s engineered to be highly competitive and deliver accessible performance.

Looking ahead, the Lexus LFA Concept presents Lexus’ vision for a next-generation electric sports car. It shares common technologies and aspirations with the GR GT and GR GT3, while blending advanced performance with emotional appeal and invoking the spirit of the original LFA. It aims to exceed customers’ expectations, drawing the driver into an immersive experience like no other.

The GR GT and GR GT3 will be on show and in action at the festival, appearing in the Supercar Paddock and making speed runs on the famous hill climb. Defined by steep gradients, tight corners and unforgiving barriers, the hill climb is one of motorsport’s most technical short courses for demonstrating acceleration, agility, aerodynamic stability and driver confidence. This will be the first European dynamic uncamouflaged appearance for both models. Meanwhile, visitors will be given a first close-up view of the Lexus LFA Concept in the Supercar Paddock.

GAZOO Racing’s competition stars

GAZOO Racing’s participation at the top tiers of international motorsport will be celebrated at the festival with appearances by the GR YARIS Rally1, the car which has delivered multiple World Rally Championship titles for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, and the DKR GR Hilux, a winning contender in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.

A line-up of championship-winning and internationally renowned drivers will be demonstrating the cars’ performance on the hill climb and rally stage. Subject to confirmation, it will include all TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team’s drivers: the nine-time and reigning World Rally Champion Driver Sébastien Ogier; current WRC leader Elfyn Evans; Japanese star Takamoto Katsuta; team newcomer and Rallye Monte-Carlo victor Oliver Solberg; and Sami Pajari, a past WRC Junior and WRC2 champion.  Henk Lategan, a winner with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and four-time South African champion, is set to take the wheel of the DKR GR Hilux.

TOYOTA RACING: from Le Mans podium to Goodwood

TOYOTA RACING will display the #7 TR010 HYBRID that recently achieved Toyota’s sixth victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. The team’s hard-fought victory in one of the world’s most challenging circuit races took the team to the top of the driver and manufacturer championship standings in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The car will be on static view alongside the GR YARIS Rally1 and DKR GR Hilux.

Road cars infused with GAZOO Racing performance and design

The knowledge and experience gained by GAZOO Racing in the heat of competition feeds directly into the development of ever-better cars for the road. At Goodwood, this philosophy will be demonstrated by the GR Yaris Aero Performance, the latest development of the multi-award-winning performance hatchback. Also taking part in the festival’s “First Glance” programme will be the all-new RAV4 GR Sport, a version of the plug-in hybrid SUV that benefits from both GR-themed design details and a chassis and suspension tuned for sportier handling.

*The GR GT and GR GT3 cars appearing at the festival will be prototype/development vehicles.

A Lexus RC F LMGT3 race car was class runner-up in the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours to earn its first podium in the legendary French endurance race, the third round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 entered by AKKODIS ASP Team and driven by Tom van Rompuy, Hadrien David and Jack Hawksworth finished ahead of more established GT racing brands to stand on the podium.

A strong performance from AKKODIS ASP Team was completed by the #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3, driven by Petru Umbrarescu, Clemens Schmid and José María López, which finished fourth.

A milestone result at Le Mans further establishes Lexus’ motorsport credentials. In just its third season in WEC, Lexus is challenging more established racing rivals and pushing boundaries, whilst providing opportunities for different drivers – including young hopefuls and ambitious gentlemen drivers – to participate at the highest level of sportscar competition.

The RC F LMGT3 car, an authentic racing version of the high-performance RC F coupe which is homologated for competition, is a relative newcomer to WEC competition, having made its debut in February 2024. The 2025 season was a breakthrough campaign for the RC F LMGT3, which won two races and helped AKKODIS ASP Team finish third in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Teams.

The next race in the WEC season takes place in São Paulo, Brazil on 12 July.

INTRODUCTION

The significance of the all-new ES goes beyond being the latest evolution of the Lexus luxury sedan. Fulfilling the promise of the bold Lexus LF-ZC concept car, first revealed at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, it presents new directions in design and technology and captures the essence of what luxury means to today’s customers.

The eighth generation of a model that has been part of Lexus since the founding of the brand, the all-new ES is more spacious than ever before. It is designed to deliver greater driving rewards and unprecedented comfort, supported by Lexus’ unique Omotenashi hospitality principles. The debut of a new, more powerful and responsive software platform opens up a wealth of new features and functions, including more sophisticated and wide-ranging information and entertainment, enhanced instrumentation and augmented safety functions.

The new model follows Lexus’ multipath philosophy for offering customers electrified powertrain options that meet their personal needs and preferences, while helping reduce emissions towards the goal of carbon neutrality. To this end, the all-new ES is available in both battery electric and self-charging hybrid forms, and with front and all-wheel drive options

A Lexus original 

The ES is an “original Lexus”. Its history goes back to the very start of the Lexus brand, first introduced alongside the LS limousine in 1989.  Since then, it has achieved global sales well in excess of three million units.

The ES’s European heritage is more recent. It arrived here in 2018 with the launch of the full hybrid seventh generation, ensuring Lexus continues to have a desirable sedan proposition in the marketplace.

Although the all-new ES is a larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, its Clean Tech x Elegance design delivers a sleek and elegant look, both inside and out. The investment made in comfort, refinement and luxury moves it closer to the quality, spaciousness and specifications associated with larger F-segment models. At the same time, its performance and handling, both in hybrid and battery electric versions, delivers the high levels of comfort, confidence and control that define the Lexus Driving Signature. 

The development programme was based at Lexus’s Shimoyama technical centre in Japan, where planning, design, engineering and evaluation teams were able to collaborate under one roof to systematically test and refine the car.  

DESIGN: “CLEAN TECH x ELEGANCE”

• Clean Tech x Elegance concept for exterior and interior design, inspired by the Lexus LF-ZC Concept
• A larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, but retaining elegant sedan proportions
• Extensive aerodynamic detailing helps maximise BEV driving range and hybrid fuel economy
• Clean, minimalist yet comfortable interior with craftsmanship luxury and Lexus’ Omotenashi hospitality
• Human-centred cockpit and introduction of new Hidden Switch technology

Across seven generations, the ES has distinguished itself as an elegant luxury sedan in the best traditions. Lexus designers were challenged to reinterpret these qualities as they worked on producing not just an all-new model, but the first ES to adopt a fully electric powertrain.

Exterior design

The design concept was defined by the term “Clean Tech x Elegance,” signifying a harmonious combination of functional, technology-inspired design with styling that expresses the premium quality and hand-crafted luxury that are fundamental to the ES and the Lexus brand. Inspiration was drawn from the Lexus LF-ZC Concept, which previewed Lexus design thinking at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

Designed on a new platform for new powertrains

The all-new ES is built on Lexus’ global architecture K-platform, redesigned to accommodate the model’s electrified powertrains. The design team applied the “golden ratio” principle to achieve an ideal relationship between the car’s dimensions (wheelbase, length, height and width) to create a sedan that is both elegant and visually striking and which and has a spacious cabin.

Sporty and elegant frontal design

Viewed from the front, the all-new ES displays the signature Lexus spindle body, extending across the bonnet to the edges of the bumper. Chief Designer Kumai wanted to retain a wide and low “face” and to keep the height of the front wings low to preserve the characteristic look of a premium sedan. The height difference adds a sporty touch while keeping a suitably dynamic sedan-style expression.

The low-set bonnet contributes to giving the driver an improved forward view. The hybrid models are distinguished from the BEVs in having an additional cooling aperture in the upper grille.

The car’s spindle body rises from the low-set nose: the distinctive shape expresses its electrified power and makes the car instantly recognisable on the road as a Lexus. Details include a new front light arrangement that creates a twin L-shape with outward-facing turn indicators and inward-facing daytime running lights, a new signature for Lexus’ electrified models.

Sleek and elegant side view

The side view is a key factor in capturing the elegant look of a sedan. Taking the height increase into account, the desired result was achieved by introducing a black side moulding. The effect is a reduction in the perceived height of the car, creating a slimmer, longer and sleeker appearance. The moulding is also used as design feature to link the front and rear sections of the vehicle.

The flowing silhouette creates a “trunkless” look with the cabin tapering to the rear. The contrasting lower body comprises both planar and sculpted surfaces and muscular aerodynamically efficient shoulders that are powerfully contoured and give the ES a “leap forward” profile.

A sweeping rear end

The rear end design has a smooth, flowing, rearward sweep, styling that has been a characteristic of successive ES models.

Chief Designer Yahiko Kumai explains: “The shape that cuts through the rearmost volume is a dynamic surface, unprecedented on sedan. We were very particular about its appearance and have a produced a beautiful broad surface. It gives the car an incredibly well-planted silhouette and while we have retained ample space in the cabin, it is strongly tapered to control airflow.” This tapering also emphasises the car’s low centre of gravity, generating a sporty and athletic look.

The rear illumination features a single, seamless light bar that integrates the LEXUS logo and incorporates the tail and stop lights. As well as amplifying the wide stance and enhancing the sculpted rear profile, the light bar also contributes to aerodynamic performance. In design-first for a Lexus, the rear combination lights are housed in signature L-shaped units located towards the lower rear corners, further emphasising the sedan’s wide stance.

Vehicle dimensions

The new ES is larger in all principal dimensions than its predecessor, increases that contribute to significantly more cabin and load compartment space.

At 5,140 mm, the overall length is greater by 165 mm; within that length, the wheelbase has been extended by 80 mm to 2,950 mm. Vehicle width is 1,920 mm (+55 mm) and height 1, 560 mm (+115 mm) for the BEV and 1,555 mm (+110 mm) for the hybrid model.

Aerodynamic efficiency details

In addition to the ES’s smooth, tapering exterior design, the model incorporates many detailed elements to manage air flow over, under and around the car and achieve excellent aerodynamic performance. This contributes to a comfortable, quiet and stable ride and overall fuel and energy efficiency.

The car has a full, dimpled undercover to smooth air flow beneath the vehicle. In a Lexus first, fins have been added to the undercover to suppress turbulence in the air flow away from the rear of the car, promoting a refined and stable drive. Further aero-stabilising fins are featured on the sills, to supress body roll, and on the rear light clusters and the rear bumper, again to enhance stability.

Other details include a revised bonnet front tip profile; door mirror covers shaped to improve airflow convergence; positioning of the wiper arm mounting system below the windscreen glass, reducing noise; flush belt mouldings; and semi-flush door handles. 

The battery electric models feature grille shutters which open and close automatically to control air flow to the motor or engine, reducing aerodynamic drag and helping maximise driving range and fuel economy.

Wheels and tyres

The ES is fitted as standard with 19-inch wheels with a two-layer construction comprising a frame and a resin aero cover with a multi-spoke design. The BEV models can be specified with optional 21-inch aero wheels with a dynamic lightweight design (designs are specific to the 350e and 500e). On higher grade models these have a thin-wall casting that reduces weight and allows for a finer multi-spoke design. 

Colour options

The exterior paintwork options include a new Skylight Blue, a sophisticated, solid-looking colour that perfectly complements the ES’s styling. Other choices include four sonic finishes – Sonic Copper, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Platinum and Sonic Grey – using advanced Lexus paint technology to achieve a deeper lustre and interplay of light and shade contrast across the bodywork. The palette is completed with F White and Graphite Black.

Interior design – simple and modern luxury

The interior of the all-new ES sedan follows the same Clean Tech x Elegance concept which defines the sedan’s exterior with an uncluttered, minimalist style that is not stark, but elegant and pleasing to the eye, communicating quality in every element. The aim was a perfect balance between producing a clean, open space while ensuring the key controls remain easy and intuitive to locate and operate.

The design and equipment features express the Lexus philosophy of “making luxury personal” and addressing every aspect of time spent in the car with the brand’s unique Omotenashi approach to hospitality. That means whatever the journey, whether you are driver or passenger, your every need is anticipated and seamlessly catered for in a perfectly relaxing environment.

With those priorities in mind, the design team created an interior that cleverly combines a light and open upper space with a lower cabin area that wraps comfortably around the occupants.

The low-slung instrument panel opens more space between the panel and the steering wheel and helps improve the driver’s forward view. The clean approach includes understated controls and new Hidden Switches (details below) that blend into the design environment.

Clever storage points have been created for stowing different small items, including a front tray ahead of the console which can carry two smartphones side by side, with adjacent USB-C charging ports. A single wireless charging tray is provided on all models; a twin tray on the BEV High and High+ grades.

Rear seat comfort package

With a more spacious cabin than previous ES generations, the new sedan introduces limousine-like seating for rear passengers. Notably, it provides a best-in-class front-rear couple distance of 1,102 mm, 77 mm more than the previous generation ES.

The High+ grade ES BEV is available with a rear comfort package. This features rear seats that can be reclined from 28 to 38 degrees and which have integrated heating, ventilation and massage functions. An extending ottoman-style leg support is provided for the seat behind the front passenger In addition, the front passenger seat and headrest can be power-folded forward to open up extra legroom and a more expansive view – a feature first introduced in the former Lexus LS flagship sedan – adding to the overall “class above” feel of the interior.

The centre armrest includes a control panel for seating and climate control functions, operated with touch-sensitive switches. The unit includes a tray in which two smartphones can be placed side by side, angled for at-a-glance viewing. Twin rear USB ports are provided with 45W power for fast device charging.

Easy access

The attention to luxury detail includes rear passenger compartment design features that enable easy entry and exit. The height of the seat from the ground (or hip point) has been precisely calculated. Also, the height of the sill, the space between the seat cushion and the car’s centre pillar and the softness of the side section of the seat have all been designed so that stepping in and out of the car is smooth and comfortable for passengers of all body shapes and sizes.

New generation front seats

The ES is the first Lexus to be fitted with new generation front seats. These have a lightweight, split construction with separate modules fitted on a frame, creating a slimline profile while providing greater support and comfort. There is also added comfort from a 17 mm increase in the extendable front cushion (compared to the previous generation); there is no gap between the extension and the front of the seat, so the occupant’s thighs remain fully supported.

New-design, slim headrests are also introduced for the first time.

Human-centred cockpit

Lexus’ Tazuna cockpit concept gives the driver a combination of excellent vision and easy intuitive access to controls and information so that driver’s focus can be kept on the road ahead.

The profile of the 12.3-inch digital combimeter has cut-off sides so that display does not extend beyond the circumference of the steering wheel. The information layout can be customised with six different layouts to suit the driver’s priorities and taste.

The steering wheel itself is a next-generation Lexus three-spoke design with a smaller diameter. It features integrated switches and paddle shifts (BEV models) for adjusting the brakeforce regeneration or, on the 500e, selecting virtual gears with Interactive Manual Drive. The telescopic wheel adjustment is 70 mm greater than previously, allowing an increase in the driver’s elbow bend angle.

Fine quality upholsteries and trims

Throughout the cabin, fine quality upholsteries and trims are used that enhance the luxury ambience. There is a choice of perforated or smooth synthetic leather or perforated semi-aniline leather, according to model specification. The new-design steering wheel is also trimmed in synthetic leather and is heated around its full circumference. The colour options are Black, Hazel and a new White.

In a Lexus-first, a new synthetic leather embossing technique is used to create precise patterns. This combines with the ambient lighting in the door panels to produce a clean, modern look.

Bamboo layering and surface illuminating trim

The ES is the first Lexus model to feature a new Bamboo Layering trim. Created using advanced printing and light transmission techniques, this has the appearance of natural bamboo in natural light, changing to illuminated colours that are synchronised with the cabin’s ambient lighting. This feature is included in the High grade specification.

Dynamic ambient lighting

The ambient lighting system helps set the mood for the journey, offering a choice of 14 themes and a 50 colour settings. In the new ES the effect can be further enhanced with dynamic lighting that changes the tone over time with looping patterns evoking six distinct atmospheres.

New Omotenashi welcome illumination co-ordinates the ambient lighting with the meters, smoothly bringing the interior to life the moment the car is switched on.

Hidden switches

The Lexus-first Hidden Switches are key to the clean and simple lines of the new ES’ instrument panel. The touch switches are set in a linear arrangement and remain concealed beneath the panel trim until revealed as illuminated icons when the car is switched on. The switches include the front window demister, rear window demister and door mirror heaters and the temperature control.

Audio excellence

The standard audio package is a 10-speaker system with simplified speaker shapes that allow for more refined sound expression with minimal distortion.

The High and High+ grade ES BEVs are equipped with a bespoke Mark Levinson Surround Sound system with 17 speakers that work in conjunction with the ambient lighting in the speaker grilles to create a multi-sensory experience and a harmony of light and sound. Sound quality is enhanced by the Mark Levinson PurePlay concept, which preserves sound purity by positioning speakers so there are no obstructions between them and listener’s ears. Mark Levinson Quantum Logic Surround (QLS) enables smoothly balanced frequency characteristics and high clarity and definition.

Perfect cabin climate

The triple-zone air conditioning system, featured in the Rear Comfort Package allows driver, front passenger and rear seat occupants to set their own preferred temperatures. The Lexus Climate Concierge co-ordinates operation of the ventilation/heating system with the heated and ventilated seats, front radiant heaters (where fitted) and heated steering wheel to provide prompt and efficient performance.

Air quality is also monitored to filter out odours and pollen, while the nanoeX^TM system introduces trillions of microscopic ions into the cabin air flow. As well as combatting odours, viruses and bacteria this has a beneficial moisturising effect on human skin and hair.

The air conditioning system in the ES BEV models is compact and highly efficient, providing the same level of heating and ventilation performance as competitors, with exceptionally quiet operation.

Load compartment

The new ES provides a capacious load compartment that has room enough for two 86-litre suitcases or four 9.5-inch golf bags. The space is greater in every dimension compared to the previous ES and matches or exceeds its principal competitors. Volumes are up to 517 litres for the BEV and 493 litres for the hybrids (including underfloor storage space).

Premium equipment grades

Across the board, all versions of the new ES – both hybrid and BEV versions – benefit from a luxury specification.

The ES 300h and ES 350h hybrid models are available in Core and Mid grades. Both are equipped with the new 14-inch multimedia display, while the Mid grade features include a digital smart key, digital interior mirrors and a Mark Levinson 17-speaker premium audio system.

The ES 350e and ES 500e grades are Core, High and High+. For these models the High specification also includes details such as Adaptive Variable Suspension and high-resolution Adaptive High-beam System headlights. The High+ models build on this specification with the comfort package for the rear seats, including ottoman-style leg rests and forward-folding front passenger seat.

The BEV models can be optionally fitted with 21-inch wheels: Luxury design for the front-wheel drive models and Aero for the all-wheel drive.

POWERTRAINS

• Lexus multipath electrified powertrains, giving customers options to suit their preferences and requirements for low and zero-emission mobility
• Battery electric ES 350e and ES 500e
• Self-charging hybrid ES 300h and, for eastern Europe, ES 350h, using new sixth generation Lexus hybrid technology
• Battery cooling, management and pre-conditioning functions enable fast, consistent battery recharging performance across a wide temperature range
• ES 500e equipped with Lexus DIRECT4 all-wheel drive Interactive Manual Drive virtual manual gear selection
• Hybrid models available with E-Four intelligent all-wheel drive

Lexus multipath powertrains –battery electric and full hybrid

The new ES fully embraces Lexus’ multipath philosophy of offering customers a range of electrified powertrains to reduce emissions towards the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. The model range includes two battery electric versions, the ES 350e and ES 500e, and two self-charging hybrids, the ES 300h in Western European markets and ES 350h for Eastern Europe. Together these provide a breadth of power, performance and efficiency options to suit a wide range of customer preferences and requirements.

ES 350e and ES 500e battery electric sedans

The ES uses a new Lexus battery electric system that has been developed with a focus on delivering an evolution of the Lexus Driving Signature that creates a sharpened dialogue between driver and car. The fundamental BEV qualities and convenience have been enhanced including revised Lexus eAxles with increase motor power outputs and a higher capacity battery unit. The ES is also available for the first time with Interactive Manual Drive, enabling a more rewarding driving experience with virtual manual gear selection using paddle shifts. DIRECT4 intelligent all-wheel drive is also available, raising the level of dynamic handling while maintaining power efficiency. The all-wheel drive model incorporates an additional 88.3 kW rear eAxle for a strong balance of rewarding performance, cruising range and efficiency.

The key performance specifications for each battery electric model:

Lithium-ion battery

The ES is equipped with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery that has a new construction and features new cells and a water-cooling system to optimise charging and operational performance. The number of cells has been increased to achieve a higher output.

The unit is installed entirely beneath the cabin floor which avoids compromising space in the cabin and load compartment and helps give the ES a low centre of gravity. To guard against damage, it is fully sealed and is reinforced on each side.

Optimised charging performance

In low temperatures, a high-voltage coolant heater can be activated during battery charging.

A battery pre-conditioning function is also available to optimise battery temperature prior to charging, helping secure faster and consistent charging performance. This can be activated manually by the driver, or automatically at the optimum time before reaching a charging point that has been entered as a destination in the navigation system. Pre-conditioning can also be scheduled in advance for a specific time or journey.

Charging times

Thanks to the ES’s battery management and pre-conditioning functions, consistent charging performance is delivered in all temperatures. Fast charging from 10-80% with a 150 kW DC supply can be accomplished in 30 minutes, in temperatures as low as -10°C. With 22 kW AC charging, 10-100% will take four hours.

The ES has a new-design charging port lid which can be opened using a physical switch on the cover, the car’s multimedia system, or the LexusLink+ app.

Power supply unit

The power supply unit (PSU) integrates the vehicle’s charger, power supply and power distribution functions to support efficient AC charging. An AC inverter is integrated in the charger, which helps reduce the PSU’s size and weight.

Interactive Manual Drive

The new ES 500e is the second model to offer Lexus’ ground-breaking Interactive Manual Drive, a system which debuted on the new RZ 550e F SPORT.

This technology creates a manual gear-shifting experience in a battery electric vehicle, raising driver rewards and engagement. A virtual eight-speed transmission generates rapid gear shifts based on the driver’s use of the accelerator and the vehicle’s speed. The effect is heightened with the option for the driver to use paddle shifts to make the virtual gear changes.

New shift-by-wire system

All new ES models – BEV and HEV included – use a new shift-by-wire system. This is operated using a compact toggle control in the centre console, with smooth and easy forward or backward movements to select park/drive/reverse/neutral.

Lexus DIRECT4 all-wheel drive

The ES 500e is equipped with Lexus’ DIRECT4 intelligent electric all-wheel drive system. This provides continuous adjustment of drive torque distribution to all four wheels, according to driver inputs and the road conditions. This can vary from 100:0 to 0:100, based on data from sensors monitoring acceleration, wheel speed and steering angle. Adjustments are made in milliseconds – faster than any mechanical system. The driver experiences enhance steering response, feel and communication with smooth, on-demand acceleration and enhanced stability, handling and vehicle posture control.

Lexus eAxle

The eAxle integrates the transaxle, drive motor and power inverter into a single, compact unit. This allows efficient packaging while delivering highly responsive acceleration and dynamic performance. In models equipped with DIRECT4 all-wheel drive, the low height of the rear eAxle avoids compromising space in the cabin and load compartment.

ES 300h and ES 350h self-charging hybrids

The ES 300h and ES 350h are the first models to be powered by sixth generation Lexus hybrid technology.  The self-charging hybrid system combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a front eAxle and a new lithium-ion battery. Together these deliver efficiency, refinement and performance, with the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with - for the first time an ES model - Lexus’ E-Four system.

A new, bespoke drive control logic optimises use of the hybrid battery to deliver a combination of powerful acceleration and fuel efficiency. The engine benefits from increased rigidity, which reduces engine noise and vibration; vibration at start-up has also been reduced, helping achieve a quieter and more refined cabin atmosphere.

The key performance specifications for each full hybrid model:

¹ Available in Western Europe markets ² Available in Eastern Europe markets

Hybrid eAxle

The new front eAxle is compact and incorporates the hybrid system’s transaxle and power control unit (PCU). While size is kept to a minimum, output is higher than in previous versions. It houses two motor-generators (one for power generation, the other for driver forces) arranged in a multi-axis configuration to save space.

Other features include a new cooling mechanism that makes for easier parts lubrication and a new electric oil pump in place of the previous mechanical type, further contributing to the unit’s overall small dimensions.

ES versions equipped with E-Four all-wheel drive use an additional rear transaxle (details below).

Hybrid battery

Moving from a nickel metal-hydride to a lithium-ion unit with a new cell design for the ES has enabled a more compact and lightweight package with a higher output. The battery is located beneath the rear seats, avoiding loss of interior space. The hybrid system prioritises battery power and low and medium vehicle speeds, which reduces engine speed, noise and vibration.

E-Four all-wheel drive

Both hybrid models are available with E-Four all-wheel drive, which adds an additional electric motor on the rear axle. The system can adjust drive torque distribution between the front and rear axles, based on information on wheel speed, G-force, yaw rate, steering angle and other factors from the hybrid system’s ECU. This enhances performance, for example traction when pulling away or travelling on low-grip surfaces and supporting fuel efficiency when driving at a constant speed.

CHASSIS AND DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE

• Global architecture platform revised to accommodate both battery electric and full hybrid powertrains
• Engineered to deliver the Lexus Driving Signature - comfort, confidence and control at all times
• Strategic reinforcements and use of high-tensile steels, hot-stamp materials, adhesives and reinforcements to achieve high body rigidity
• First use of a multi-link rear suspension on an ES model
• Electronically controlled braking system gives responsive performance with a natural feel

Revised platform to accommodate Lexus multipath powertrains

The new ES is constructed on Lexus’ global Architecture K platform (GA-K), with revisions to address the multipath strategy of producing both battery electric and full hybrid models.

Measures were implemented to strengthen the core of the body, specifically by revising the frame and increasing localised rigidity, to increase overall body rigidity, even when incorporating large openings such as panoramic roof.

The results are an agile driving feel that adds to the unity between the driver’s inputs and car’s chassis response on winding roads, and contributes to prompt, clear steering response. This strengthens the dialogue between driver and car, central to the qualities of the Lexus Driving Signature.

Increased strength and rigidity

Key elements include more extensive use of high tensile strength and hot-stamp materials in the main frame parts, maintaining and increasing rigidity.

Bracing and reinforcement is applied in key areas to increase rigidity in the front end, the floor and the rear, which has a strong annular construction.

As the hybrid models do not use the BEV’s underfloor battery, they have specific bracing and reinforcement linking the centre floor cross members to the rockers. This helps suppress vertical vibration and reduce displacement of the seat mountings.

Other measures contributing to the rigid structure include a twin bonnet lock and extensive use of high-rigidity structural adhesive – almost seven metres of adhesive in the front body and underbody of the BEVs and more than six metres in the hybrids.

Countering noise and vibration

Controlling the intrusion of noise and vibration is central to the new ES interior delivering the luxury and comfort of a personal lounge.

Demonstrating a high attention to detail, the measures include a redesign of the inner part of the front pillars into single component to connect the front suspension tower to the rocker, reducing vibrations felt when driving over minor imperfections in the road surface.

There are additional seals in the rear end to block external noise, while an advanced seal around the door glass reduces noise transmission. The side window glass itself has a high sound-insulating quality.

In the rear of the car, silencers, soundproofing materials and even the floor carpeting all contribute to improved NV performance. Further benefits are gained from more than six metres of sound and vibration-damping adhesive in the front floor and sound-absorbing materials in the engine compartment cover.

Suspension

The front suspension is a newly designed MacPherson strut arrangement while at the rear a multi-link system is used for the first time in an ES with the aim of enhancing the transmission of power to the road and smooth vehicle posture control.

The development goals were to achieve straight-line stability and ride comfort with smooth, lag-free steering response, a stable and natural posture when cornering and stable controllability at the car’s performance limits.

The front suspension tower is positioned lower and the characteristics of the suspension arm, bush and shock absorber have been refined to reduce shock and vibration when driving on uneven surfaces. The standard (non-AVS) shock absorbers generate damping force for even the slightest movement of the car’s sprung weight, for example when starting off or cruising on the highway. Other details include a highly rigid forged aluminium knuckle that saves weight while ensuring strength and which contributes to the ES’s linear steering response and comfortable ride quality. The anti-roll bar has a thin-walled, hollow construction that reduces weight while improving roll rigidity.

The rear suspension is designed for secure transmission of drive force to the road and suppression of changes in the vehicle’s posture, using highly rigid arms, components and installation. This contributes to the car’s handling stability and gives the driver a reassuring feel of the car’s rear end being in secure contact with the road.

Adaptive Variable Suspension is fitted to the higher grade battery electric models. This benefits from a linear solenoid to achieve rapid, fine adjustment of damping force for a more comfortable and stable ride.

Braking systems

The new ES adopt an electronically controlled braking system (AHB-C) which uses an electric cylinder in place of a pump motor to deliver ease-of-use and a natural braking feel that’s rigid, controllable and responsive.

Ventilated discs are used all round for the new ES: 340 mm front and 338 mm rear for the BEV models and 328 mm front and 317 mm rear for the hybrids.

Additionally, models that are not fitted with AVS benefit from Vehicle Braking Posture Control. When driving on a winding road or turning at junction, this adjusts braking performance to reduce roll, front dive and rear lift. This enhances handling stability and suppresses side-to-side rocking movement experienced by the car’s occupants.

Steering

The ES uses rack-assist electric power steering that accurately transfers the driver’s inputs into precise steering reactions. The motor control unit and reduction gear are located parallel to the steering gearbox, helping reduce the degree of steering operation force required.

The variable rack gear supports agile performance through tight bends and helps keep the car stable at high speeds.

NEW-GENERATION MULTIMEDIA

• First Lexus to adopt new generation LexusConnect multimedia system
• 14-inch touchscreen display synchronised with digital driver’s combimeter
• Introduction of new connected services bundles, giving access to new and advanced navigation, entertainment, information and vehicle security functions
• New-generation digital key

Lexus Europe took the lead in the development of LexusConnect and the new 14-inch  multimedia screen, directly integrating customer feedback through successive cycles of testing and refinement.

The system has four times faster processing speed, eight times greater storage capacity and a 256 GB memory. The multimedia screen is ultra-slim, with a maximum 10 mm thickness, contributing the interior’s Clean x Tech design concept.

One of the principal features of the new digital cockpit is combimeter mirroring: the the full navigation map is integrated in the driver’s combimeter, mirroring the multimedia display. This makes directions easier to follow and reduces potential driver distraction.

Similarly, Lexus Safety System + advanced safety and driving assistance features can now be easily accessed using the multimedia screen. The LexusConnect Driver Support menu lists all the available functions, with explanations and dynamic illustrations, and allows the driver to choose their safer driving options and performance parameters.

The new home screen concept, designed with European customers in mind, presents an intuitive interface with integrated climate controls, quick settings menu, Road Sign Assist mute button, a new Notification Centre and customisable widgets. This means all relevant information and functions are just a single click away.

The LexusConnect Voice Agent’s appearance and functions have also been enhanced. Instead of taking up the entire screen when activated, the feature is now more elegantly displayed at the bottom. The system can recognise whether it’s the driver or front passenger speaking, understands a more natural language style and responds more quickly.

An Intelligent Agent service is also available on subscription. With expanded functionality, it can respond to a much wider and more sophisticated range of user prompts. For example, it can provide information on flight status, stocks and shares data, sports news and many other points of information.

Connected services

The new generation LexusConnect multimedia comes with 256 GB of memory, eight times greater than the previous system. This opens up possibilities for a wide range of information, entertainment and security functions.

The established Standard Services bundle includes essential features with a 10-year pan-European trial period. These range from the LexusLink+ app’s “find my car” and EV coaching features, to cloud-based navigation with points of interest powered by Google and alerts for low emission zones - LEZ. Some of the remote services now operate four times faster than before, including setting of the climate control to heat or cool the cabin ahead of making a journey and door locking and unlocking.

The new multimedia software platform also enables the introduction of a next-generation Lexus digital key, the Smart Digital Key+. This can be integrated in the owner’s smartphone or smartwatch wallet so can be used without having to open an app, offering faster and more intuitive operation. Enhanced functionality allows the digital key to continue to work even if the NFC-compatible smartphone’s battery is depleted. Up to seven keys can be created so the owner can share access with up to six other users.

The new Connect & Drive bundle focuses on convenience. It includes smart navigation with live speed camera and average speed monitoring location information; direct access to the user’s Spotify account for music streaming; and the Intelligent Voice Agent (details above).

Connect & Secure completes the collection, providing extra security measures with new services: a Drive Recorder, Remote Immobiliser and Car Theft Assistant.

The Drive Recorder (on higher grade models) uses the ES’s integrated safety cameras to enabe 360-degree recording, constantly saving one-minute videos (up to a rolling limit of 90) of the car’s surroundings. A recording can be triggered automatically in the event of an impact, or manually by the driver, capturing the scene at least 10 seconds prior to and 10 seconds immediately after the incident. These can be extracted using a USB stick connected to the car’s head unit and may provide useful intelligence to help determine the cause of a collision or show incidents of poor driving or road discipline.

The Remote Immobiliser allows users to remotely control vehicle start-up by locking and unlocking the engine. For peace of mind, an Automode is provided so there need be no worries about whether the engine has been locked. The status can be checked by smartphone. A six-digit code wll then be required to unlock the engine.

The Car Theft Assistant provides structured support via the Lexus Link+ app in the event of the vehicle being stolen. First (depending on the vehicle’s equipment grade and alarm availability) the user will be notified when a potential theft is detected. Once the customer has reported the theft to the police, there is prompt and co-ordinated follow-up response. Vodafone liaises with the relevant local authorities to track the vehicle, while keeping the customer informed and using their preferred language throughout the recovery process.

Each bundle will be offered free for a trial period, with subscription available via the Lexus Link+ app. The availability of connected services may vary between countries/national markets.

Battery charging management

ES BEV customers can use the Lexus Link+ app and the LexusConnect multimedia system to manage all aspects of vehicle battery charging.

The Lexus Link+ app provides live information about the vehicle’s EV and fuel range, battery management and charging schedule and serves as the gateway to Lexus’ charging ecosystem. Using a single interface, customers can access the Lexus Charging Network, with more than one million AC and DC charging stations across Europe, using the Lexus RFID card or the app itself. Lexus Home Charge with integrated smart charging helps optimise charging times, giving greater efficiency and convenience.

LexusConnect navigation provides EV routing and dynamic re-routing, adding charging stations to a programmed route and updating recommended charging locations in line with changes in the battery’s state of charge and the driving conditions as the journey progresses, helping ease any range anxiety.

The multimedia system also provides a dedicated EV charging menu, accessible with a single click, that provides direct, streamlined access to all critical charging information and configuration options. The menu includes battery state of charge, total vehicle range, charging schedule management and charge limit settings.

Finally, over-the-air software updates enable Lexus Safety System + and LexusConnect to remain up-to-date with the latest functionalities and improvements.

ADVANCED SAFETY AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE

• All ES models equipped with latest-generation Lexus Safety System +
• Advanced active safety systems with new and expanded functionality, providing safeguards and warnings in a wider range of accident risk scenarios
• Driving assistance features include Blind Spot Monitor, Safe Exit Assist, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard

Greater support and protection from the latest generation of Lexus Safety System +

The new ES is equipped with the latest generation of Lexus Safety System + active safety and driving assistance systems (ADAS) which operate proactively in a wider range of driving situations to support the driver and reduce the chances of an accident happening.

The developments include new and enhanced functions, with – for the first time on the ES – over-the-air updates enabling seamless software upgrades as technologies evolve further.

Lexus Safety System + provides a much wider field of detection. Upgrading of the sensor has increased the horizontal viewing angle by 115% and the detection distance by 170% compared to the previous generation.

The driver is given clearer and more wide-ranging ADAS information with a new display in the combination meter. The Driving Assist Display can show up to six vehicles at a time, in real time: in its own lane, the ES and two vehicles ahead; in adjacent lanes, up to two vehicles to the left and right.

This information can also be viewed in the head-up display (where specified). The new head-up display has a tilted image plane that creates a sense of depth, making information intuitive and easier to read. The display settings can be adjusted to suit the user’s preference; stored settings are linked to the driver’s seat memory function, so they are automatically applied when different drivers take the wheel.

Enhanced accident prevention

The ES’ Pre-Collision System (PCS) is now able to detect and respond to a wider range of static and moving obstacles.

The PCS operates in an expanded range of driving conditions and situations, and with shorter vehicle-to-vehicle distances than previously. Its evolved functionality includes Intersection Collision Avoidance Support, Emergency Steering Assist (ESA – also with active support) and low-speed acceleration suppression.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

The Dynamic Radar Cruiser Control (DRCC) features a new Map Connected Drive function. This enables the system to work in collaboration with map information to better anticipate acceleration and deceleration at T-junctions, roundabouts, stop and give way signs, toll gates and bends, giving smoother performance.

The latest development of the technology enables earlier recognition of vehicles cutting in in front, enabling gradual deceleration. The system can also predict an adjacent vehicle cutting in by recognising its turn signal.

Enhanced sensor accuracy also enables faster detection of the behaviour of the second vehicle ahead. When the second vehicle ahead draws closer, the DRCC will slow the ES smoothly, avoiding sudden deceleration.

Lane Departure Alert

The Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is now able to detect roadside structures such as utility poles and barriers, increasing its ability to prevent unintended lane departures when the road margins are indistinct.

First-time features for the ES

Front Cross-Traffic Alert (FCTA) and Lane Change Assist (LCA) are both included in the ES’ safety portfolio for the first time. FCTA detects a vehicle approaching from either side when entering a junction at low speed. It alerts the driver with an animation in the head-up display (where fitted); if the driver continues to accelerate despite the approaching vehicle, a visual warning appears on the multi-information display and buzzer alert sounds.

When Lane Trace Assist is engaged, sensors detect if the driver is correctly holding the steering wheel.

Lane Change Assist supports the driver in making safe lane changes on the highway, working in conjunction with DRCC. When the driver activates the turn signal to indicate a lane change, the system monitors the car’s surroundings and, if safe to do so, controls steering, acceleration and deceleration to make the manoeuvre.

Emergency Driving Stop System

If the driver becomes unable to operate the vehicle, the Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS) slows the vehicle to a stop within its traffic lane and activates the hazard warning lights. The ES is also equipped with a Driver Monitor Camera which checks the driver’s alertness and condition. It delivers a warning if it detects driver tiredness, loss of attention or other abnormal conditions. Its operation is used to enhance the EDSS’ performance with earlier detection of driver issues.

Blind Spot Monitor, Safe Exit Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Provided as standard on all new ES models, these systems provide warnings and safeguards when there is a risk of impacts with vehicles (including bicycles and motorcycles) passing alongside or behind the vehicle. In addition, a new Rear Vehicle Approach Indicator (RVAI) alerts the driver to a vehicle approaching from the rear with an audible alert, a warning in the combimeter and, where fitted, illumination of the digital rear-view mirror’s frame.  

New High-Definition Adaptive High-beam System

The High-Definition Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) for automatic headlight adjustment (featured on the ES BEV models) has been developed so that light control can now be adjusted both horizontally and vertically, using a four-lens system. This provides more precise shading than the previous system, allows for clearer illumination of objects such as road signs and reduces glare for vehicles ahead and pedestrians.

Lexus won pole position for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) after the RC F LMGT3 race car delivered a spectacular qualifying performance at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

The #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 entered by AKKODIS ASP Team earned pole position for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, repeating the team’s achievement of last season.

Lexus is establishing its motorsport credentials by challenging more established racing brands and pushing boundaries, whilst providing opportunities for different drivers – including young hopefuls and ambitious gentlemen drivers – to participate at the highest level of sportscar competition.

The 22-year-old Frenchman Hadrien David set a best lap time of 2 minutes 16.612 seconds in his RC F LMGT3 on the demanding 7.004 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the decisive Hyperpole session. Earlier, his team-mate Tom van Rompuy had qualified the #78 car for Hyperpole.

Two RC F LMGT3 cars entered by AKKODIS ASP Team will compete in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday, the pole-sitting #78 of David, van Rompuy and Esteban Masson, and the #87 of Petru Umbrărescu, Clemens Schmid and José María López which qualified fourth.

The RC F LMGT3 car, an authentic racing version of the high-performance RC F coupe which is homologated for competition, is a relative newcomer to WEC competition, having made its debut in February 2024. The 2025 season was a breakthrough campaign for the RC F LMGT3, which won two races and helped AKKODIS ASP Team finish third in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Teams.

INTRODUCTION

Lexus today presents the world premiere of the all-new TZ, a six-seat, fully electric premium SUV that explores new horizons in travelling comfort and pleasure.

The online presentation and press conference are available to view here: https://www.youtube.com/live/BKB-OoniEVc

Embodying the new Lexus brand vision “Discover” and commitment to “imitate no one,” the TZ is designed around the concept of the Driving Lounge, a seamless blending of a relaxing cabin with dynamic performance that delivers an elevated travelling experience for everyone – passengers and driver alike.

A lounge-like space: the Driving Lounge concept creates a space and ambience that promote relaxation, enjoyment and conversation, enhanced by a wide, opening panoramic roof that extends above all three rows of seats. The sense of openness and the peaceful, comfortable atmosphere reflect the Zen-like tranquillity found in traditional Japanese homes and architecture.

The Lexus mobility experience: the TZ’s dynamic performance delivers the control, confidence and comfort rewards of the Lexus Driving Signature. The travelling environment is clean and uncluttered, with functionality matched with contemporary style, as seen in the slim instrument panel and Lexus’ Responsive Hidden Switch design. Comfort for all is prioritised, demonstrated by a selectable Rear Comfort mode that adjusts the vehicle’s dynamic systems to minimise disturbance.

Exterior design:  the TZ’s design fuses simplicity with sharpness, pursuing the distinctive presence and character that are essentially “Lexus”. As well as being sleekly elegant, the styling features finely tuned, energy-saving aerodynamic details.

Sustainable materials: Lexus embraces the use of sustainable materials in its craftsmanship luxury, including the use of forged bamboo and recycled aluminium.

Chief Engineer Takeshi Miyaura explains: “We envisioned the Lexus target brand value – customers who value time and choose authenticity – and aimed to deliver a new Lexus experience. Electrification – a battery electric vehicle – emerged as the method for realising these values because it offers an ideal blend of driving enjoyment and evolution. In addition to the Lexus experience of ‘seeing, riding and driving,’ we now offer the new value of ‘spending time’ inside the vehicle.”

The Lexus TZ is revealed today ahead of its market launch in Europe in 2027.

INTERIOR: WELCOME TO THE DRIVING LOUNGE

Inside the TZ the emphasis is on a sophisticated ambience – a “driving lounge” that provides supreme comfort, quietness and luxury features, founded on Lexus’ unique Omotenashi hospitality and Takumi craftsmanship principles. It is a space where everyone can relax, enjoying the smooth, refined ride of a BEV, insulated from road and wind noise disturbance.

The long wheelbase, suspension design and accommodation of the battery entirely beneath the floor ensure there is space to comfortably accommodate six seats arranged in three rows. The second row features individual captain’s chairs while the third row offers generous head and leg room. The absence of a fuel tank allows the rearmost seats to be set lower, so that even taller adults can sit and travel in full comfort. This also makes for easier rear seat access, together with walk-in switches to forward-fold the outer second row seats, tread plates and assist grips

Up front, the driver and passenger seats are a new-generation Lexus design, formed using a lightweight, split construction with separate modules fitted to the frame.  This creates a slim profile and a sculpted look, while providing greater support and comfort. Their design complements the open and clean cabin appearance while offering excellent comfort and support. The front and second row seats have integrated heating and ventilation, and seat heating is also available in the third row grade – a rare feature in six or seven-seat SUVs. For added comfort, ottoman-style leg rests are available for the front and second row passengers, while radiant heaters are provided to warm the driver and front passenger’s knees and lower legs. Discreetly positioned below the instrument panel and steering column, these work in conjunction with the air conditioning system to provide energy-efficient heating, helping maximise the car’s driving range.

The cabin’s open feel is enhanced with a panoramic roof. It is the largest yet featured on a Lexus model, extending above all six seats.

The clean, minimalist cabin theme is reflected in the slim instrument panel which houses Lexus’ new Responsive Hidden Switch technology. The panel presents a clean, seamless upholstered finish, but a series of switch function icons illuminate when the driver or passenger’s hand passes above the surface. Although they have a flush finish, the switches provide physical touch-feedback when operated. Responsive Hidden Switches are also featured on the TZ’s steering wheel.

The doors have an easy-closing system. This detects when a door is half-closed and completed the action, quietly and with light force.

The door panels feature Lexus’ new bamboo layering trim panels, crafted using a Lexus-first film layering technique.  In daylight they have the appearance of natural bamboo, changing to surface-illuminated colour patterns when synchronised with the vehicle’s ambient lighting system.

For audio excellence, the TZ can be specified with a bespoke 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system that provides a 3D sound stage with pure, distortion-free sound quality. This includes a Position Mode which creates a sound stage focused on the rear cabin, tailored to how the vehicle is being used, and enables rear-seat-specific tuning.

Human-centred design cockpit

The benefits of Lexus’ cockpit design concept are enhanced in the TZ with a hood-less driver’s instrument display – an asymmetric 12.3-inch combimeter – and a low, slim, horizontally aligned instrument panel that expands the forward view from the steering wheel. Using a polarised film on the display helps avoid glare and windscreen reflections that can obscure the meters and information read-out.

The attention to detail includes specific profiling of the front pillars to give the driver a better sightline when turning into a bend.

Packaging

The TZ measures 5,100 mm overall and has a 3,050 mm wheelbase, ensuring ample space for a comfortable six-seat cabin and accommodation of a large battery. By comparison, the Lexus RX SUV is 4,890 mm long with a 2,850 wheelbase.

A shorter front overhang contributes to the TZ’s ease of handling and weight distribution, while a longer rear overhang allows for more load space and helps overall stability.

With the third row of seats in place, there is space to carry four 55-litre or two 92-litre cases. The seats are foldable to create room to stow, for example, two bicycles or longer items.

Cabin quietness

Recognising how intrusive wind and road noise are more noticeable in a BEV than in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, Lexus has applied detailed measures to ensure the cabin environment is as quiet as possible, creating a “sense of silence”.

Sound-absorbing and insulating materials are used strategically in the vehicle frame to offset resonance frequencies. Other details include using thicker window glass, installing an additional engine cover and producing a new aerodynamic door mirror design that minimises wind noise generation. The result is the highest quietness level among all Lexus SUVs.

“Comfort” drive mode

The TZ’s selectable drive modes include a new “Comfort” mode, focused on making the ride as comfortable as possible for rear seat passengers. It integrates Dynamic Rear Steering with optimum front-rear braking balance and the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system to minimise unnecessary movement of the car’s body. As a result, passengers enjoy a smoother, composed ride with less side-to-side head movement.

EXTERIOR DESIGN: SUV PRESENCE WITH ELEGANCE AND REFINEMENT

Lexus demonstrates its distinctive, contemporary design flair in the TZ’s exterior in fusion of road presence with refinement and a sleek look. It stands apart from traditional SUV design values that emphasise performance and power with an appearance that is more refined and less aggressive. The result is a quality Lexus describes as “Provocative Simplicity” – elegant, with an edgy touch.

As well as being eye-catching, the design is detailed for wind-cheating aerodynamic excellence, helping maximise the vehicle’s range potential. The TZ has a 0.27 drag coefficient – a significant achievement for large-form SUV. 

The side view presents an elongated silhouette with sharp edges and high-quality surfacing that communicate strength and dynamism. Details include semi-flush door handles, strong character lines, textured surfaces and boldly styled aero wheels (20 or 22-inch according to equipment grade).

The frontal appearance broadcasts strength and confidence, generating the characteristic Lexus spindle body in a clean, unified mass. Geometric graphics add sharpness and strength while the new signature Lexus twin-L light units present distinctive inward and outward-pointing elements for the daytime running lights and turn indicators.

At the rear, there is a bold lowering of the roofline’s trailing edge and a tapering of the cabin. This has a positive aero effect but not at the expense of space and comfort in the cabin. The pronounced rear wings add to a wide, horizontal stance and powerful SUV posture. The rear L-shaped lamp units, strong 3D treatment of the back door and shaping of the bumper make the TZ instantly recognisable as a Lexus.

Colour options will include monotone and bi-tone finishes, including a new Sonic Tellus. Named after the Latin word for earth, this rich khaki green uses Lexus’ sonic paint technology to produce deep shading and subtle nuances of colour in generating a strong three-dimensional effect.

MULTIMEDIA AND CONNECTIVITY

The TZ benefits from Lexus’ new Arene software platform that supports a greater range of LexusConnect multimedia functions and provides fast, intuitive operation.

The central 14-inch multimedia display is synchronised with the 12.3-in multi-information display, which allows the full navigation map to be mirrored in the driver’s combimeter. This makes directions easier to follow, avoiding the need for the driver to adjust their glance to view information – a key element of the human-centred design cockpit design.

Owners will be able to access a wide range of new and enhanced information, navigation, security and convenience functions, delivered through a series of connected services bundles, available on subscription via the LexusLink+ app.

The Standard Services package includes essential features such as maintenance reminders, cloud-based navigation, a voice agent, access to remote services, such as door locking/unlocking and climate control operation, and convenient over-the-air software updates for the multimedia and safety systems.

A Smart Digital Key+ will be available, integrated into the wallet on the owner’s smartphone or watch and shareable with up to six other users.  Operation is faster and more intuitive, with no need to launch an app to operate the key. Enhanced functionality allows the key to operate even if the NFC-compatible smartphone’s battery is depleted.

A Connect & Drive bundle focuses on enhanced navigation and voice agent functions, with direct access to the user’s music streaming (Spotify) service account, while Connect & Secure provides extra security and peace of mind with a drive recorder, remote immobiliser and Car Theft Assistant.  

Battery management

Efficient battery management is a key element in electric vehicle ownership. TZ owners have easy access to end-to-end management of all aspects of their car’s battery performance and charging via the Lexus Link + app and LexusConnect multimedia system. These provide live information on available EV range, battery state of charge, charging scheduling and route planning that incorporates charging points as required.

The Lexus Connect multimedia system includes a dedicated EV menu that brings together all relevant data and information relating to the battery and vehicle performance.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

The Lexus Driving Signature

Lexus worked to enhance fundamental performance through the TZ’s global architecture platform, while seeking to ensure delivery the Lexus Driving Signature with performance that delivers confidence, control and comfort at all times. This process, known as “Aji-migaki,” encompasses around 40 different themes across a wide range of performance domains.

To ensure these rewards were realised, the vehicle’s dynamics were perfected at Lexus’ Shimoyama technical centre in Japan, with extensive simulated and on-track testing programmes. The recently launched facility also allows design and engineering teams to work in close collaboration for more efficient, focused vehicle development.

The TZ marks the culmination of Lexus’ engineering knowledge and experience gained in body and platform development. By reinforcing key areas – the front, rear, rear floor and front floor – and strengthening the vehicle’s core structure, the TZ achieves a new Lexus driving feel that combines signature quietness and comfort with a smooth, unified sense of control.

Suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering

The suspension arrangement features front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link system that has been developed specifically for the TZ, combining with the highly rigid body to contribute to the car’s high comfort and stability.

The TZ can be specified with a Dynamic Rear Steering system (DRS) which allows the rear wheels to turn up to four degrees, either in phase with or counter to the angle of the front wheels, according to the driving situation. At low and medium speeds, this enhances line-tracing, manoeuvring and steering response. At higher speeds it adds to the car’s stability, inspiring driver confidence.

There is a further benefit in a reduced turning radius – 5.4 metres with DRS and 5.8 metres without DRS – that is comparable to smaller D-segment SUV.

Braking

The braking system is electronically controlled and produces a natural braking feel that is rigid, controllable and responsive. It uses a pressurisation unit that enables adjustment brake force distribution between the front and rear wheels during braking, contributing to a seamless and confidence-inspiring transition from deceleration to cornering. 

The driver can also make use a regenerative braking system that can provide up to 0.2g of braking performance, reducing the need to use the brake pedal and making the job of driving less of a burden. The system provides five different levels of deceleration, selected using the paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

Interactive Manual Drive

Interactive Manual Drive brings the sensations of using a rapid-shift manual transmission to an electric vehicle. First introduced in the RZ 550e F SPORT, this Lexus technology equips the car with a virtual eight-speed transmission which generates shifts based on the driver’s use of the throttle and the vehicle’s speed.

For a deeper dialogue with their vehicle, the driver can select gears using paddle shifts. There is also a tachometer in the instrument display to help optimise shift points and selection is accompanied by a rousing simulated thermic engine note soundtrack and steering wheel feedback to add to the multi-sensory experience.

DIRECT4 all-wheel drive

The TZ’s handling capabilities are supported by Lexus’ DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system. This automatically distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles, in line with the driving conditions and the selected drive mode, giving linear, responsive acceleration and strong cornering performance.

POWERTRAIN

Battery electric system

The TZ’s new battery electric powertrain marks an evolution of the Lexus driving experience to deliver even greater rewards from the fundamentally quiet, smooth and highly responsive performance characteristic of Lexus BEVs.

The system is a development of that found in the Lexus RZ SUV and upcoming all-new ES luxury sedan, but with a higher capacity battery and increased electric motor power from both the front and rear eAxles to give the TZ power and performance appropriate for a premium six-seat SUV.

Lexus eAxles

The TZ is equipped with Lexus eAxles front and rear. These compact, lightweight units combine key electric powertrain components in a single housing, including the motor-generator, power control unit and inverter.

Their design differs according to their location. Thus, the front eAxle has a short length while the rear unit’s low height avoids compromising cabin space, helping ensure there is comfortable room to accommodate the third-row seats. Its design also takes collision safety performance into account.

Increased motor output

The motors have increased power outputs appropriate for the TZ’s size and performance: 167 kW / 227 DIN hp both front and rear. Each eAxle produces 268.6 Nm of torque.

Lithium-ion battery

The TZ uses a lithium-ion battery with extra-large 95.8 kWh capacity. This will enable an anticipated driving range of up to 530 km (according to model specification).

Provisional technical specifications

Provisional, prototype model performance data and technical specifications are shown below (all data remain provisional prior to model homologation): -

*¹ Varies by country / specification

The driver can select Range mode to maximise the potential driving distance. This limits power output and vehicle speed to mitigate deceleration and avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.

High-efficiency battery charging

Lexus’ battery water-cooling, temperature management and pre-conditioning systems optimise the unit’s status for prompt and consistent charging. The battery pre-conditioning, operating automatically on navigation routes programmed with an EV charging destination, or manually by the driver ahead of a charging stop, ensures the unit is at an ideal temperature when recharging starts.

The TZ is equipped with a 22 kW onboard AC charger for at-home charging; a 150 kW DC fast charge from 10 to 80% is expected to take around 35 minutes (CCS-type DC charging).

An intelligent EV routing system can be used to plan energy-efficient journeys, with recharging points factored in and updated if necessary when the trip is in progress, in line with changes in the battery’s state of charge

SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE

In its pursuit of a future where there are zero road accidents, Lexus constantly seeks to introduce advanced, intelligent systems and technologies that make driving safer and easier. The TZ benefits from the latest Lexus Safety System + package of active safety and driving assistance functions to provide wide-ranging safeguards and support.

Pre-Collision System

The Pre-Collision System’s (PCS) capabilities have been increased so that it can recognise and respond to a wider range of moving and static obstacles in an expanded area ahead of the vehicle. It can now operate at shorter vehicle-to-vehicle distances for collision warnings and braking intervention and recognise a greater range of hazards at intersections.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) has a new Eco Run Mode that helps maximise power efficiency. This assesses the vehicle ahead for its impact on reducing the aerodynamic drag effect on the TZ, measured in five stages, so the driver can recognise the best vehicle to follow to preserve the car’s energy. When using this mode, acceleration response is moderated for relaxed and efficient vehicle tracking.

The DRCC’s new Map Connected Drive uses map information on a journey to optimise braking and acceleration for junctions, stop signs, bends and toll gates.

Lane Change Assist

Driver support on the highway is enhanced with upgrades to the Lane Change Assist system. This now provides quicker and smoother lane changes and operates across a wider speed range.

Lexus is presenting five works at the 2026 Milan Design Week, including the world premiere of the installation “SPACE,” together with four original contributions from “Discover Together 2026,” a co-creation project with emerging talents. The exhibition, hosted at Superstudio Più in Milan’s Tortona district, will continue through to Sunday, April 26.

Chief Branding Officer Simon Humphries said: “All five works presented this year explore the potential of space. Last year, Lexus unveiled the LS Concept as its new flagship, While the ‘S’ in LS once stood for ‘Sedan,’ it will come to represent ‘Space’. This reflects the belief that luxury cars will no longer be defined solely by body type, but by the value of the space within. As human beings, we live with space every day and the way we move through it and give it meaning is fundamental to our lives. Through this exhibition, we hope visitors will experience the untapped potential of space.”

“SPACE” installation

Ever since the brand was founded, Lexus has constantly explored how it can give customers new values and experiences, both from the cars it makes and the services it provides. With this commitment to pursuing innovation, it has always been ready to challenge traditional conventions of what luxury means.

The search to discover new rewards and opportunities that mobility might offer in the future is the driving force behind this year’s installation at Milan Design Week, “SPACE”. Inspired by the new Lexus flagship LS Concept, it places visitors at the centre of an immersive vision that combines 360-degree visuals with sound and light.

The installation interprets how mobility is evolving from simple transportation to become a platform to give people new experiences and greater freedom. As land, sea and air become seamlessly connect, movement changes from being about reaching a destination to become a life-enriching experience.

Official website: https://discoverlexus.com/stories/milan-design-week-2026

“Discover Together”

Launched in 2025, “Discover Together” brings together emerging talent to produce work that interprets Lexus’ brand philosophy from their own perspectives. This year’s theme, “Discover Your Space,” also inspired by the Lexus LS Concept, focuses on the idea and meaning of personal space. The creative teams engaged in dialogues with Lexus and drew on their own expertise to bring their interpretations to life.

This year’s participants are Kyotaro Hayashi & Yumi Kurotani (Japan), Guardini Ciuffreda Studio (Italy), Random Studio (Netherlands) and a collaborative team bringing together Lexus in-house designers with master artisans of Japanese craftsmanship (Japan). Through dialogue across diverse cultures and disciplines, new perspectives and inspirations have emerged.

Official website: https://discoverlexus.com/stories/discover-together

Creator comments

“VISIBLE INVISIBLE” Kyotaro Hayashi & Yumi Kurotani

“We believe that the invisible movements of emotion bring richness to life. In Japan, there is a culture and philosophy that value what cannot be seen. We envisioned this space as a tearoom, where the passage of time and the presence of space are felt through the shifting of light. The tearoom transcends status and race, bringing people together as equals, and in its intimate scale, creates a space where spirits can truly connect. The “nijiri-guchi”, a low entrance that requires one to bow, momentarily resets the field of vision and physically marks the transition into the tearoom as a separate world. The tokonoma alcove and garden express the seasons and the passage of time, evoking scenes that resonate with memory and stir the emotions. By rendering this transition through moving images, we expand light and space to create an experience like a miniature universe.”

“WEARABLE SPACE” Guardini Ciuffreda Studio

“WEARABLE SPACE is based on the idea that the body is not only something that inhabits space, but something that can generate it. Through a coat embroidered with fibre optics, light emerges from the human gesture and expands into the surrounding space, transforming the act of wearing into an experience that connects matter, energy and presence.

Technology and sartorial tradition meet in a delicate balance, where innovation does not replace craftsmanship but amplifies it. Within this dialogue, fashion becomes both language and sensory experience: a threshold between intimacy and architecture, between body and environment.

WEARABLE SPACE invites us to imagine a personal, sensitive, and dynamic space, one that belongs to the body that inhabits it and ultimately reveals it.”

“A Moving Sanctuary” Random Studio

“A Moving Sanctuary reimagines the car as a space for stillness and reflection. The installation invites visitors to enter a padded, cocoon-like pod inspired by the quiet intimacy of the back seat of a chauffeur-driven vehicle.

Once inside, guests lie down as a thermal sensing system detects the rhythm of their breath. This data activates a responsive choreography of light and sound that unfolds across the interior. Each experience is unique, gently guiding the body toward slower breathing and calm, transforming the vehicle into a sanctuary for the mind.”

“The Crafted Cosmos” Japanese craftsmen with Lexus In-House Designers

“This installation focuses on the extraordinary craftsmanship created by Japanese artisans. From microscopic precision refined to within 0.1 mm to an infinitely expanding, cosmic scale, the delicate details shaped by artisans’ hands, together with light, unfold new expressions within the space. Through this work, the infinite potential of Japanese craftsmanship is revealed on a cosmic scale. Within this beautiful, handcrafted universe, a singular ‘Cosmos’, long sought deep within emerges, offering a moment of quiet fulfilment.”

Exhibition information

Discover Together creator profiles

Kyotaro Hayashi & Yumi Kurotani

Kyotaro Hayashi (left) and Yumi Kurotani

Filmmaker Kyotaro Hayashi and art director Yumi Kurotani are a creative duo exploring light and sound, space and imagery and the distinctive textures inherent in physical materials. By delicately weaving together these diverse elements, they seek to create experiences centered on beauty and human sensibility.

Kyotaro Hayashi is a filmmaker and photographer who graduated from Tama Art University and went on to build his career at DRAWING AND MANUAL. His work has been recognised with numerous honours in Japan and internationally, including a Special Prize at the Venice Biennale and an iF DESIGN AWARD Gold. He is currently a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University. Yumi Kurotani works as an art director, photographer and ceramic artist. She graduated from the Department of Environmental Design at Tama Art University and studied at Aalto University in Finland, where she was exposed to Nordic design philosophy. After joining Shiseido’s Creative Division as a new graduate, she established her independent practice in 2023. Her work has received multiple awards, including the Gold Prize at the Japan Spatial Design Awards, a finalist selection for the FRAME Awards 2020 Window Display of the Year Grand Prix and an ACC Gold Award.

Their work together transforms light into a language that stirs emotion, while layers of space are elevated into narratives that speak to human memory. Rather than positioning their works as objects for quiet observation alone, they are conceived as immersive installations that invite visitors to sharpen their senses and venture deeply into the experience themselves. By fusing thoughtful design with intuitive aesthetics, they continue to pursue experiences that leave a profound sense of wonder and an unforgettable impression in the minds of those who encounter them.

https://www.kyotaro.org

https://www.yumikurotani.com

Guardini Ciuffreda Studio

From left: Giulia Giavatto, Riccardo Stufano, Ananya Jain, Luigi Ciuffreda and Tiziano Guardini

The Guardini Ciuffreda Studio is a team formed through collaboration with emerging designers. It centres on the studio’s founders, designer Tiziano Guardini and architect Luigi Ciuffreda, alongside Ananya Jain (architecture), Giulia Giavatto (interior design), and Riccardo Stufano (visual design).

The studio’s philosophy is deeply rooted in sustainability, material intelligence and natural systems, expressed through a design language defined by organic forms, tactile surfaces and aesthetics inspired by nature. Bridging fashion, architecture, interior and visual design, the studio places fashion and space at the core of its pursuit of a research-driven practice that dissolves the boundaries between space and material. Materials become a language and form is transformed into narrative. The work invites surprise and engagement, unfolding as experiential installations that are meant not only to be observed, but also to be felt, both physically and emotionally. 

https://guardiniciuffredastudio.it/

Random Studio

Members Daan Lucas (left) and Dominique Rokebrand. Not pictured: Morgan Maccari, Jeremy Faivre, Sander Plug, Sebastian Price, Andrew Hill, Victor Roussel.

Random Studio is an independent spatial experience design studio based in Amsterdam and Paris. Its practice centres on creating innovative spaces that inspire surprise and invite interaction.

Specialising in creative strategy, experience design, spatial design and interactive technology, the studio advances projects through a multidisciplinary team. They have collaborated across a wide range of fields, including exhibition spaces, retail experiences and applied innovation programmes.

Always exploring new ways to combine disciplines and drive innovation, the studio develops projects that translate ideas into environments people can step into, experience and remember.

www.random.studio

Japanese craftsmen with LEXUS in-house designers

Members (clockwise from top left): Yuji Kuroda, Shikan Tategu Kogei Co. Ltd., Yuri Tamura, Lexus in-house designer, Shingo Yamashita, Lexus in-house wooden model craftsman, Kazuhiro Nakata, Tendo Mokko Co. Ltd., Moto Takabatake, Lexus in-house designer, Ryota Inagaki, Inagaki Sekizai-ten Co. Ltd.

In this collaborative team Lexus in-house designers join forces with master artisans of Japanese craftsmanship to take on the challenge of creating original Japanese art.

Their experience covers a rich and diverse array of skills and creativity: Kumiko craftsmanship from Shikan Tategu Kogei, passed down and continually refined over three generations in the foothills of the Suzuka Mountains in Mie; stone from Inagaki Sekizai-ten, which has pursued the beauty and potential of stone for more than a century; the tradition and innovation of Tendo Mokko’s bentwood, revealing new possibilities for wood through moulded plywood; and the handiwork of a WorldSkills Olympics champion wooden model craftsman whose skills have long supported Toyota’s car making. Through Lexus’ imagination, these elements are brought together and elevated into a form of art that transcends time.

Shingo Yamashita, LEXUS in-house wooden model craftsman: https://toyotatimes.jp/series/masters/049.html

Yuji Kuroda, Sashikan Tategu Kogei Co., Ltd.: https://www.sashikan.com/

Ryota Inagaki, Inagaki Sekizai-ten Co., Ltd.: https://inase-utsuwa.com/

Kazuhiro Nakada, Tendo Mokko Co., Ltd.: https://www.tendo-mokko.co.jp/

• Lexus-first Interactive Manual Drive creates a manual gear-shifting experience in a battery electric vehicle
• Heightened enjoyment and driver engagement with a unique muti-sensory experience
• First application in the new RZ F SPORT all-electric SUV
• Virtual eight-speed transmission generates rapid gear shifts based on the driver’s use of the accelerator and the vehicle speed
• Drivers can feel every moment of the journey with the option to make manual shifts using paddle controls, accompanied by rousing engine notes and tachometer display 

The new RZ premium SUV delivers further advances for Lexus Electrified with its introduction of new technologies that elevate the EV driving experience and take the Lexus Driving Signature to the next level, adding to its essential qualities of comfort, control and confidence at all times. One of the most advanced innovations is the introduction of Interactive Manual Drive, a virtual gear shift system that brings emotion to the daily drive, creating a deeper and more meaningful dialogue between driver and car.

Interactive Manual Drive opens up new opportunities for driving enjoyment by creating virtual gear shifts, either in response to the driver’s use of the accelerator, or manual selection using paddle controls on the steering wheel. The advanced system mimics the dynamic sensations of a combustion engine. The shifts are accompanied by appropriate changes in a virtually tuned engine note, to build a multi-sensory experience.

Operating the system

Interactive Manual Drive has been introduced in the new Lexus RZ F SPORT model, adding to the emotional appeal generated by the car’s dynamic styling and performance. The driver can engage the system simply by pressing the M mode button on the centre console.

Gear shifts are then automatically created, according to throttle use and vehicle speed. The driver’s digital instrument display changes to show a new meter that combines a power meter and a tachometer, indicating the shift points, or the optimum moment for the driver to make a manual shift using the paddle controls – right hand for upshifts, left hand for downshifts.

How Interactive Manual Drive works

The core component in the Interactive Manual Drive is a virtual powertrain and transmission integrated in the car’s BEV ECU.  Virtual power source torque is calculated according to the driver’s pressure on the accelerator and the vehicle’s speed. This is then multiplied by the virtual gear that has been selected. Torque thus changes with the virtual gear selection to suit the driving situation – for example when shifting to a lower gear on a twisty road or an uphill climb. The result is a driving experience that is like using a rapid-shifting transmission attached to a combustion engine.

The drive force can also be managed by the driver’s use of the paddle shifts, which produce a quick and responsive shifting experience, generating deeper interaction between driver and car.

Using the shifts, the driver receives rewarding multi-sensory feedback in real time through throttle response, G-forces, engine sound simulation, and the tachometer display.

Sound generation

The sound generated by the system is specific to the Interactive Manual Drive and has been precision-tuned to generate more driving pleasure and an exhilarating experience. There are three sound levels to choose from, to suit the drive and driver’s mood.

The sounds produced are closely synchronised with the vehicle’s speed and drive torque and are relayed through speakers in the RZ’s cabin, adding to the dynamic and immersive driving.

A duality of driving experiences

With Interactive Manual Drive, Lexus gives the driver freedom to adapt the driving experience to suit the scene or their mood. Uniquely, they can choose the smooth, comfortable, powerful performance that is characteristic of Lexus BEVs, or opt for a style that delivers more visceral excitement and engagement.
 

• Lexus attention to detail produces unique, brand-defining quality and is key to delivering amazing experiences to customers
• The campaign includes films for cinema, television and online channels, featuring the new Lexus RZ electric luxury SUV 

Where Lexus is concerned, details make the difference and are key to its philosophy of “making luxury personal”. This is the message conveyed in a new pan-European brand campaign that illustrates how Lexus’ attention to detail and application of master craftsmanship techniques give its luxury products special quality and appeal.

The campaign, entitled “Details”, uses the recently launched new Lexus RZ luxury SUV to present impactful examples of Lexus’ human-centred innovation and unwavering focus on detail that delivers the brand’s famous Omotenashi hospitality – unparalleled comfort and convenience for everyone, on every journey.

For Lexus, details are not small things, they are everything; and when they combine, they create amazing experiences for Lexus customers.

The campaign, developed in collaboration with T&P, includes master films for cinema, television and online video, together with a rich suite of social assets and stills. They present a deconstruction of the RZ to focus in on contrasting elements in the car, each one demonstrating Lexus’ commitment to perfecting the details.

They include Lexus’ groundbreaking steer-by-wire system and radical new steering wheel design; advanced sonic paint technology that produces an exceptionally deep and lustrous finish; the measures taken to produce a supremely quiet and serene cabin environment; and the design of the Lexus signature L-shaped headlight units.

Lexus, long-established at the forefront of luxury automotive innovation, blends cutting-edge technology with exquisite, distinctive design and unmatched quality. The campaign details these achievements and will inspire discerning consumers to appreciate the artistry and dedication that are invested in every Lexus vehicle.

Filip Belmans, Lexus Europe Head of Brand, said: “With the “Details” campaign we highlight how meticulous attention to every detail makes Lexus cars truly special. The new RZ showcases this philosophy, bringing together design, comfort and quality with advanced technologies such as steer-by-wire to deliver superior driving and, ultimately, the Lexus ‘Amazing Experience’.”

Andre Moreira, Global Chief Creative Officer at T&P, said: “We wanted to move away from the usual ‘car on a winding road’ tropes and look under the skin of what makes a Lexus so unique. By deconstructing the car, we’re showing that these aren’t just technical specs, they are the result of real human obsession. When you see how much care goes into a single stitch or the way the light hits the paint, you realize that ‘Experience Amazing’ isn't just a slogan; it’s a promise that every tiny detail has been considered.”

• “SPACE”, a new immersive installation inspired by the new Lexus LS Concept, expressing the brand’s vision of “space” in the context of a luxury lifestyle
• Milan Design Week presentation also to feature four new works from Discover Together 2026, a collaboration between emerging creators and in-house Lexus designers
• This year’s theme, “Discover Your Space”, explores personal, private space in an unprecedented way, through immersive works that share the Lexus LS Concept as a motif
• On public view at the Superstudio Più in Milan from April 21 to 26

Lexus will present the world premiere of “SPACE”, an immersive installation inspired by its flagship Lexus LS Concept, at the 2026 Milan Design Week.

“SPACE” will be unveiled at the leading showcase for international design, taking place in Milan, Italy, from April 21 to 26. It will be presented together with four new works from Discover Together 2026, a collaboration with emerging creators and Lexus in-house designers, at the Superstudio Più in the heart of the city’s Tortona creative district.

“SPACE” and a new era of mobility

Ever since the brand was founded, Lexus has chartered its own course, challenging convention and redefining the principles of luxury mobility. Guided by its innovation mindset, it continues to push the boundaries for better products and services creating new experiences for its customers.

“SPACE” is shaped by Lexus’ constant pursuit of going beyond expectation and centres on the Lexus LS Concept to explore the meaning of “space” in the context of a modern luxury lifestyle.

Today the automotive industry is transitioning from the traditional concept of the car to a new era of mobility and future that will deliver freer movement and enriched lifestyles. Work, personal life and movement are becoming increasingly and seamlessly interconnected, empowering people to pursue lifestyles that can feel more authentic and fulfilling. In this future, mobility transforms from simple transportation into a new experience that reimagines space itself. “SPACE” is an opportunity to discover a new vision of mobility that is yet to be defined.

Discover Together

Launched in 2025, Discover Together is an initiative that brings together emerging creators who resonate with Lexus, transforming the brand’s vision and philosophy from their own perspectives into works that express new values. With the Lexus LS Concept as a shared motif, they have collaborated with Lexus to produce immersive, experiential works that explore the possibilities of space. These works will be unveiled at Milan Design Week 2026.

This year, the participants include include Kyotaro Hayashi and Yumi Kurotani (Japan), Guardini Ciuffreda Studio (Italy), Random Studio (the Netherlands) and a collaborative team bringing together Lexus in-house designers with master artisans of Japanese craftsmanship (Japan).

Official web page: https://discoverlexus.com/stories/discover-together

Exhibition information

Discover Together creator profiles

Kyotaro Hayashi & Yumi Kurotani

Kyotaro Hayashi (left) and Yumi Kurotani

Filmmaker Kyotaro Hayashi and art director Yumi Kurotani are a creative duo exploring light and sound, space and imagery and the distinctive textures inherent in physical materials. By delicately weaving together these diverse elements, they seek to create experiences centered on beauty and human sensibility.

Kyotaro Hayashi is a filmmaker and photographer who graduated from Tama Art University and went on to build his career at DRAWING AND MANUAL. His work has been recognised with numerous honours in Japan and internationally, including a Special Prize at the Venice Biennale and an iF DESIGN AWARD Gold. He is currently a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University. Yumi Kurotani works as an art director, photographer and ceramic artist. She graduated from the Department of Environmental Design at Tama Art University and studied at Aalto University in Finland, where she was exposed to Nordic design philosophy. After joining Shiseido’s Creative Division as a new graduate, she established her independent practice in 2023. Her work has received multiple awards, including the Gold Prize at the Japan Spatial Design Awards, a finalist selection for the FRAME Awards 2020 Window Display of the Year Grand Prix and an ACC Gold Award.

Their work together transforms light into a language that stirs emotion, while layers of space are elevated into narratives that speak to human memory. Rather than positioning their works as objects for quiet observation alone, they are conceived as immersive installations that invite visitors to sharpen their senses and venture deeply into the experience themselves. By fusing thoughtful design with intuitive aesthetics, they continue to pursue experiences that leave a profound sense of wonder and an unforgettable impression in the minds of those who encounter them.

https://www.kyotaro.org

https://www.yumikurotani.com

Gaurdini Ciuffreda Studio

From left: Giulia Giavatto, Riccardo Stufano, Ananya Jain, Luigi Ciuffreda and Tiziano Guardini

The Gaurdini Ciuffreda Studio is a team formed through collaboration with emerging designers. It centres on the studio’s founders, designer Tiziano Guardini and architect Luigi Ciuffreda, alongside Ananya Jain (architecture), Giulia Giavatto (interior design), and Riccardo Stufano (visual design).

The studio’s philosophy is deeply rooted in sustainability, material intelligence and natural systems, expressed through a design language defined by organic forms, tactile surfaces and aesthetics inspired by nature. Bridging fashion, architecture, interior and visual design, the studio places fashion and space at the core of its pursuit of a research-driven practice that dissolves the boundaries between space and material. Materials become a language and form is transformed into narrative. The work invites surprise and engagement, unfolding as experiential installations that are meant not only to be observed, but also to be felt, both physically and emotionally. 

 

https://guardiniciuffredastudio.it/

Random Studio

Members Daan Lucas (left) and Dominique Rokebrand. Not pictured: Morgan Maccari, Jeremy Faivre, Sander Plug, Sebastian Price, Andrew Hill, Victor Roussel.

Random Studio is an independent spatial experience design studio based in Amsterdam and Paris. Its practice centres on creating innovative spaces that inspire surprise and invite interaction.

Specialising in creative strategy, experience design, spatial design and interactive technology, the studio advances projects through a multidisciplinary team. They have collaborated across a wide range of fields, including exhibition spaces, retail experiences and applied innovation programmes.

Always exploring new ways to combine disciplines and drive innovation, the studio develops projects that translate ideas into environments people can step into, experience and remember.

www.random.studio

Lexus in-house designers

Members (clockwise from top left): Yuji Kuroda, Shikan Tategu Kogei Co. Ltd., Yuri Tamura, Lexus in-house designer, Shingo Yamashita, Lexus in-house wooden model craftsman, Kazuhiro Nakata, Tendo Mokko Co., Ltd., Moto Takabatake, Lexus in-house designer, Ryota Inagaki, Inagaki Sekizai-ten Co. Ltd.

In this collaborative team Lexus in-house designers join forces with master artisans of Japanese craftsmanship to take on the challenge of creating original Japanese art.

Their experience covers a rich and diverse array of skills and creativity: Kumiko craftsmanship from Shikan Tategu Kogei, passed down and continually refined over three generations in the foothills of the Suzuka Mountains in Mie; stone from Inagaki Sekizai-ten, which has pursued the beauty and potential of stone for more than a century; the tradition and innovation of Tendo Mokko’s bentwood, revealing new possibilities for wood through moulded plywood; and the handiwork of a WorldSkills Olympics champion wooden model craftsman whose skills have long supported Toyota’s car making. Through Lexus’ imagination, these elements are brought together and elevated into a form of art that transcends time.

Shingo Yamashita, LEXUS in house wooden model craftsman: https://toyotatimes.jp/series/masters/049.html

Yuji Kuroda, Shikan Tategu Kogei Co. Ltd.: https://www.sashikan.com/ 
Ryota Inagaki, Inagaki Sekizai-ten Co. Ltd.: https://inase-utsuwa.com/ 
Kazuhiro Nakata, Tendo Mokko Co. Ltd.: https://www.tendo-mokko.co.jp/

• Lexus’ all-new premium model interprets classic sedan styling for the electrified era
• New model adopts signature Lexus features, including a spindle body
• Sleek, streamlined silhouette with tapering cabin and sweeping rear end
• “Clean Tech and Elegance” interior design principles produce an open, roomy and sleek cabin space
• All-new Lexus ES to be introduced in Europe later in 2026

Across seven generations, right from the launch of the Lexus brand more than 35 years ago, the ES has distinguished itself as an elegant luxury sedan of classic proportions. Lexus designers were challenged to reinterpret these qualities as they worked on producing not just an all-new model, but the first ES to adopt a fully electric powertrain, scheduled for introduction in Europe later in 2026.

The concept was defined by the term “Clean Tech x Elegance,” signifying a harmonious combination of functional, technology-inspired design with styling that expresses the premium quality and hand-crafted luxury that are fundamental to the ES and the Lexus brand. 

Lexus International Chief Designer Yahiko Kumai explains that the car goes beyond being a simple evolution of the current ES. More than that, it was developed using a new approach with the team starting with an “super-ideal” design, then refining it into something that could be delivered, rather than working incrementally from the existing model’s design.

A sedan with new proportions

The all-new ES is built on Lexus’ global architecture K-platform, redesigned to accommodate the model’s electrified powertrains. The design team applied the “golden ratio” principle to achieve an ideal relationship between the car’s dimensions (wheelbase, length, height and width) to create a sedan that is both elegant and visually striking and which offers SUV-like interior space. “Finding the optimum proportions and a silhouette that expresses the stylishness of a sedan was our main focus”, says Kumai.

Sporty and elegant frontal design

Viewed from the front, the all-new ES displays the signature Lexus spindle body, extending across the bonnet to the edges of the bumper. Chief Designer Kumai wanted to retain a wide and low “face” and to keep the height of the front wings low and so preserve the characteristic look of a premium sedan. “The height difference adds a sporty touch while keeping a suitably dynamic sedan-style expression,” he explains.

The car also displays a new spindle body that rises from the low-set nose. The distinctive shape expresses its electrified power – both battery electric and full hybrid – and makes the car instantly recognisable as a Lexus on the street. Details include a new front light arrangement that creates a twin L-shape, a new signature for Lexus’ electrified models.

Sleek and elegant side view

The side view was crucial in ensuring the car expressed the elegant look of a sedan. Taking the height increase into account, the desired result was achieved by introducing a black side moulding. The effect is a reduction in the perceived height of the car, creating a slimmer, longer and sleeker appearance. The moulding is also used as design feature to link the front and rear sections of the vehicle.

The flowing silhouette creates a “trunkless” look with the cabin tapering to the rear. The contrasting lower body comprises both planar and sculpted surfaces and muscular aerodynamically efficient shoulders that are powerfully contoured and give the ES a “leap forward” profile.

A sweeping rear end

Chief Designer Kumai is particularly proud of the rear end design, which captures the smooth, flowing rearward sweep that has been a characteristic of successive ES models.

“The shape that cuts through the rearmost volume is a dynamic surface, unprecedented on sedan. We were very particular about its appearance and have a produced a beautiful broad surface. It gives the car an incredibly well-planted silhouette and while we have retained ample space in the cabin, it is strongly tapered to control airflow,” he explains. This tapering also emphasises the car’s low centre of gravity, generating a sporty and athletic look.

The rear illumination includes L-signature lights and a single, seamless light bar that integrates the LEXUS logo and incorporates the tail and stop lights. As well as amplifying the wide stance and enhancing the sculpted rear profile, the light bar also contributes to aerodynamic performance and the management of airflow away from the back of the car.

Interior – simple and modern luxury

The basic design principle for crafting the new ES’s interior was “Clean Tech and Elegance,” producing a simple and modern aesthetic. Chief Designer Kumai talks of “eliminating visual noise” when describing how surfaces have been rendered clean and uncluttered, focusing on the priorities for a roomy and comfortable space.

Lexus recognises the importance of physical controls, not least for safety reasons, but has produced a solution – Hidden Switches – that combines practicality with a new aesthetic. Reflecting the Lexus hospitality principle of Omotenashi, the switches have a minimalist, unobtrusive design that blends seamlessly with the interior. When the car is turned off, the switches are not visible beneath the dashboard upholstery; when the driver switches the car on, they light up and are revealed. While having the smooth look of a touch-panel, the switches give satisfying tactile feedback when used.

The designers used printing and light transmission technology to create a Lexus-first surface-emitting illumination. A bamboo-effect film is used for the door panel trims and is layered using advanced printing techniques. Light transmission technology then creates a surface illumination effect over the panels that is perfectly synchronised with the cabin’s ambient illumination.

Seat design has been rethought to create a slimmer look and a profile that doesn’t intrude in the cabin space. Where car seats traditionally have a large, solid form that is completely upholstered, the design team divided the seat into two parts, each one covered separately.

The cockpit design follows Lexus’ Tazuna principle, focusing the driver’s attention on the road ahead by arranging controls and information sources so they can be operated and recognised with just the slightest movement of hand and eye.

The upper section is wide open to prioritise the driver’s view, while the instrument combimeter is presented in an asymmetrical 12.3-inch digital array, allowing for a lower meter hood to be used. Material quality is raised with soft leather-like accents and dynamic lighting effects.

• Lexus-first steer-by-wire system debuts in the new RZ electric SUV
• Performance reinforces the Lexus Driving Signature – driver confidence, control and comfort at all times
• Innovation with multiple rewards – precision, responsiveness and constant sense of connection between the driver and the road
• A core technology in the delivery of next-level autonomous driving
• Steering inputs transmitted as electronic signals to the front wheels, with prompt and direct response, strengthening the dialogue between driver and car
• New-design compact steering wheel with hand and-over-hand wheel turning almost eliminated
• System communicates relevant feedback from the tyres, with unwanted vibrations filtered out
• Steer-by-wire and Lexus’ DIRECT4 electric all-wheel drive synchronise to elevate the driving experience 

Lexus has a proud history of technical innovation. It constantly explores opportunities to raise levels of safety, performance, comfort and, not least, driver rewards. It’s in this spirit that it has successfully introduced the Lexus-first steer-by-wire system, a radical technology that brings a new dimension to the driving experience.

Making its debut in the new RZ electric luxury SUV, Lexus steer-by-wire offers a duality of rewards. It delivers the control, precision and instant, faithful response that are valued by the world’s top professional drivers. At the same time, it is smooth and easy to use and generates a reassuring sense of constant connection with the road, building the driver’s dialogue with their vehicle and enhancing the pure pleasure of being at the wheel.

As well as being responsive and intuitive to operate, the system filters out unwanted vibration, opens up the cockpit for a clearer forward view and enhances the pure pleasure of driving.

Furthermore, steer-by-wire is a core technology in the development of next-level autonomous driving.

The technology: steering by electronic signals

Unlike a conventional mechanical steering system, Lexus’ steer-by-wire has no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Instead, the driver’s steering inputs are communicated as electronic signals, relayed via a steering torque actuator to a steering control actuator on the front axle. Response is quick and direct, inspiring confidence.

Safeguards are in place, with a back-up system that will intervene immediately to provide uninterrupted performance, should the steering system experience any issues.

The new-look steering wheel

The driver uses a compact, new-look steering wheel. Designed without the traditional upper and lower curved sections, it is visually like the controls found in an aircraft. This not simply a design exercise: steer-by-wire allows for the lock-to-lock turn angle to be set to plus or minus 200 degrees. Steering thus becomes easier, with the need for hand-over-hand turns almost eliminated. Just small movements are all that’s required, with the driver “aiming” the car in the direction they want to travel.

The wheel’s compact dimensions have allowed for the driver’s cockpit to be opened up, with a clearer, uninterrupted view of the road ahead and more space between the wheel and their legs.

This further enhances the fundamental qualities of the “Tazuna” concept cockpit design, which prioritises the driver’s forward focus by organising controls, instruments and information displays so they can be used with minimal movement of hand or eye.

Steering that adapts to the situation

Lexus’ steer-by-wire has the added benefit of a variable steering gear ratio that automatically optimises performance according to vehicle speed.

Steering operates at a lower ratio in low-speed situations, making manoeuvring effortless when turning at an intersection or navigating a parking space. At medium speeds, for example when driving on winding roads, only minimal inputs are required for nimble, exhilarating and fun-to-drive performance. And at high speed, the ratio is automatically increased to promote stable vehicle behaviour and a confident driving experience.

Feedback from the road

As well as receiving electronic signals from the steering wheel, the Steering Control Actuator senses forces generated from the road surface. It is able to filter out unwanted vibrations, for example from the brakes or generated by sudden tyre movements on uneven surfaces, and transmit feedback to the steering wheel via the Steering Torque Actuator.

This means the driver still receives authentic and accurate feedback. A clear steering feel gives them a constant sense of connection with the road and a natural sense of how the car is behaving.

With steer-by-wire, the wheels are also less likely to move contrary to the driver’s intention, even when driving on slopes.

Compatibility with battery electric technology

As well as being able to adjust operation according to the driving situation, the steer-by-wire works in combination with Lexus’ precise and highly responsive DIRECT4 electric all-wheel drive system. Together, they produce closer, more rewarding synchronisation of the driver’s actions and the car’s behaviour, raising the level of driving rewards.

Lexus steer-by-wire is available now, provided as standard on the new RZ 550e F SPORT, together with DIRECT4 electric all-wheel drive and the groundbreaking new Interactive Manual Drive. It is also available as an option, with DIRECT4, on the new RZ 500e Luxury model.
 

• World premiere of the Lexus LFA Concept

• A BEV sports car concept designed to embody Lexus’ “Discover Immersion” and exceed customers’ expectations

• Concept shares core technologies and aspirations with the GR GT and GR GT3 while exploring the potential of BEV sports cars

Lexus today presented the world premiere of the Lexus LFA Concept, a study for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) sports car.

Born from the strong conviction of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, that certain car-making techniques and skills must be preserved and passed on to the next generation, the Lexus LFA Concept is a BEV sports car concept model being developed alongside TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s GR GT and GR GT3.

Following in the footsteps of the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA, the Lexus LFA Concept embodies Toyota’s “Shikinen Sengu” principle of techniques and skills being passed on by car-making veterans to a younger generation so they can be learned and evolved. While pursuing both driving performance and styling excellence, Lexus is striving in a “one-team” effort to create a BEV sports car that exceeds its customers’ expectations.

Lexus intends to continue taking on the challenges of the future of car-making through ever-more refined electrification technologies and inherited techniques and skills.

A next-generation BEV sports car that shares the aspirations behind the GR GT and GR GT3

The Lexus LFA Concept is a next-generation sports car concept model that embodies, along with the GR GT and GR GT3, Toyota’s “Shikinen Sengu”. Centred on the three key elements of a low centre of gravity, low weight with high rigidity and the pursuit of aerodynamic performance, it shares the techniques and skills used in developing the GR GT and GR GT3 while exploring potential that is unique to BEVs.

Lexus began with elements such as a light, high-rigidity all-aluminium body frame and an ideal driving position that enhances the sense of unity between car and driver. Lexus, a leader in vehicle electrification, has given form to a sports car that is fit for the electrification era with a desire to deliver driving pleasure and demonstrate the potential of BEV sports cars. Its pursuit of optimal BEV packaging has resulted in a fusion of high-level driving performance, stemming from the GR GT and GR GT3, and timeless styling that will prevail well into the next generation.

The model name “LFA” is not bound to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. It symbolises a vehicle that embodies technologies its engineers should preserve and pass on to the next generation. From the past to the future: the Lexus LFA Concept is a testament to how Lexus is preserving and passing on the value of sports cars and car-making knowledge so they can be retained and evolved.

“Discover Immersion”—a new immersive driving experience

The thrill of driving is a constant value in the appeal of sports cars, even as times change. The Lexus LFA Concept is conceived as a car that can enable deeper and purer enjoyment of that quality, drawing the driver into an immersive experience like no other before. This is the essence of “Discover Immersion”.

The sense of immersion was born from the pursuit of achieving a high level of fusion between aerodynamic performance and sculptural beauty. The cockpit, centred on an ideal driving position, has been refined down to the minutest details. The harmony of function and beauty in the overall design transforms operation into an extension of the driver’s consciousness, deeply immersing them in the driving experience

Highly flexible packaging and beautifully balanced styling made possible by being a BEV

The Lexus LFA Concept pursues a refined styling balance of timeless value that will prevail well into the next generation. Using the all-aluminum body frame of the GR GT as its base has resulted in a form that maximises sports car performance. At the same time, its low, flowing nose-to-rear silhouette inherits the Lexus LFA’s sculptural beauty while displaying classic coupe proportions. It presents a new ideal sports car form with universal appeal that transcends boundaries of nations, cultures and time, and stirs the heart.

Lexus LFA Concept exterior

An immersive cockpit created by the ideal driving position

The immersive cockpit features the same ideal driving position as the GR GT and GR GT3, enhancing the sense of unity between car and driver to deliver unprecedented driving pleasure.

The interior has been crafted with simplicity throughout, with functional components located around the driver, generating a sense of anticipation. The steering wheel has been designed for sports car use, eliminating the need for changing the hand grip as you turn, while the layout of the switches makes blind-touch operation possible for intuitive vehicle control. Overall, the minimalist approach weaves together the appeal of mechanical design and a simple interior space to create a uniquely immersive environment.

Lexus LFA Concept interior

Lexus LFA Concept

The Lexus LFA Concept is a BEV sports car concept model, the exterior and interior of which were revealed as the “Lexus Sport Concept” at Monterey Car Week and the Japan Mobility Show in 2025. It is now being announced anew with partial specifications and a new name.

Lexus LFA Concept main specifications

^* Shikinen Sengu: A ritual in which a Shinto shrine is periodically rebuilt

The event will be live-streamed (with English interpretation) on this webpage : https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/43567793.html

Following the premiere, a video of the presentation will be archived and the full text of the presentation and official photos will also be posted on this page.

In addition to this site, the live stream can also be watched on an official YouTube channel. A reminder can be set by logging in to your YouTube account and accessing the URL below.

YouTube: 　　https://youtube.com/live/vavduEEE85k
 

Live stream details

Date/Time:

Friday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. JST / 03:00 am – 03:30 am CET

* The time may be subject to change depending on circumstances.

Language:

Japanese /English (English interpretation provided)

Toyota Motor Corporation Attendees:

Akio Toyoda, Chairman of the Board of Directors (Representative Director)

Simon Humphries, Operating Officer, Chief Branding Officer

Lexus brought the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season to a successful finish with victory in the hotly-contested LMGT3 category at the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

Lexus is establishing its performance credentials by challenging more established racing brands and pushing boundaries, while providing opportunities for drivers – including young hopefuls and ambitious gentlemen drivers – to participate at the highest level of sportscar competition.

The #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3, entered by the AKKODIS ASP team and driven by Petru Umbrarescu (Romania), Clemens Schmid (Austria) and José María López (Argentina), started the race from fourth position.

From the start of the race, the Lexus RC G LMGT3 showed impressive performance against intense competition. The #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 negotiated a challenging eight hours around the demanding Bahrain International Circuit to take the chequered flag in first place.

The #78 car of Arnold Robin (France), Finn Gerhsitz (Germany) and Ben Barnicoat (Great Britain) had set the pole position time on Friday but suffered misfortune in the race.

Victory secured a podium finish in the final standings as well, with the #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 finishing third in the 2025 FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Teams in just Lexus’ second season in the World Championship.

The RC F LMGT3 is an authentic racing version of the high-performance RC F coupe which is homologated for competition, and a relative newcomer to WEC competition, having made its debut in February 2024. Since then, the AKKODIS ASP team and its drivers have grown stronger together with their RC F LMGT3 and finishes the season as a multiple race winner.

Lexus today announces that it will continue its successful association with the ATP in a further three-year partnership with the top tier of men’s international professional tennis. From 2026 to 2028 the luxury brand will again be the Official Automotive Partner and Platinum Partner of the ATP Tour, building on the relationship it first forged in 2023.

Driven by a spirit of innovation and a passion for creating memorable experiences, Lexus brings its unique vision to the world of tennis — where emotion, elegance, and performance come together in perfect harmony. This partnership reflects the values our customers care about most: refined performance, personal choice, and a commitment to excellence — both on the road and on the court.

Andre Schmidt, Head of Lexus Europe, commented: “Lexus’ partnership with the ATP Tour reflects our shared commitment to excellence, precision, and passion — values that resonate deeply with our brand. Through our electrified portfolio, we offer a range of choices that make luxury a personal experience, perfectly aligned with the spirit of world-class tennis.”

Eno Polo, ATP CEO, said: “Lexus is a partner that truly adds value to our Tour. Since we began our journey together, they have shown a genuine commitment to tennis – elevating the experience for our players and staff at key events and helping advance our sustainability efforts through ATP Serves. That purpose-led approach is what makes this partnership stand out. We’re proud to keep building on this.”

The Lexus brand enjoys synergies with the world of premier tennis competition, sharing a dedication to excellence and achievement founded on attention to detail and continuous improvement.

Lexus also confirms that it will feature as the Official Automotive Partner and Platinum Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals, the season climax contested by the world’s eight top-ranked men’s singles and doubles players.

Lexus plays a key role at the Rolex Paris Masters as the Official Car of the tournament, reinforcing its presence across the ATP Tour and its dedication to supporting world-class tennis events.

Lexus will continue to help build fan engagement with tennis and its brand in its role as Title Partner of ATP Head2Head, the online series in which top stars are pitted against each other in a variety of fun sporting contests away from the tennis arena.

Lexus will continue to provide a fleet of electrified vehicles at sponsored events to support the transportation of players, officials and guests. With a portfolio of self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric models, the brand’s leadership in electrification aligns closely with the ATP Tour’s sustainability ambitions under ATP Serves and UN Sports for Climate Action, which targets Net Zero emissions by 2040.

The partnership will deliver local Lexus sponsorship of ATP Tour tournaments in key locations throughout 2026, detailed below. Lexus will also continue to support several WTA and ATP Challenger Tour events through its partnership with the LTA.

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ABOUT LEXUS

Launched in 1989, Lexus is a global luxury lifestyle brand offering a full range of premium vehicles in Europe, including the LBX, UX, NX, RZ and RX crossovers, the GX and LX SUVs, the ES sedan and the LM “Luxury Mover” people carrier.

Lexus seeks to ‘make luxury personal’ through imaginative technology, meticulous craftsmanship, refined elegance, and ‘omotenashi’ - the Japanese tradition of providing the finest hospitality.

With more than 3.5 million self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles sold so far worldwide, the Lexus Electrified vision is built on the brand’s experience of electrified vehicles and targets a fundamental leap in vehicle performance, handling, control, and driver enjoyment through electrification technologies.

In 2024, Lexus delivered more than 850,000 vehicles globally including a record 88,184 in Europe, of which more than 90% were electrified.

ABOUT The ATP

As a global governing body of men’s professional tennis, the ATP’s mission is to serve tennis. We entertain a billion global fans, showcase the world’s greatest players at the most prestigious tournaments, and inspire the next generation of fans and players. From the United Cup in Australia, to Europe, the Americas and Asia, the

stars of the game battle for titles and PIF ATP Rankings points at ATP Masters 1000, 500 and 250 events, and Grand Slams. All roads lead towards the Nitto ATP Finals, the prestigious season finale held in Turin, Italy.

Featuring only the world’s top 8 qualified singles players and doubles teams, the tournament also sees the official crowning of the year-end ATP World No. 1, presented by PIF, the ultimate achievement in tennis. For more information, please visit www.ATPTour.com.

The following press materials are now available:

• Replay of the Toyota, Lexus and Century press conferences
• Toyota Group press conference script
• Lexus press conference script
• Century press conference script
• Pictures of Century, Lexus and Toyota displayed vehicles and press conferences

It is further reward for a groundbreaking initiative which has seen thousands of passengers enjoy Lexus’ unique Omotenashi hospitality in stylish and luxurious surroundings. The lounge concept complements the distinctive attention to luxury detail the brand invests in its cars, anticipating the needs and preferences of travellers and drivers alike.  

Dominique Bloch, THE LOFT Project Manager at Lexus Europe, commented: “Lexus has brought its spirit of Omotenashi and Making Luxury Personal to life in THE LOFT, not only through the lounge's design, but also by inspiring the lounge staff, creating a unique experience for passengers. We’re proud of the teams who have so naturally embraced and embodied Lexus values; this award is for them.”

Yves Bernaerts, Lounge Manager, Brussels Airlines, said: “This lounge has been recognised seven times as Europe’s Leading Airline Lounge because we never took the award for granted. Over the years we have consistently worked to ensure that we remain at the top.”

The original concept for the lounge took Lexus beyond the automotive world to expand its profile as an international luxury brand. Focusing on the principle of Omotenashi, the venue was designed to offer guests the highest level of hospitality service, anticipating their needs and providing them with a welcoming place in which to relax, work or recharge. 

Facilities included individual spa rooms with Grohe showers; dedicated spaces for work or relaxation; shiatsu massage chairs; and sleep rooms with starlight-effect ceilings. Hot and cold food is served and the venue even has its own in-house chocolatier. Visitors to the lounge, which extends to more than 2,000m², are welcomed by Lexus ambassadors, who have earned particular praise for their exceptional efforts to ensure all guests enjoy the best possible experience.

• Lexus luxury that engages all the human senses
• Making luxury personal for every customer
• Colours, materials and finishes key to the sensory experience
• Givaudan, bringing fragrance to the journey
• Audio excellence with Mark Levinson

The Lexus approach to luxury is not defined by a single element. It’s about the complete experience when you’re inside your car.

As driver or passenger in a Lexus, everything you see, hear, touch and even smell combines in harmony to create a perfect multisensory environment.

What’s more, you can adjust the elements to suit your mood or the type of journey you’re making.

Feed your wellbeing with calming lighting and soothing sounds. Or energise your trip with refreshing fragrances and up-tempo beats.

It’s an attention to detail that requires craftsmanship skills, deep insights into human sensory perceptions and the application of precision technologies.

Today Lexus designers and its specialist partners are brought together in a mission to break new boundaries in multisensory experiences, closely monitoring the latest trends, pursuing sustainable solutions and taking the concept of the in-car luxury experience to an even higher level.

MAKING LUXURY PERSONAL WITH THE LEXUS LBX

Lexus’ wants to “make luxury personal”. That means giving every car owner more opportunities to make their car an expression of their individual style and values.

It’s an approach that’s being pioneered with the LBX, Lexus’ groundbreaking new small SUV.

This is an authentic Lexus in every detail, but it opens up new interpretations of luxury. Your car not just a means of travelling from A to B, but a place where you can live your life – in comfort, connected, rewarded, safe and secure.

That’s the message in Lexus new “Living in my LBX” campaign.

Rather than traditional luxury, the LBX offers something that’s more in tune with today’s desire for a more relaxed “premium casual” feel.

This contemporary twist means options for bolder colours inside and out, new upholstery textures, eye-catching detailing and tactile finishes, pleasing to the eye and rewarding to the touch. But the LBX is still very much a “Lexus” in every detail, delivering luxury beyond what customers might expect in a car of its size.

To emphasise the importance of how you feel inside your car, the LBX doesn’t conform to the familiar grade structure where at each level you pay more for extra comfort and features.

Instead, you choose from different Atmospheres, where individual details are harmonised to create a different mood and feel. It’s your choice from Elegant, Relax, Emotion and Cool, each evoking a contrasting character through style and sensory appeal.

COLOUR, MATERIAL, FINISH: THE LOOK AND FEEL OF MODERN LUXURY

How a car looks is the first thing you will notice, and that includes interior furnishings that you will experience on every journey you make. That makes Colour, Material and Finish – CMF for short – a critical consideration for vehicle designers.

The Lexus philosophy

There are three guiding principles in Lexus design: -

• Omotenashi – the Japanese spirit of hospitality and service
• Takumi – the finest craftsmanship, rooted in artisan traditions
• Time – applying a respect for Japanese heritage and tradition to create a valuable experience whenever you spend time in a car
• “Time” is the foundation on which we design our products. We don’t want just to make beautiful products, we also focus on how people will experience their time in our cars.

Viviana Hohenstein is a Lexus designer and specialist in CMF, working at our European Design and Development centre in the South of France. She explains: “We want to provide meaningful value for our customers, society and the planet. For us, sustainability goes beyond reducing CO₂. It involves respecting ‘Time,’ preserving our heritage while also bringing innovation to craftsmanship to create products that deliver value and appeal to our customers.”

Lexus sensory luxury evolution

It began with the first Lexus. In 1989 the LS, the original Lexus limousine, introduced an authentic Japanese flavour to luxury motoring. Finest soft leathers, rich wood trims and calming tones were all applied with a minimalist aesthetic.

The approach has evolved with the times. Colours, materials and finish have been used to help give cars a stronger emotional quality and, more recently, an edgier feel, while remaining true to an essentially Japanese concept of luxury.

“We are now in an era of CMF design that uses sensory experiences to create personalised and immersive luxury,” says Viviana Hohenstein. “Today, the role of CMF is not limited to visual and surface aesthetics. It is also about sound, touch and smell, using all five human senses to optimise the user experience.”

Concept

The CMF design process breaks down into two principal areas: Concept and Execution.

In the Concept phase, we define our mission statement and design narratives, then explore inspirations and research.

In the Execution phase, we curate different physical materials and colours we want to use. Software is used for digital visualisation, then we move to sensory design development before creation of the actual physical design.

Execution

In the execution phase, Lexus transforms CMF concepts into reality through a structured, multi-sensory design process. This phase is where inspiration, research, and narrative are translated into tangible materials, colours, and finishes that define the look and feel of each vehicle.

Innovation with tradition

Japanese textile traditions have developed over more than 1,200 years.  Today, Lexus’ CMF designers explore how long-established materials and techniques can be used to create something new in contemporary design.

It’s another example of how Lexus applies its Time principle to preserve heritage while bringing innovation to craftsmanship to create appealing products for today.

Bamboo – a sustainable option, rooted in culture

Bamboo has been a familiar part of daily life in Japan for centuries, used for many different purposes, from furniture and storage to tools and transport.

Lexus has been pioneering the use of bamboo in its cars as a versatile and sustainable material that has less environmental impact. As a raw material, it can be transformed into a great range of materials, from an alternative to leather and plastic to composite materials and carpet textiles.

Using bamboo contributes to a circular design principle, while delivering something that feels luxurious while being responsible. You will see it featured prominently in many of our latest advanced car concepts and production models. Promoting its use also reflects Lexus’ commitment to society and its desire to “give something back” to the communities in Japan that produce and harvest bamboo.

GIVAUDAN, A WORLD LEADER IN FRAGRANCE

Givaudan is a world leader in fragrance, beauty, tastes and well-being, making it an ideal partner in Lexus’ exploration of new sensory experiences.

Givaudan celebrates the beauty of human experience by creating for happier, healthier lives with love for nature. Its Fragrance and Beauty unit crafts inspired fragrances to perfume lives and memories, and develops innovative beauty and wellbeing solutions that make people look and feel good all over the world.

Drawing on more than 250 years of creativity and innovation, nature is both Givaudan’s responsibility and most precious muse. Givaudan is just as committed to sustainability as it is to creating innovative products that satisfy consumer needs and anticipate their desires.

With a collaborative approach that favours co-creation, Givaudan has built a diverse portfolio across personal care, fabric care, hygiene, home care, fine fragrances, and beauty, reflecting its multidisciplinary expertise.

The power of smell

Smell is a critical element in our sensory experiences. It’s one of the first senses we develop from birth and one of the most sensitive.

There are 20 million receptor neurons in our noses, giving us the ability to detect around 1 trillion different smells. Every day, smell will trigger up to three quarters of our emotional responses.

A creative partnership

With a shared commitment to craftsmanship, creativity and passion, Givaudan and Lexus are working together to create in-car fragrance systems which can add another dimension to every journey.

This partnership focuses on: -

• Authenticity
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Emotion

 Givaudan has produced a new bamboo accord that has been tailored specifically for Lexus to create a signature element in five new fragrances developed for use in its future vehicles. It is designed to express a unique perfume that captures the atmosphere of Japan’s bamboo forests. 

Using bamboo as a natural source connects with its wider use by Lexus as a sustainable material with the potential for multiple applications – from in-car trims to textiles and alternatives to plastic and leather.

A sensory concierge for your journey

The upcoming all-new Lexus ES luxury sedan will be the first model to offer a Sensory Concierge*, a system that seamlessly co-ordinates the car’s climate control, interior lighting and fragrance options to create an appropriate mood. That might be calming, refreshing, energising or relaxing, according to personal taste or the purpose of the trip.

This innovation is a demonstration of Lexus’ commitment to “making luxury personal”. It also aligns with its principle of Omotenashi, using the finest traditions of Japanese hospitality to deliver complete comfort and convenience for every driver and passenger.

 *Initially to be made available in China

MARK LEVINSON: THE RECIPE FOR AUDIO EXCELLENCE

The world’s finest chefs will tell you that successful recipes are about the best balance of ingredients, flavours and textures. The same approach can be applied to achieving the finest sound reproduction from a prestige audio system.

Partners for more than a quarter of a century

Mark Levinson, part of the HARMAN International Corporation, has been Lexus’ exclusive premium audio partner for more than 25 years. Today, every new Lexus model gives customers the option to enjoy exceptional on-board entertainment from bespoke systems, specifically tailored to the shape and size of the car’s interior.

In fact, Mark Levinson acoustics specialists work alongside Lexus’ designers and engineers from the early stages of new car development to be sure of delivering the best results.

And performance must be consistent, whatever style of music or performance you prefer. Whether it’s the grandeur of a symphony hall, the intimacy of a jazz club or the thrill of stadium show, Mark Levinson’s systems for Lexus are designed to give you the sense of being at the heart of the event.

Full-blooded, balanced and clear

The near-silent LBX cabin provides the perfect setting for the new custom-engineered 13-speaker Mark Levinson^® Premium Sound audio, including a 22.4 cm subwoofer beneath the load space floor.

Using the new Mark Levinson Quantum Logic Surround Technology with Clari-Fi®, this array creates an accurate and full-blooded sound stage with smoothly balanced frequency characteristics and high clarity and definition.

GOURMET TASTES BROUGHT TO THE ROADSIDE WITH OMOTENASHI-ON-THE-GO

Lexus is taking its principle of Omotenashi supreme hospitality beyond the car to serve up a unique take on the roadside food truck.

Omotenashi-on-the-Go offers taste sensations with haute cuisine presented by a sleek and stylish mobile kitchen.

This is no conventional vehicle. Measuring more than six metres long, weighing two tonnes and finished in an elegant, black and copper Lexus livery, it is an innovative interpretation of the brand’s aesthetic DNA.

“We didn’t simply want a food truck. We wanted an authentic piece of automotive design, where every curve, texture and finish speak the Lexus language,” the Lexus Europe design team explains.

The interior displays all the attention to detail you would find in a Lexus luxury car. It has been conceived working with professional chefs and includes high-performance stoves, precision cooling systems and ergonomic preparation stations.

It has the capacity to serve more than 50 guests simultaneously.

As well as being a highly functional space, it is finished in fine quality materials with copper, wood and ceramics integrated in a countertop that’s inspired by the grille featured on Lexus vehicles.

The sensory experience is not confined to the taste of top-quality dishes. One of the most distinctive elements of the interior is the “Iris” lamps. These were created by German designer Sebastian Scherer, who won the Lexus Design Award in 2014.

Evoking the beauty of soap bubbles, the lamps have delicate blown glass spheres. These emit iridescent reflections that change colour according to the angle of view. Each unit is a suspended sculptural piece that transforms the space and generates a warm, enveloping light.

There are great sounds to enjoy, too, with a Mark Levinson audio system that has been integrated in the food truck’s interior.

“It’s about recreating the sound experience of a Lexus in a completely different environment. We want people not just to listen but to also feel the music,” the development team explains.

Lexus is delighted to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Lexus Kiwami Awards, recognising the top-performing centres across its European region.

Since their introduction in 2016, the Kiwami (“outstanding excellence”) Awards have highlighted the dedication and innovation of our retailers. With more than 340 official Lexus centres eligible this year, the level of competition and achievement has been truly inspiring.

This year, 19 retailers have been recognised for their exceptional business performance and their commitment to delivering the unique Lexus experience, defined by “Omotenashi” hospitality. Each winner embodies our philosophy of ‘making luxury personal’, with retailer staff demonstrating exceptional attention to detail—not only in how they prepare for every customer interaction, but in every aspect of their day-to-day operations. This dedication ensures that every guest is treated with the care and consideration reserved for someone welcomed into one’s home.

Andre Schmidt, Head of Lexus and Omnichannel Experience at Toyota Motor Europe, commented: “The Kiwami Awards are a testament to the passion and dedication of our retailer partners. Each winner has demonstrated not only outstanding business performance, but also a deep commitment to delivering a one-of-a-kind personalised hospitality that defines Lexus. My sincere congratulation goes to all this year’s winners—your achievements are an inspiration to the whole Lexus family in Europe to continuously raise the bar for excellence. And it is exactly this relentless focus on delighting our customer that is fuelling our growth in Europe”

Our winners have enjoyed an unforgettable three-day experience in Budapest from 11th to 13th September, blending immersive team-building, a gala evening, and creative cultural activities inspired by the city’s rich traditions. It was an inspiring mix of creativity, challenge, collaboration and celebration—an experience beyond the ordinary.

Congratulations to all our winners for setting new standards in business and customer service. Your passion and commitment continue to drive Lexus forward.

The 2025 Kiwami Award winners:

Lexus Bergamo - Italy

Lexus Cambridge – United Kingdom

Lexus Coruña-Vigo - Spain

Lexus Frankfurt - Germany

Lexus Fréjus - France

Lexus Galway - Ireland

Lexus Haifa - Israel

Lexus Kifisias - Greece

Lexus Leipzig - Germany

Lexus Odesa - Ukraine

Lexus Orléans - France

Lexus Ostrava – Czech Republic

Lexus Sevilla - Spain

Lexus Shymkent - Kazakhstan

Lexus Stoke - United Kingdom

Lexus Szczecin - Poland

Lexus Tbilisi - Georgia

Lexus Vicenza - Italy

Lexus Warszawa-Wola - Poland

• New special version of Lexus’ top-selling compact crossover 
• Focus on sporty, dynamic style that enhance the model’s “one segment up” qualities 
• Black-themed exterior design details, including matt-finish 18-inch alloy wheels 
• Bi-tone and monotone paint finish options 
• Luxurious semi-aniline leather upholstery in Black and contrasting Dark Rose 
• High equipment specification including power-adjustable driver’s seat, 64-colour ambient cabin lighting, wireless charger, nanoe-X air quality technology, and paddle shift sequential gear selection 
• Limited edition model with production run from September 2025 to May 2026 

Since its 2023 launch, the LBX has delivered on its promise to introduce an exciting new dimension to the Lexus brand and draw in thousands of new customers intrigued and attracted by the small SUV’s fresh “premium casual” approach to style and luxury. Those qualities are being reaffirmed and enhanced with the announcement of a special LBX version, the upcoming new Vibrant Edition.

As its name suggests, the Vibrant Edition gains eye-catching styling details that emphasise the LBX’s modern, street-smart looks. Adding yet more choice to the rich and diverse LBX range, it’s a perfect expression of the Lexus’ principle of “making luxury personal”.

Andre Schmidt, Head of Lexus Europe, commented: “The LBX has quickly established itself as a core model for Lexus in Europe, building a strong presence in new market territory and succeeding in its key role to bring new customers to our brand. It is already our second best-selling model, with more than 23,000 sales achieved in 2024. With the new Vibrant Edition, we are increasing choice and adding exclusive styling features that enhance its sporty, dynamic look. We are confident it will further enhance the LBX’s proven ability to attract conquest customers as an authentic Lexus, just smaller in size.” 

Dedicated new features strengthen the sporty, agile credentials of the LBX Emotion model, including 18-inch matt black alloy wheels, black front and rear lip spoilers, black window and door mouldings and piano black insets in the bumpers. There is also a black chrome finish to the garnish above the front grille and the grille itself has jet black plating – inspired by the high-performance LBX RR Morizo concept model.

Three exterior colour-ways are available: bi-tone options combining an Astral Black roof and pillars with Ruby Red or Sonic Quartz bodywork, and a monotone Astral Black finish. As a finishing touch, the model’s special status is expressed by Vibrant Edition badging on the rear pillars.

In the cabin, the city SUV’s “vibrant” character is captured by Black semi-aniline leather upholstery with contrasting Dark Rose bolsters, shoulder sections, knee pads and centre console and front door arm rests. The sporty feel and Lexus craftsmanship luxury are evoked by red double-track Tatami feature stitching on the seatbacks and Dark Rose seat belts.

The LBX’s “class above” quality is reflected in a high equipment specification. Key features include an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, ambient cabin lighting with a spectrum of 64 different colours, wireless charger, nanoe-X air quality technology, and paddle shifts for “Shiftmatic” manual sequential gear selection.

The Vibrant Edition is equipped with the latest Lexus hybrid system, featuring an ultra-efficient 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, producing a maximum 136 DIN hp/ 100 kW. As the most compact model in the current Lexus range, it is ideally suited to navigating urban streets, with an elevated view from the driver’s seat and a tight, 10.4 m turning circle.

The new Lexus LBX Vibrant Edition will be a limited edition with planned production from September 2025 to May 2026 only.
 

Lexus continues its strong association with cinema, announcing that it is a Sponsor and Official Car of the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia – for a ninth consecutive year.

The international luxury brand shares a common spirit with the world of film, bringing passion, innovation and creativity to its car design and pursuit of ever-new sustainable mobility.  Lexus’ presence at the Venice International Film Festival thus represents its desire to embrace the future now with cutting edge and sustainable technology solutions.

From 27 August to 6 September, the Venice Lido will become a crossroads between cinema and automotive innovation, with a fleet of electrified Lexus vehicles providing luxury transport for directors, actors, creatives and VIP guests. The cars will demonstrate Lexus’ well-established multi-technology approach to reducing carbon, including battery electric RZ, plug-in hybrid NX and full hybrid RX, LBX, ES and UX models.

For this festival edition, the spotlight will be on the all-new, all-electric ES sedan which, like a true movie star, will enjoy its own red carpet preview. The model combines elegance and technology and is a perfect expression of Lexus’ Making Luxury Personal concept. This is tailor-made luxury that adapts to the demands of an evolving market, providing innovative, engaging and memorable experiences just like a well-made film.

Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy, said: “Innovation is integral to Lexus’ brand DNA, going beyond technology to include creativity, sustainability and always making the customer the centre of what we do. We share these qualities with the world of cinema, which is why we are proud to partner La Biennale di Venezia for the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival.

“It will be a privilege this year to again accompany actors and directors for their red carpet appearances with our fleet of electrified luxury vehicles. Our presence at the festival is also an expression of our commitment to the future, elevating the driving experience, redefining the standards of mobility and respecting the environment.”

Lexus achieved a breakthrough victory when an RC F LMGT3 race car overcame its rivals to win for the first time in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), at the 6 Hours of São Paulo in Brazil.

Lexus is establishing its performance credentials by challenging more established racing brands and pushing boundaries, whilst providing opportunities for different drivers – including young hopefuls and ambitious gentlemen drivers – to participate at the highest level of sportscar competition.

AKKODIS ASP Team started the six-race at Interlagos from second and third respectively with its #87 and #78 RC F LMGT3 cars. From the start of the race, both Lexus showed impressive performance against intense competition.

The #87 RC F LMGT3, driven by Petru Umbrarescu (Romania), Clemens Schmid (Austria) and José María López (Argentina) – a former Le Mans 24 Hours winner with Toyota Gazoo Racing – completed 216 laps to win the race by 37.716 seconds. In the #78 RC F LMGT3, Arnold Robin (France), Finn Gehrsitz (Germany) and Yuichi Nakayama (Japan) challenged for victory throughout and finished fifth.

The RC F LMGT3 is an authentic racing version of the high-performance RC F coupe which is homologated for competition, and a relative newcomer to WEC competition, having made its debut in February 2024. Since then, the AKKODIS ASP team and its drivers have grown stronger together with their RC F LMGT3, which has earned its first WEC podium and pole positions earlier this season.

After its first WEC victory, AKKODIS ASP Team is fourth in the championship with three races remaining. The next round takes place in the United States, at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas, on 7 September.

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of the new Lexus RZ demonstrates Lexus’ commitment to maximising the benefits of battery electric vehicle technologies, not just in terms of power and energy efficiency, but importantly in delivering a more rewarding experience for the driver and an enriched journey for every occupant.

The changes introduced in the RZ’s significant update programme include improvements in battery and motor output and the detailed construction of components and vehicle structure. Charging performance has been enhanced, benefiting from Lexus’ long-established expertise in electrified technologies.

The RZ also reinforces Lexus’ status as a technology pioneer, being the first model to offer the combination of a full steer-by-wire system with a radical new-design steering wheel. This provides intuitive operation, good visibility, and ease of handling with responsive performance and reassuring feedback to the driver.

Furthermore, the new RZ F SPORT marks the debut of Lexus’ Interactive Manual Drive, a virtual gear shift system that replicates the performance, sound and feel of a manual transmission in a fully electric vehicle.

As well as delivering more power across all models in the new range, the RZ also achieves higher efficiency, reflected in increased driving ranges and reduced charging times.

At heart, the RZ remains a vehicle that is rich in Lexus craftsmanship with details that reflect the brand’s Omotenashi approach to on-board hospitality, making life as comfortable, safe, and convenient for driver and passengers alike. Dynamically, the latest enhancements reinforce the Lexus Driving Signature, giving the driver confidence, control and comfort at all times.

The new RZ is part of a Lexus BEV programme that is delivering three model reveals by March 2026, including the all-new ES sedan, unveiled in April, and an all-new model, details of which will be announced later. Together, these models will strengthen Lexus’ multi-path approach to electrified powertrains, providing customers with technology choices appropriate for the personal needs and their local market conditions and infrastructure.

The new RZ range will be introduced in dealerships across Europe from late 2025.

NEW RZ DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CHIEF ENGINEER SHINYA ITO

Shinya Ito, Chief Engineer of the new RZ, has given a personal insight into the development goals for the new RZ and the ambitions behind its introduction of advanced EV performance and handling technologies.

The project had three principal goals: to use electrification technologies to create an enjoyable driving experience; to focus on basic BEV performance to enhance the RZ’s usability; and to build anticipation for what lies ahead for Lexus.

Explaining Lexus’ mission for the new RZ, he said: “We want to show that electric vehicles are not just about selling new cars, but also offering various experiential values through electrification technology.”

He emphasised the need to deliver significant improvements in range and to adapt the vehicle platform to accommodate more batteries. The Lexus brand is at the forefront of Toyota’s electrification technology, enabling it to explore new values not only in cars but also in the wider mobility experience.

DRIVING DYNAMICS

• New RZ engineered to deliver the rewarding, confident and exhilarating performance of the Lexus Driving Signature
• Detailed adjustment of the suspension and enhanced body rigidity produce responsiveness, stability and comfort
• Evolution of Lexus’ intelligent DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system

Delivering the Lexus Driving Signature

Lexus engineers every model in its range to deliver the Lexus Driving Signature, a unified driving experience in which the driver enjoys comfort, confidence and control at all times. Strategic measures applied to the new RZ reinforce this quality, with the exhilarating performance characteristics that can be achieved with battery electric vehicle technology and engineering.

Structural rigidity has been increased with improvements around the front radiator support: increased plate thickness and strengthened joints. Meanwhile, the addition of a rear brace helps reduce localised torsional deformation. These measures support a clean and linear response to steering inputs.

Suspension

The suspension system – front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones – benefits from fine adjustment to the front and rear dampers and springs to promote dynamic performance and achieve a good balance between handling stability and ride comfort. The front bushing has been optimised to obtain more direct steering response.

Other new details include a weight-saving reshaping of the lower front suspension arm and new internal parts in the hub bearing, measures which help optimise the driving range. The steering gearbox mount has also been adjusted to render the system more rigid and responsive.

Evolution of Lexus DIRECT4

The performance of Lexus’ DIRECT4 vehicle motion control technology has been revised, further enhancing the traction and stability performance of the new RZ all-wheel drive models.

The intelligent system automatically controls the distribution of power delivery to the front and rear eAxles, according to the driving conditions and driver inputs.

The range of torque distribution has been extended by increasing the output of the BEV system, so that at start-off and in straight-line acceleration, front/rear power distribution is controlled between 60:40 to 0:100, suppressing pitching and producing a direct acceleration feel. During cornering, the distribution ratio is optimised between 80:20 and 0:100, according to vehicle speed and steering angle, to match the driving conditions.

During turn-in, more power is directed to the front axle to achieve a smooth turn. When exiting a corner, torque distribution is in line with the load on each wheel, to maintain vehicle balance and allow for smooth acceleration. The result is a rewarding feel when cornering and precise line tracing.

When the driver selects Range mode to maximise efficiency, the front/rear balance is maintained at 50:50.

The adoption of Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM, an option on Luxury AWD model and standard on F SPORT) contributes to a flatter, more comfortable ride, together with enhanced driving stability and emergency hazard avoidance handling.

Body rigidity

A high level of body rigidity and connection throughout the entire body is key to achieving responsive performance, faithful to the driver’s inputs. Original development of the RZ ensured a very rigid structure, helped by the placement of the battery low down, within the wheelbase, and making the battery unit itself part of the vehicle’s frame.

Advanced construction techniques, including laser peening and laser welding technology, contributed to the rigidity, together with extensive use of high-strength adhesive and high-rigidity foam. Tower bracing and performance dampers further contribute to the car’s impressively tight and stable feel.

Lexus has taken the opportunity to refine the degree of rigidity with additional bracing between the lower rear body and the rear wheel houses. The strength and rigidity of the radiator support at the side has also been increased, benefiting handling stability.

Development and testing at Shimoyama

Lexus continues to use the purpose-built facilities at its new Shimoyama base in Japan to test all aspects of the RZ’s performance. Here, the different product development teams work in close collaboration to produce effective, co-ordinated enhancements. As well as using advanced digital, computerised techniques, the teams are able to fine-tune vehicle performance and ensure delivery of the Lexus Driving Signature using the extensive on-site test tracks.

A UNIQUE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH LEXUS’ FIRST STEER-BY-WIRE SYSTEM

• First application of new Lexus technology
• No mechanical link between steering wheel and wheels - steering inputs are relayed by electric signals
• Responsive, safe and controllable performance, adapting automatically to the driving conditions
• New steering wheel shape provides comfortable, intuitive operation, increases the driver’s field of forward vision and opens up more space in a new-look cockpit

The new RZ is the first model to adopt Lexus’ new steer-by-wire system. Intuitive, easy and comfortable to use, it creates a stronger connection between driver and vehicle. It also transforms the traditional cockpit lay-out with a new-shape steering wheel that opens up more space around the driver.

Steer-by-wire operation

The new system differs fundamentally from a conventional steering system in having no mechanical link between the steering wheel and front wheels. Instead, the driver’s steering inputs are relayed by electric signals from a torque actuator to a control actuator.

Performance is safe, confidence-inspiring and highly responsive, with dynamic steering gear adjustment according to the vehicle’s speed. This makes for easier manoeuvring at low speed; agile response for smooth driving on winding roads; and confidence-inspiring stability in high-speed motorway cruising.

On a conventional system, the driver may need to make two or three full turns of the wheel to move from lock to lock. On the new Lexus system, only a 200-degree turn of the new-shape steering wheel (details below) is needed to move from neutral to full left or right lock, so hand-over-hand/crossed arm movements are almost eliminated.

Although there is no physical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels, the driver enjoys appropriate and rewarding steering feedback – communicated by electric signals – with unpleasant vibrations filtered out. Performance ensures the driver receives important road information is still communicated to the driver. Safety is designed-in, with a full redundancy system in which each component is duplicated. An extra back-up power supply is also in place.

On RZ models which use the conventional electric power steering system, the unit’s construction has been made more rigid to improve feedback. Measures have also been taken to reduce weight and operating noise.

New-shape steering wheel

The steer-by-wire system is intuitive, comfortable and easy for drivers to adapt to using a new-shape steering wheel. This dispenses with the upper and lower sections of the traditional “ring” and has a flat bottom, with curved finger grips to the left and right. This radical new design gives the driver a more open field of view and strengthens their dialogue with the car.

Being more compact in size – measuring 360 mm across and 197 mm high – it frees up more knee room for easier entry and exit to the car. An integrated heater is provided as standard.

The steering wheel switches are vertically arranged and include new combination switches for less frequently used light and wiper functions. This includes light control, fog light operation and auto wiper sensitivity adjustment. The steer-by-wire system is provided as standard on the RZ 550e F SPORT and is an option on the RZ 500e Luxury with all-wheel drive.

COMPREHENSIVELY REVISED AND ENHANCED BEV SYSTEM

• All elements of the BEV powertrain revised for greater performance and efficiency
• New high-capacity 77 kWh lithium-ion battery pack
• Battery water cooling and pre-conditioning optimise charging times in all conditions including challenging low-temperature environments
• Revised eAxles with reduced losses and higher output

The RZ’s battery electric powertrain has undergone a complete revision, with a focus on enhancing performance, practicality and driving pleasure to take BEV performance to the next level.

The key changes include the introduction of a new high-capacity lithium-ion battery and revised eAxles with improved electric motor output and inverter efficiency, and a significant reduction in internal losses. There is also a new 22 kW onboard charger.

In combination, these elements are featured in a new RZ range with three different power output options, detailed in the table below. All data remain provisional prior to official homologation.

New high-capacity battery

The introduction of a new, high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack is a key contributor to the enhanced performance of the new RZ. Capacity has increased to 77 kWh.

The construction of the battery cells has been revised and their number has been increased to enable higher output from the eAxles. This has been achieved without changing the pack’s external dimensions, so that it remains located wholly beneath the vehicle floor.

The battery benefits from a new water-cooling system that helps maximise output and suppress cell deterioration, even under high-load conditions. This would include, for example rapid charging after repeated or lengthy fast acceleration, uphill driving, heavy trailer towing* and off-road driving. 

The cooling system’s controls are efficiently co-ordinated with the RZ’s air conditioning system, so that refrigerant or radiator cooling sources are used, in line with the external temperature. The cooler is placed in close contact with the battery and cools from the bottom to achieve efficient, uniform performance.

*Towing capacity: RZ 350e 750kg; RZ 500e 1,500kg.

Reduced charging times

Charging performance has been improved thanks to the introduction of the new battery pack and the adoption of a more powerful 22 kW onboard charger as standard, replacing the previous 11 kW unit. This anticipates the wider availability of public fast-charging infrastructure.

To improve charging times in cold climates, the new RZ is equipped with a new battery pre-conditioning system. This can be used to bring the battery up to optimum temperature before charging starts. This is of particular value in cold temperatures, where a significant reduction in charging time can be achieved. Lexus estimates a 10 to 80% charge can be accomplished in 30 minutes using the pre-conditioning function, compared to 55 minutes without (at -10°C).

 It can be operated manually, using a control in the multimedia system, or automatically when a charging location has been set as route waypoint or destination in the navigation system. A timer setting can also be used so that heating can scheduled for a specific journey.

The battery heater’s performance has been improved by adjusting the location of the coolant heater and heat exchanger, helping reduce charging times in cold weather.

Enhanced eAxle performance

Detailed changes have been made to the RZ’s eAxle to reduce internal losses and deliver higher motor output with quieter performance.

The unit’s compact proportions help optimise the car’s packaging, ensuring generous interior space. At the front, its shortened length provides better protection in a collision, while in the all-wheel drive models, the lower height of the rear unit allows for more load space and a flat floor. Its proportions also helped the RZ’s designers ensure the battery could be fully accommodated beneath the vehicle floor. In the new RZ, the height of the rear eAxle has been further lowered by relocating the number two shaft.

Other new measures include using a ball-type bearing, allowing for a more compact three-shaft gear module, which helps reduce internal losses. Surface polishing of the gear teeth has also reduced energy losses while giving more precise and quieter operation.

Both front and rear eAxles have a revised lubrication system which has dispensed with the need for a mechanical pump.

The inverter adopts silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, which help deliver both higher output and improved efficiency.

Equal scrutiny has been paid to the electric motor construction. The rotor’s size and weight have been reduced while adjusting its magnet locations has enabled both high rpm and output to be achieved. Fine-tuning of the stator coil has enhanced torque and reduced losses and power consumption.

Driving range

The comprehensive technical revisions to the BEV system also deliver an increase in the new RZ driving range. The reduction of losses within the eAxle, the increase in the battery capacity and optimisation of the control systems make key contributions to the improved range capability.

Lexus’ predicted performance figures show substantial increases compared to the current RZ’s performance – up to an additional 95 km in the case of the FWD model with 18-inch wheels (full provisional data in the table above).

LIFE ON BOARD: QUIETNESS AND COMFORT

• Additional sound insultation and soundproofing measures make all parts of the cabin even quieter than before
• Cabin quality enhanced with Lexus-first laser-cut Ultrasuede graphics and ambient lighting with new Dynamic Shadow moving pattern effect

Quieter than ever before

As a BEV, the RZ is a fundamentally quiet vehicle, but Lexus goes further to ensure the cabin is as well insulated as possible from noise and vibration to provide a calm, comfortable and cocooning environment.

Extra, detailed measures have been applied in the new RZ to achieve exceptional quietness. As a result, not only has the sound pressure level been reduced, but the texture and balance of the tone have also been improved in both the front and rear cabin, and the load compartment.

The latest adoptions include a new floor silencer behind the rear seats and the use of a new high-damping adhesive in the floor to reduce vibrations. There is also a new resin cover under the front moulding and higher-performance soundproofing material in the trims, garnishes and back door.

The detailed scrutiny of all the interior elements has also produced a change to the tonneau cover, which has an additional soundproofing felt layer.

These are in addition to the RZ’s existing measures to combat noise and vibration, including an all-round bonnet seal, vibration-damping foam around the front and centre pillars and acoustic glass in the front and rear doors. The front-wheel drive models further benefit from a dedicated rear subframe design.

Vibration from the powertrain has been reduced with a new motor mount design with high damping characteristics.

Laser-patterned upholstery

Lexus has created the first interior trim to feature graphics applied by laser to Ultrasuede, an upholstery textile made from sustainable, 30% plant-based material. The technique is used to produce a new luxury expression with a pattern of flowing contours on the door cards.

Ultrasuede is provided on high grade models with other versions featuring a soft, supple high-quality synthetic leather.

Dynamic shadow illumination

Lexus has extended the function of the 64-colour ambient cabin lighting to combine light and shade in a dynamic shadow illumination effect. Three LED light sources are used to create overlapping lighting and dimming. This produces a relaxing effect with moving patterns playing across the door panels.

THE NEW RZ 550e F SPORT WITH MANUAL VIRTUAL GEAR SHIFTING  

• Introduction of first RZ F SPORT grade
• RZ 550e F SPORT is the performance flagship of the range
• Maximum output 408 DIN hp/300 kW
• Lexus-first Interactive Manual Drive virtual manual gear shifting
• DIRECT4 all-wheel drive as standard

The new RZ introduces Lexus F SPORT performance and design to the range for the first time.

The RZ 550e F SPORT is the flagship of the line-up, its battery electric powertrain delivering an exhilarating and authentically sporty driving experience. A maximum power output of 408 DIN hp/300 kW enables acceleration from rest to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. The expected driving range is up to 450 km (all performance data remain provisional prior to official homologation).

As standard, it is equipped with the latest, enhanced Lexus DIRECT4 intelligent all-wheel drive system (details above).

Interactive Manual Drive – the sensations of manual gear shifting in a BEV

The RZ 550e F SPORT is the first model to be equipped with Lexus’ new Interactive Manual Drive, a technology first that gives the driver the sensations and rewards of manual gear selection in a battery electric vehicle. They can enjoy a deeper dialogue and connection with their car, controlling drive force by using paddle shift controls on the steering wheel to select virtual gears.

The experience is heightened with real-time feedback through the throttle, G forces, reproduced motor sounds and a tachometer display with a curving bar read-out to indicate the virtual rpm.

The system is engaged simply by pressing an “M mode” switch on the centre console. The operation can also be used in conjunction with drive mode selection. . When Sport mode is selected, acceleration is more agile in response to accelerator inputs than in Normal mode.

Drive force output has an eight speed virtual gear set up, which allow swift and pleasing virtual shifting using the paddle controls. Virtual power source torque is calculated according to the driver’s pressure on the accelerator and the vehicle speed; this is then multiplied by the virtual gear that has been selected.

A shift guide meter that combines information from the tacho and power meters helps the driver intuitively understand the vehicle’s state at any time and optimise their up and down shifts, in line with their use of the accelerator.

Performance handling

Specific measures have been applied to ensure the F SPORT’s extra power translates into rewarding handling and performance.

In addition to the steps taken to enhance the RZ’s body rigidity (details above), the F SPORT has additional bracing around the radiator support and an extra brace in the rear end structure. The sides of the radiator support are also more rigid with the use of a thicker panel and additional welding points, creating a strong joint between the support and the upper member. These measures strengthen the body and suppress deformation, helping sharpen steering and chassis response.

The suspension has been revised for sportier performance, with retuning of the shock absorber damping force and the spring rates.

The model also benefits from Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Intelligent Management (VDIM). This co-ordinates operation of the ABS, brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control and other braking control functions so the driver can enjoy the car’s full handling potential.

Exterior styling

The F SPORT stands apart from other models in the RZ range with powerful exterior styling details that express its performance profile while also enhancing aero performance, stability and cooling.

The functional features include air ducts in the lower front bumper that direct cooling air towards the brake callipers. The bumper moulding gains a fin-shape section, which directs air flow down the side of the vehicle, benefiting stability and steering response.

At the rear, the F SPORT gains an additional spoiler along the bottom edge of the back window, a dedicated rear diffuser design and pontoon shapes in the bumper. These combine to generate a rewarding feel of the car being firmly in contact with the ground, stable handling and prompt steering responses.

The F SPORT rides on 20-inch aero wheels that have an alloy frame and a resin cover. The lightweight construction is also aerodynamically efficient, helping maximise the car’s power efficiency. Striking blue-finished F SPORT brake callipers are visible through the spokes of the wheels.

Colour options for the F SPORT will include a new Neutrino Grey, in both bi-tone and monotone finishes.

Interior features

The F SPORT cabin is finished in black and dark grey, designed to evoke a sporty feel and quiet strength. The Ultrasuede upholstery has bright blue contrast quilt stitching, the signature colour of Lexus Electrified.

The F SPORT front seats are made using an integrated foaming technique which creates a more solid bond between the upholstery and frame, giving superior body holding performance. Both seats have eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support

F SPORT detailing includes stainless steel tread plates, steering wheel badging and aluminium sports pedals and footrest. The laser-processed pattern on the Ultrasuede door cards has a geometric design, contrasting with the flowing contours on other RZ models. The trim finish is also specific to the model, a film with a micro-geometric pattern.

MODEL GRADES AND EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Three equipment grades – Executive, Luxury and F SPORT
• LexusLink multimedia system with 14-inch display and power-adjustable, heated seats provided as standard
• All versions equipped with comprehensive Lexus Safety System + active safety and driver assistance systems
• Navigation system gains more sophisticated dynamic BEV route planning

The new RZ range offers three equipment grades, all benefiting from new technology features, sustainable and leather-alternative upholsteries and the LexusLink multimedia system.

Highlights of the Executive grade specification for the RZ 350e FWD and 500e AWD include new 18-inch alloy/resin wheels, single-LED headlights, ambient interior lighting (one-colour), Panoramic View Monitor, high-quality synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, LexusLink multimedia with 14-inch display, 22 kW on-board charger and Lexus Safety System + active safety and driver assistance functions.

The Luxury trim for the RZ 350e FWD model introduces 20-inch alloy/resin wheels, gloss black exterior styling details, digital rear-view mirror, head-up display, and memory settings for the front seats. The 500e AWD Luxury also features cornering lights, multi-colour ambient cabin lighting, Ultrasuede upholstery and heated rear seats.

The performance-focused F-SPORT (550e AWD) is equipped with 20-inch F-SPORT wheels, additional rear spoiler, steer-by-wire, Interactive Manual Drive, Active Sound Control, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, F SPORT front seats, interior trim and tread plates, aluminium sports pedals and Ultrasuede upholstery with blue accent stitching.

New interior colours

Two new interior colour combinations have been added to the RZ range: Hazel with Solis White, which gives the cabin a clean and open feel, and Orage and Black, which has modern mature and luxurious look.

Panoramic roof

The panoramic roof is made from a new blue glass with a dark-dimming quality. This provides greater shading than the previous roof when dimmed and clear, sharp view out when switched to transparent. This is available as an option on the Luxury and F SPORT all-wheel drive models; a non-dimming roof is an option for the Executive and Luxury front-wheel drive versions.

Navigation with upgraded BEV route planning

The Lexus RZ gains more sophisticated navigation capabilities that combine route planning with monitoring of the state of charge of the car’s battery.

When the driver programmes a journey, routes are planned with required stops for charging, with charging locations clearly shown as way points with a flash icon. The system can also show alternative charging locations, with a revised arrival time.

The route planning is dynamic, so if the system detects charging is required, it will alert the driver with a “range too low” message on the map display and provide a re-routing option, with a new charging location included.

INTRODUCTION

The all-new Lexus ES makes its European debut, ahead of the new generation global luxury sedan being brought to market in the region early next year.

Its development has focused on the concept Experience Elegant & Electrified Sedan, introducing new technologies and advanced comfort, connectivity and safety to sustain the build the model’s global reputation. The aim has been to ensure the ES can be enjoyed by all occupants: a connected, rewarding experience and sense of always being in control for the driver and first-class comfort for everyone on board. The advantages the ES has always enjoyed in ride quality, comfort and quietness have been taken to a higher level.

A new sedan for a new era

The all-new ES has been conceived as a model that addresses the priorities and concerns of today’s customers. The Lexus approach of “making luxury personal” is central to its strategy for keeping pace with people’s changing values and fulfilling their search for meaningful experiences.

This includes producing multiple solutions towards achieving carbon neutrality, giving people different technology solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. With the all-new ES, this is demonstrated in an extended model range that includes both full hybrid and battery electric powertrains, with different power options and the choice of both front and all-wheel drive.

To deliver on its “making luxury personal” promise, Lexus’ new car programme focuses on Electrification, Intelligence and Diversification, qualities that are central to the all-new ES.

The Electrification programme brings battery electric technology to Lexus’ premium sedan for the first time.

Where Intelligence is concerned, the model is the first Lexus to benefit from a fully digital driver’s cockpit in which multimedia, instrument display and Lexus Link+ app functions are seamlessly integrated. The technology innovations also include the Lexus-first “Hidden Switches”.

With the Diversification of its model range, Lexus is designing products that can fulfil multiple roles; the ES may be a sedan in the classic style, but it has character, style and performance to appeal to customers across both the private and business sectors.

A Lexus original

The ES is an “original Lexus,” having been a fixture in the model range since the brand’s launch in 1989. In its latest iteration, it builds on its long-established reputation for luxury and refinement while increasing customer choice in electrified powertrains, in line with the Lexus Electrified vision and multi-pathway strategy towards carbon neutrality. Both self-charging hybrids and the first ES battery electric models will be offered in a line-up that will also include front and all-wheel drive options.

While the ES has been a key model for Lexus in North America and Asia for more than three decades, its arrival in Europe was more recent. It was launched in Eastern European markets with the sixth-generation model in 2010, and in Western Europe with the current model in 2018.

Although the all-new ES is a larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, its Clean x Tech design delivers a sleek and elegant look, both inside and out. The investment made in comfort, refinement and luxury moves it closer to the quality, spaciousness and specifications associated with larger F-segment models. At the same time, its performance and handling, both in hybrid and battery electric versions, delivers the high levels of comfort, confidence and control that define the Lexus Driving Signature.

The development programme was based at Lexus’ technical centre SHIMOYAMA in Japan, where planning, design, engineering and evaluation teams were able to collaborate under one roof to systematically test and refine the car.

Following its European Premiere, the all-new ES will be launched in Europe with the start of sales from spring 2026.  Details of local specifications will be announced in due course.

DESIGN: CLEAN TECH x ELEGANCE

Exterior: elegance with a simple and clean design aesthetic

The ES has been developed with a new Lexus design concept – Clean Tech x Elegance.

Elegance has been a defining characteristic of successive ES generations and in this all-new model it has been further refined to blend functional elements with a greater emotional quality to produce a simple and clean design aesthetic.

The exterior styling combines a bold presence with a minimalist approach, advancing Lexus’ vision for next generation battery electric vehicle design.

In a further evolution of Lexus’ spindle-shape design hallmark, the car has a new spindle body that evokes electrified power. Overall height, width and length were calculated to produce elegant and striking proportions, while ensuring the car is comfortable to enter and exit. The positioning of the tyres underwent millimetre-level adjustment to obtain an ideal wide and low stance.

The frontal of the car presents a sharply defined spindle shape that extends across the bonnet to the bumper edges. The spindle body rises from the low-set nose and takes in the horizontally aligned front wings to give the ES a strong and distinctive appearance. The hybrid models additionally feature a grille with upper apertures to secure optimal cooling performance.

The front lights create a twin L-signature that will become a new Lexus icon detail for the electrification era. This pairs inward-facing L-shaped daytime running lights with outward-facing L-shaped turn indicators, creating a distinctive Lexus identity while also improving visibility and functionality.

The car’s side view is sleek and streamlined, projecting sense of stability and a low centre of gravity. The flowing silhouette has a “trunkless” look, with the cabin tapering sharply to the rear. It contrasts sharply with the lower body, which is defined by contrasting planar and sculpted surfaces, and powerfully contoured and aerodynamically efficient shoulders.

The rear embodies the ES’s signature elegance with a sculpted flow from the rear tyres to the boot, creating a sleek but dynamic presence. The tapering cabin accentuates the low centre of gravity, giving a sporty and athletic impression.

L-signature rear lights have been introduced, making the car instantly recognisable as a Lexus. The single light bar is seamlessly integrated with the illuminated LEXUS logo and incorporates the tail and stop lights, with other lamps moved to the outer edges. This emphasises the car’s wide stance and enhances the sculpted rear profile, while also contributing to aerodynamic performance.

Interior: simple, clean and sophisticated

Further applying the Clean Tech x Elegance design concept, Lexus has refined the ES’s interior, removing excess detail to create a simple, clean and sophisticated space. The upper cabin section is open and spacious to enhance visibility, while the lower area wraps around the occupants.

Luxurious comfort is assured with the availability of a package of features to enhance the passenger experience. The rear cabin can be fitted with reclining seats and, for the seat behind the front passenger, an ottoman leg support for an exclusive chauffeur-driven style experience. The front passenger seat has a forward-folding function to maximise rear leg room and improve the view.

Two new Lexus-first design elements make their debut in the new ES. Bamboo Layering uses advanced printing techniques and light transmission technology to create a surface illumination effect that synchronises with the cabin’s ambient illumination. Synthetic Leather Embossing produces a precise embossed pattern which combines with ambient lighting to produce a clean and modern aesthetic. The level of sensory quality is further raised by the optimal placement of the Mark Levinson Surround Sound System’s 17 speakers to create a three-dimensional sound stage and a harmonious blend of sound and lighting in the cabin.

 The cockpit is based on Lexus’ Tazuna principle, focusing the driver’s attention on the road ahead by arranging controls and information sources so they can be operated and recognised with just the slightest movement of hand and eye.

The upper section is wide open to prioritise the driver’s view, while the instrument combimeter is presented in an asymmetrical 12.3-inch digital array, allowing for a lower meter hood to be used. Material quality is raised with soft leather-like accents and dynamic lighting effects.

Comfort taken to a higher level

Lexus’ goal was to design a cabin that exceptionally comfortable and relaxing, further refining the ES’s already high levels of quietness and ride quality.

The front seats have been redesigned, helping the driver maintain a comfortable posture so they can respond intuitively to the car’s behaviour and feel more involved in the experience of driving. Support for the shoulder blades reduces muscle strain when steering while the seatback gentle cradles the body.

Noise reduction was prioritised with improved door sealing and the use of glass with high sound insulation quality in the front doors. The way sound is distributed within the cabin has been carefully managed to deliver and more natural and harmoniously balanced acoustic experience.

Lexus-first Hidden Switches

The high quality of the ES’s interior is supported by a new Lexus technology, Hidden Switches.

This new design reflects the Lexus hospitality principle of Omotenashi, with a minimalist, unobtrusive design that blends seamlessly with the interior. When the car is turned off, the switches are not visible beneath the dashboard upholstery; when the driver switches the car on, they light up and are revealed.  While having the sleek look of a touch-panel, the switches give satisfying tactile feedback when used. 

POWERTRAINS: THE LEXUS MULTI-PATHWAY STRATEGY

ES 300h and 350h self-charging hybrids

The ES 300h features a redesigned self-charging hybrid system with a 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder engine, producing maximum power of 201 DIN hp / 148 kW *. Both front and all-wheel drive versions will be available.

This powertrain will be available in western European markets while in the east ** the hybrid offer will be the ES 350h. This also uses a 2.5-litre gasoline engine, but with maximum output of 247 DIN hp / 182 kW *. Again, both front and all-wheel drive models will be introduced.

The hybrid battery has also been upgraded for higher output.

The system uses a bespoke control logic to deliver a combination of strong acceleration and fuel efficiency. As an additional benefit, the power unit’s increased rigidity helps suppress vibrations, contributing to a quieter and more refined cabin atmosphere.

*All data relate to the ES prototype model and remain provisional prior to homologation.

** Eastern European markets: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova

Battery electric ES 350e and 500e

Two battery electric ES versions will be available: the ES 350e front-wheel drive model delivering an output of 224 DIN hp / 165 kW *, and the all-wheel drive ES 500e, with an output of 343 DIN hp / 252 kW *. Both benefit from Lexus’ expertise in advanced electrification to unlock the full potential of the new Lexus global architecture-K platform, including new eAxles which integrate both the power control unit and transaxle. Their new design is lightweight with compact packaging that helps optimise cabin and load space. The high-capacity battery is located beneath the floor, lowering the car’s centre of gravity.

Data on cruising range and charging times are still to be finalised, but we anticipate a range up to 530 km* (WLTP standard) and a charging time of about 30 minutes* for fast charging up to 80%.

The ES 350e’s lithium-ion battery has a 77 kWh capacity. This is expected to support acceleration from rest to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds*.

The all-wheel drive ES 500e raises the performance bar, using a 75 kWh battery unit, enabling 0-100 km/h in 5.7 sec*.

The ES 500e is equipped with Lexus’ DIRECT4 intelligent electric all-wheel drive system. This provides continuous adjustment of drive torque distribution to all four wheels, according to driver inputs and the road conditions. This can vary from 100:0 to 0:100, based on data from sensors monitoring acceleration, wheel speed and steering angle. This delivers both handling stability and an engaging driving experience.

*All data relate to the ES prototype model and remain provisional prior to homologation.

Lexus ES provisional technical specifications

(    ) indicates comparison with previous model

*1  : Approximate charging time from the illumination of the drive-battery Charging Warning Lamp to approx. 80% State of Charge (SOC).

Actual charging time may vary depending on factors such as ambient temperature and charger specifications.

CHASSIS AND HANDLING

Lexus seeks to deliver the Lexus Driving Signature – comfort, confidence and control for the driver at all times – consistently, across its entire model line-up. To help achieve this in the new ES, it applied insights from its driving refinement programme, including increasing the rigidity of the car’s front end, floor and rear. These extensive reinforcements minimise vibration and contribute to sharp, intuitive steering, smooth acceleration and braking response, all faithful to the driver’s intentions. At the same time, the car has an agile, responsive feel that belies its size.

The new ES is constructed on a redesigned Lexus global architecture-K platform to accommodate both self-charging hybrid and battery electric powertrains. Starting from the platform, the vehicle’s structure was thoroughly re-examined, resulting in a 165 mm increase in overall length and an 80 mm longer wheelbase than the previous model. The front and rear tracks were increased by 64 mm and 82 mm respectively. As a result, the front to rear seat couple distance has been extended by 77 mm to 1,102 mm, creating a more spacious cabin. Higher seating positions make for easier vehicle entry and exit.

The front suspension is a MacPherson strut arrangement while at the rear a multi-link system is used for the first time in an ES with the aim of enhancing the transmission of power to the road and smooth vehicle posture control.

Detailed measures were applied to refine ride quality, including optimised bushing of the suspension arms to achieve a smooth stroke and more composed drive.

The steering system uses a variable-gear rack which supports stability at high speed, quick response when cornering and easier low-speed manoeuvrability.

DIGITAL COCKPIT WITH NEW LEXUSCONNECT MULTIMEDIA

The ES features a brand-new digital cockpit experience which seamlessly integrates the 12.3-inch combimeter, the new 14-inch LexusConnect multimedia screen (making its market debut) and the Lexus Link+ app.

LexusConnect

LexusConnect contributes to making driving easier and more comfortable with clearly rendered maps with Google points of interest and live information for efficient navigation such as speed camera locations and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) notifications.

Thanks to the integration of the navigation map and Advanced Safety Features in the combimeter, the driver can follow directions while keeping their focus on the road.

There is further convenience in the electric ES models with the system adding charging stations to the route and updating recommended charging locations in line with changes in the battery level and the driving conditions as the journey unfolds, removing any range anxiety.

In all ES models, the driver can also make use of a new generation voice assistant to update their destination, check on the available driving range at any time and adjust the cabin temperature.

Regular over-the-air software updates will ensure the multimedia functions are kept perfectly up-to-date with no interruption to driver’s use of the car.

New LexusConnect home screen concept

The 14-inch multimedia screen is the largest yet featured in a Lexus model. It introduces a new home screen concept that gives the driver multi-domain information at-a-glance. It has been developed with leading input from Lexus’ European designers. Its flexible design gives the driver the freedom to personalise the screen with shortcuts and widgets, giving them control over the content and reducing the number of “clicks” required to access their prioritised information.

In the BEV models, the screen has a dedicated EV domain where the driver can view data such as vehicle range and live charging information, and adjust the settings for scheduled charging. The screen can also be used to operate a new battery pre-conditioning function. This brings the battery up to optimum temperature prior to charging, reducing the charging time. This is of particular benefit in colder climates.

Charging solutions seamlessly accessed with the Lexus Link+ app

Lexus provides two principal charging solutions: the Lexus Charging network for charging when on the move; and Lexus HomeCharge for domestic charging.  Both are integrated with the Lexus Link+ app to provide a unified and convenient charging experience for BEV owners.

The Lexus Charging Network gives access to more than 870,000 charging stations across Europe. Users can check availability, charging speed and pricing and unlock charging points using the Lexus Link+ app or an RFID card.

The app can also be used to set the start and stop times when using Lexus HomeCharge, making it easy for customers to take advantage of off-peak energy prices.

ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES

The new ES benefits from further enhancement of the Lexus Safety System + technologies and features, marking further advances towards Lexus’ goal of zero traffic accidents.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

The ACC now integrates map data to support deceleration when approaching stop signs, roundabouts and motorway toll booths. Map data also helps optimise deceleration into bends, helping adjust speed in line with the road conditions.

Pre-Collision System (PCS)

The PCS automatic braking function has been expanded to detect and respond to a wider range of driving scenarios, including electric scooters.

Driver Monitor System

This is the first ES to be equipped with a Driver Monitor. A camera mounted above the steering wheel keeps a constant check on the driver’s condition. If it detects that they have lost concentration through being tired or unwell, it triggers visual and audible alerts. The latest revisions to the technology mean that it can now also recognise phone use and yawning. 

The system is linked to the car’s active safety systems, so that should the driver fail to respond, the car can be brought smoothly to a controlled halt with the hazard lights activated.

Driver Emergency Response System

The Driver Emergency Response System has been enhanced so that it can operate on general roads as well as highways. If the system detects significant change in the driver’s posture, indicating difficulty in continuing to operate the vehicle, it will activate the hazard lights and gradually bring the car to a stop in its traffic lane. It will then automatically unlock the doors and send an alert to the emergency services via eCall.

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)

The scope of the BSM now includes detection of bicycles and motorcycles moving alongside the vehicle, helping prevent accidents when making left and right turns.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA)

The LDA is now able to detect roadside structures such as utility poles and median barriers, further helping prevent unintended lane departures. Lane Change Assist and Front Cross Traffic Alert are also introduced into the Lexus Safety System + package for the new ES.

The new generation model is also the first ES include Lane Change Assist and Front Cross Traffic Alert functions within its Lexus Safety System + package.

High-definition Adaptive High-beam System

The new High-definition Adaptive High-beam System, provides enhanced light control that can now be adjusted both horizontally and vertically. The gives more precise shading than the conventional AHS, giving clearer illumination of objects such as road signs.

Lexus reached a milestone in its motorsports activities when the RC F LMGT3 race car conquered the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium and achieved its first-ever pole position in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Lexus is establishing its performance credentials by challenging more established racing brands and pushing boundaries, whilst providing opportunities for different drivers – including young hopefuls and ambitious gentlemen drivers – to participate at the highest level of sportscar competition.

In qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the third round of the 2025 WEC season, the #78 Lexus RC F LMGT 3 entered by the private AKKODIS ASP team earned pole position, the first for Lexus in WEC.

The 20-year-old driver Finn Gehrsitz set a best lap time of 2mins 17.732secs around the spectacular 7.004 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the decisive Hyperpole contest, where the top 10 cars fought for the leading grid positions. Earlier, his team-mate Arnold Robin had qualified the #78 car for Hyperpole.

The RC F LMGT3 car, an authentic racing version of the high-performance RC F coupe which is homologated for competition, is a newcomer to WEC competition, having only made its debut in February 2024. Since then, the AKKODIS ASP team and its drivers have grown stronger together with their RC F LMGT3, which earned its first-ever WEC podium at the last round in Imola, Italy.

INTRODUCTION

An all-new Lexus ES makes its world first appearance today, signalling the introduction later this year of an eighth generation of the global luxury sedan.

Its development has focused on the concept Experience Elegant & Electrified Sedan, introducing new technologies and advanced comfort, connectivity and safety to sustain the build the model’s global reputation. The aim has been to ensure the ES can be enjoyed by all occupants: a connected, rewarding experience and sense of always being in control for the driver and first class comfort for everyone on board. The advantages the ES has always enjoyed in ride quality, comfort and quietness have been taken to a higher level.

The information provided here relates specifically to the ES range that will be available to European customers, including model range, provisional outline performance data and principal equipment features.

A new sedan for a new era

The all-new ES has been conceived as a model that addresses the priorities and concerns of today’s customers. The Lexus approach of “making luxury personal” is central to its strategy for keeping pace with people’s changing values and fulfilling their search for meaningful experiences.

This includes producing multiple solutions towards achieving carbon neutrality, giving people different technology solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. With the all-new ES, this is demonstrated in an extended model range that includes both full hybrid and battery electric powertrains, with different power options and the choice of both front and all-wheel drive.

To deliver on its “making luxury personal” promise, Lexus’ new car programme focuses on Electrification, Intelligence and Diversification, qualities that are central to the all-new ES.

The Electrification programme brings battery electric technology to Lexus’ premium sedan for the first time. Where Intelligence is concerned, the model benefits from technology innovations such as the Lexus-first “Hidden Tech” switches – made possible by Lexus’ Arene software platform – and the latest sophisticated multimedia and safety systems. With the Diversification of its model range, Lexus is designing products that can fulfil multiple roles; the ES may be a sedan in the classic style, but it has character, style and performance to appeal to customers across both the private and business sectors.

A Lexus original

The ES is an “original Lexus,” having been a fixture in the model range since the brand’s launch in 1989. In its latest iteration, it builds on its long-established reputation for luxury and refinement while increasing customer choice in electrified powertrains, in line with the Lexus Electrified vision and multi-pathway strategy towards carbon neutrality. Both self-charging hybrids and the first ES battery electric models will be offered in a line-up that will also include front and all-wheel drive options.

While the ES has been a key model for Lexus in North America and Asia for more than three decades, its arrival in Europe was more recent. It was launched in Eastern European markets with the sixth generation model in 2010, and in Western Europe with the current model in 2018.

Although the all-new ES is a larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, its Clean x Tech design delivers a sleek and elegant look, both inside and out. The investment made in comfort, refinement and luxury moves it closer to the quality, spaciousness and specifications associated with larger F-segment models. At the same time, its performance and handling, both in hybrid and battery electric versions, delivers the high levels of comfort, confidence and control that define the Lexus Driving Signature.

The development programme was based at Lexus’ Shimoyama technical centre in Japan, where planning, design, engineering and evaluation teams were able to collaborate under one roof to systematically test and refine the car.

Following its world premiere at Auto Shanghai in China today, the all-new ES will be launched in Europe with the start of sales from spring 2026.  Details of local specifications will be announced in due course.

DESIGN: CLEAN TECH x ELEGANCE

Exterior: elegance with a simple and clean design aesthetic

The ES has been developed with a new Lexus design concept – Clean Tech x Elegance.

Elegance has been a defining characteristic of successive ES generations and in this all-new model it has been further refined to blend functional elements with a greater emotional quality to produce a simple and clean design aesthetic.

The exterior styling combines a bold presence with a minimalist approach, advancing Lexus’ vision for next generation battery electric vehicle design.

In a further evolution of Lexus’ spindle-shape design hallmark, the car has a new spindle body that evokes electrified power. Overall height, width and length were calculated to produce elegant and striking proportions, while ensuring the car is comfortable to enter and exit. The positioning of the tyres underwent millimetre-level adjustment to obtain an ideal wide and low stance.

The frontal of the car presents a sharply defined spindle shape that extends across the bonnet to the bumper edges. The spindle body rises from the low-set nose and takes in the horizontally aligned front wings to give the ES a strong and distinctive appearance. The hybrid models additionally feature a grille with upper apertures to secure optimal cooling performance.

The front lights create a twin L-signature that will become a new Lexus icon detail for the electrification era. This pairs inward-facing L-shaped daytime running lights with outward-facing L-shaped turn indicators, creating a distinctive Lexus identity while also improving visibility and functionality.

The car’s side view is sleek and streamlined, projecting sense of stability and a low centre of gravity. The flowing silhouette has a “trunkless” look, with the cabin tapering sharply to the rear. It contrasts sharply with the lower body, which is defined by contrasting planar and sculpted surfaces, and powerfully contoured and aerodynamically efficient shoulders.

The rear embodies the ES’s signature elegance with a sculpted flow from the rear tyres to the boot, creating a sleek but dynamic presence. The tapering cabin accentuates the low centre of gravity, giving a sporty and athletic impression.

L-signature rear lights have been introduced, making the car instantly recognisable as a Lexus. The single light bar is seamlessly integrated with the illuminated LEXUS logo and incorporates the tail and stop lights, with other lamps moved to the outer edges. This emphasises the car’s wide stance and enhances the sculpted rear profile, while also contributing to aerodynamic performance.

Interior: simple, clean and sophisticated

Further applying the Clean Tech x Elegance design concept, Lexus has refined the ES’s interior, removing excess detail to create a simple, clean and sophisticated space. The upper cabin section is open and spacious to enhance visibility, while the lower area wraps around the occupants.

Luxurious comfort is assured with the availability of a package of features to enhance the passenger experience. The rear cabin can be fitted with reclining seats and, for the seat behind the front passenger, an ottoman leg support for an exclusive chauffeur-driven style experience. The front passenger seat has a forward-folding function to maximise rear leg room and improve the view.

Two new Lexus-first design elements make their debut in the new ES. Bamboo Layering uses advanced printing techniques and light transmission technology to create a surface illumination effect that synchronises with the cabin’s ambient illumination. Synthetic Leather Embossing produces a precise embossed pattern which combines with ambient lighting to produce a clean and modern aesthetic. The level of sensory quality is further raised by the optimal placement of the Mark Levinson Surround Sound System’s speakers to create a three-dimensional sound stage and a harmonious blend of sound and lighting in the cabin.

 The cockpit is based on Lexus’ Tazuna principle, focusing the driver’s attention on the road ahead by arranging controls and information sources so they can be operated and recognised with just the slightest movement of hand and eye.

The upper section is wide open to prioritise the driver’s view, while the instrument combimeter is presented in an asymmetrical 12.3-inch digital array, allowing for a lower meter hood to be used. Material quality is raised with soft leather-like accents and dynamic lighting effects.

Comfort taken to a higher level

Lexus’ goal was to design a cabin that exceptionally comfortable and relaxing, further refining the ES’s already high levels of quietness and ride quality.

The front seats have been redesigned, helping the driver maintain a comfortable posture so they can respond intuitively to the car’s behaviour and feel more involved in the experience of driving. Support for the shoulder blades reduces muscle strain when steering while the seatback gentle cradles the body.

Noise reduction was prioritised with improved door sealing and the use of glass with high sound insulation quality in the front doors. The way sound is distributed within the cabin has been carefully managed to deliver and more natural and harmoniously balanced acoustic experience.

Lexus-first Hidden Tech switches

The high quality of the ES’s interior is supported by a new Lexus technology, Hidden Tech switches.

This new design reflects the Lexus hospitality principle of Omotenashi, with a minimalist, unobtrusive design that blends seamlessly with the interior. When the car is turned off, the switches are not visible beneath the dashboard upholstery; when the driver switches the car on, they light up and are revealed.  While having the sleek look of a touch-panel, the switches give satisfying tactile feedback when used. 

POWERTRAINS: THE LEXUS MULTI-PATHWAY STRATEGY

ES 300h and 350h self-charging hybrids

The ES 300h features a redesigned self-charging hybrid system with a 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder engine, producing maximum power of 201 DIN hp/148 kW *. Both front and all-wheel drive versions will be available.

This powertrain will be available in western European markets while in the east ** the hybrid offer will be the ES 350h. This also uses a 2.5-litre gasoline engine, but with maximum output of 247 DIN hp/ 182 kW *. Again, both front and all-wheel drive models will be introduced.

The hybrid battery has also been upgraded for higher output.

The system uses a bespoke control logic to deliver a combination of strong acceleration and fuel efficiency. As an additional benefit, the power unit’s increased rigidity helps suppress vibrations, contributing to a quieter and more refined cabin atmosphere.

** Eastern European markets: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldavia

Battery electric ES 350e and 500e

Two battery electric ES versions will be available: the ES 350e front-wheel drive model delivering an output of 224 DIN hp / 165 kW *, and the all-wheel drive ES 500e, with an output of 343 DIN hp / 252 kW *. Both benefit from Lexus’ expertise in advanced electrification to unlock the full potential of the new Lexus global architecture-K platform, including new eAxles which integrate both the power control unit and transaxle. Their new design is lightweight with compact packaging that helps optimise cabin and load space. The high-capacity battery is located beneath the floor, lowering the car’s centre of gravity.

The ES 500e is equipped with Lexus’ DIRECT4 intelligent electric all-wheel drive system. This provides continuous adjustment of drive torque distribution to all four wheels, according to driver inputs and the road conditions. This can vary from 100:0 to 0:100, based on data from sensors monitoring acceleration, wheel speed and steering angle. This delivers both handling stability and an engaging driving experience.

*Provisional data

Lexus ES outline technical specifications

All data relate to the ES prototype model and remain provisional prior to homologation.

CHASSIS AND HANDLING

Lexus seeks to deliver the Lexus Driving Signature – comfort, confidence and control for the driver at all times – consistently, across its entire model line-up. To help achieve this in the new ES, it applied insights from its driving refinement programme, including increasing the rigidity of the car’s front end, floor and rear. These extensive reinforcements minimise vibration and contribute to sharp, intuitive steering, smooth acceleration and braking response, all faithful to the driver’s intentions. At the same time, the car has an agile, responsive feel that belies its size.

The new ES is constructed on a redesigned Lexus global architecture-K platform to accommodate both self-charging hybrid and battery electric powertrains. Starting from the platform, the vehicle’s structure was thoroughly re-examined, resulting in a 165 mm increase in overall length and an 80 mm longer wheelbase than the previous model. The front and rear tracks were increased by 64 mm and 82 mm respectively. As a result, the front to rear seat couple distance has been extended by 77 mm to 1,102 mm, creating a more spacious cabin. Higher seating positions make for easier vehicle entry and exit.

The front suspension is a MacPherson strut arrangement while at the rear a multi-link system is used for the first time in an ES with the aim of enhancing the transmission of power to the road and smooth vehicle posture control.

Detailed measures were applied to refine ride quality, including optimised bushing of the suspension arms to achieve a smooth stroke and more composed drive.

The steering system uses a variable-gear rack which supports stability at high speed, quick response when cornering and easier low-speed manoeuvrability.

NEW DIGITAL COCKPIT

The ES features a brand-new digital cockpit experience which seamlessly integrates the 12.3-inch combimeter, the new 14-inch LexusConnect multimedia (making its market debut) and the LexusLink + app.

LexusConnect

Thanks to the integration of the navigation map and Advanced Safety Features in the combimeter, the driver can follow directions while keeping their focus on the road.

For additional comfort of driving, the LexusConnect navigation system in the electric ES models will add charging stations to the route. The system will also monitor your live state of charge and automatically update your charging stations removing any range anxiety.

LexusConnect Multimedia will benefit from regular Over-The-Air wireless software updates to ensure constant features improvement.

Connected services and the LexusLink+ app

The user-centric approach of LexusConnect goes beyond the in-car experience. With the LexusLink+ app, the customer can customise their digital experience by subscribing to connected services.

Details of local specifications will be announced in due course.

ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES

The new ES benefits from further enhancement of the Lexus Safety System + technologies and features, marking further advances towards Lexus’ goal of zero traffic accidents.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

The ACC now integrates map data to support deceleration when approaching stop signs, roundabouts and motorway toll booths. Map data also helps optimise deceleration into bends, helping adjust speed in line with the road conditions.

Pre-Collision Safety (PCS)

The PCS automatic braking function has been expanded to detect and respond to a wider range of driving scenarios, including electric scooters.

Driver Monitor System

This is the first ES to be equipped with a Driver Monitor. A camera mounted above the steering wheel keeps a constant check on the driver’s condition. If it detects that they have lost concentration through being tired or unwell, it triggers visual and audible alerts. The latest revisions to the technology mean that it can now also recognise phone use and yawning. 

The system is linked to the car’s active safety systems, so that should the driver fail to respond, the car can be brought smoothly to a controlled halt with the hazard lights activated.

Driver Emergency Response System

The Driver Emergency Response System has been enhanced so that it can operate on general roads as well as highways. If the system detects significant change in the driver’s posture, indicating difficulty in continuing to operate the vehicle, it will activate the hazard lights and gradually bring the car to a stop in its traffic lane. It will then automatically unlock the doors and send an alert to the emergency services via eCall.

Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)

The scope of the BSM now includes detection of bicycles and motorcycles moving alongside the vehicle, helping prevent accidents when making left and right turns.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA)

The LDA is now able to detect roadside structures such as utility poles and median barriers, further helping prevent unintended lane departures. Lane Change Assist and Front Cross Traffic Alert are also introduced into the Lexus Safety System + package for the new ES.

The new generation model is also the first ES include Lane Change Assist and Front Cross Traffic Alert functions within its Lexus Safety System + package.

High-definition Adaptive High-beam System

The new High-definition Adaptive High-beam System, provides enhanced light control that can now be adjusted both horizontally and vertically. The gives more precise shading than the conventional AHS, giving clearer illumination of objects such as road signs.

^{Final specifications of the model range in Europe may differ from the photos}

The global unveiling will take place at Auto Shanghai, the Shanghai Automobile Industry Exhibition. At the same time, Lexus Europe will reveal the first details of the specific models, powertrains and principal technology features that will be available to European customers.

In anticipation of the world premiere, Lexus has released a teaser image and a video to give a first hint of the new ES’s design.

Lexus has unveiled a collection of new installations at Milan Design Week 2025, the world’s largest showcase event for international design. Its exhibition at Superstudio Piu’s Daylight Space will feature “A-Un”, an immersive installation created in collaboration with Japanese creatives SIX and STUDEO, and “Discover Together”, an interactive collection produced by next generation designers in a legacy project from the Lexus Design Award.

The exhibition is open to the public at Superstudio Più in Tortona, Milan’s creative district, from April 8 to 13.

Simon Humphries, Lexus Chief Branding Officer, said: “Since the founding of our brand, Lexus has constantly challenged the conventions of the luxury automotive world, pushing the boundaries of mobility to create unique and extraordinary experiences that surpass expectations rather than simply meeting them. Today, as technology advances and transforms the way we perceive time spent in motion, we find ourselves reflecting on how these shifts can lead to profound new forms of engagement and interaction.

“At Milan Design Week, we seek to express this convergence of technology and humanity, exploring moments in which they intersect and how reimagining time itself can be a catalyst for new experiences. Additionally, through ‘Discover Together’, we have collaborated with three visionary creative units who explore the interplay between individuals with society through the lens of the Black Butterfly, offering new perspectives.”

The new immersive installations have taken inspiration from the “Black Butterfly”, the name given to a dual-interface control device featured in the cockpit of Lexus’ LF-ZC concept car. Each explores how future technologies will bring man, machine and mobility closer together.

The exhibition’s official opening today (April 7) will be hosted by Pascal Ruch, Toyota Motor Europe Vice President Lexus and Value Chain. He will introduce speakers including Lexus International President Takashi Watanabe and Lexus Design Division General Manager Koichi Suga. Together with Takeshi Nozoe of SIX., Tatsuki Ikezawa of STUDEO and representatives from Bascule Inc., Northeastern University and Lexus’ in-house designers, they will provide insights into the groundbreaking installations and the future of mobility and design.

A-Un installation

Across the two decades since its first appearance at Milan Design Week in 2005, Lexus has collaborated with world-renowned artists and designers – including Philippe Nigro, Neri Oxman, Sou Fujimoto and Rhizomatiks – to create immersive experiences that embody the brand’s vision and values.

This year it has teamed up with the Tokyo-based creative agency SIX and design studio STUDEO to present “A-Un”, an installation inspired by the Japanese concept of A-Un no Kokyū (harmonised breath), a traditional concept where two bodies or entities instinctively synchronise their movements and emotions. Using the Black Butterfly motif as a window connecting people and society, Lexus brings its vision for the future of mobility to life in an immersive space.

A vast Black Butterfly-shaped screen suddenly emerges within the space, standing three metres high and measuring 10 metres wide and four metres deep. A testament to Lexus’ commitment to honouring traditional materials and craftsmanship, the work was meticulously crafted by hand over three months, using woven threads made from about 35 kilometres of bamboo fibre.

The structure comes to life as visitors approach, responding to their heartbeats to create a unique, immersive experience. As the heartbeat synchronises with fluctuations sampled from nature, the Black Butterfly becomes a medium for discovery. In that moment, visitors witness the seamless connection between people, society and the world – an experience shaped by the “A-Un” philosophy.

Lexus’ vision of future mobility goes beyond a car simply responding to human commands to its anticipation of human intentions. Through the Black Butterfly, people and vehicles engage in a journey of constant learning and evolution together, discovering new possibilities and one-of-a-kind moments. Vehicles will connect directly with people, creating a new experience of movement.

Discover Together installation

This year’s exhibition builds on the legacy of the Lexus Design Award which has discovered, nurtured and long supported next generation creators, challenging the boundaries of creative potential. Three visionary groups have used the Black Butterfly as a motif to explore new dimensions of personalised experiences with technology. Bascule Inc., Northeastern University and Lexus’ in-house designers present a series of interactive installations that reinterpret the Black Butterfly through distinct and unique perspectives. This encounter between Lexus and emerging talents gives rise to “Experience Amazing” which visitors are invited to discover first-hand in the exhibition.

Earthspective

Bascule Inc. (Japan)

This work explores the concept of an expanded earth perspective. The combination of “earth” and “perspective” in its title represents a shift in the way we view our world. As humans, we perceive reality from our own, limited vantage points. However, when we step back and observe the Earth from the vastness of space, we gain a new perspective – an Earthspective. From this view, we are mere travellers on the planet. The words you speak become imprints on the future, etched into the ever-expanding universe.

Our Energy Nexus

Northeastern University (USA)

This installation explores the theme of reducing air pollution, using real-time interaction to visualise the power of community and collective action.

Visitors engage with real-time pollution levels and Milan’s global air quality index data, channelling their warmth through the Black Butterfly as symbolic release of energy. Each contribution is transformed into a glowing star; as the air clears, these stars shine brighter, reinforcing the connection between personal action and environmental change. Together our energy converges to shape a cleaner, brighter future.

Discover your Butterfly – Lexus in-house designers (Japan)

The butterfly is a symbol of your unknown potential to make an impact on the world

Inspired by the Butterfly Effect, this installation captures the transformative power of small actions.

It envisions a world where countless butterflies converge, each one unique in its motion, coming together to create a dynamic and evolving reality. With the Black Butterfly as a window for unleashing your unknown potential, visitors release their own butterfly, influencing the world around them while discovering new aspects of themselves. Each small flutter contributes to a ripple of beauty and change, proving that even the smallest actions can shape the future in powerful ways.

The Lexus Design Award – Discover Together

Since 2013, Lexus has hosted the Lexus Design Award, an international competition dedicated to fostering and supporting next generation creators through dialogue and co-creation. To deepen this collaboration and further its commitment to emerging design talent, the programme is being updated as the “Lexus Design Award – Discover Together”. It will be officially relaunched this summer with a showcase event scheduled to take place at Milan Design Week in April 2026. Look out for further details of this exciting new chapter in design.

Exhibition information

“A-Un” creator profiles

Takeshi Nozoe (SIX Inc.)

Takeshi Nozoe founded the creative company SIX Inc. in 2013. As creative director, Nozoe takes on the challenge of creating new forms of communication and real-world experiences with brands both in Japan and overseas, including Toyota GR and Lexus. He has worked on a number of projects that have expanded the boundaries of expression through the fusion of technology, including spatial expression using 1,000 drones; the music video “Obsession for Smoothness”, created in collaboration with OK Go; and the Space Balloon Project, a real-time interaction with the stratosphere. To date, he has received more than 100 international creative awards, including a Cannes Lions Gold Award and a New York Festival Gold Award. SIX’s original product, the COTODAMA Lyric speaker, is sold in 44 countries worldwide, demonstrating high recognition for its innovation in product development.

https://sixinc.jp/

Tatsuki Ikezawa (STUDEO)

A graduate of the Department of Design Informatics at Musashino Art University, Ikezawa founded the creative studio, STUDEO in 2020. Approaching brand strategy from the perspective of art direction, he seamlessly integrates concept development, product design including packaging and logo design, and the planning of communication tools such as commercials, graphics, and spatial design to create a cohesive brand world. In 2018, Ikezawa held a solo exhibition BEYOND THE CRAFT in New York and, in 2024, participated as a designer in The Trio Asia Posters at the Mexico International Poster Biennial.

His works have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, ONE SHOW, and New York ADC. He is a member of the Tokyo Art Directors Club and the Japan Graphic Designers Association.

https://www.studeo.co.jp/

“Discover Together” creator profiles

Bascule Inc. (Japan)

Members pictured (from left) Tomoyuki Iwabuchi, Masayoshi Boku, Sakiko Osawa

Bascule Inc. is a creative team based in Tokyo, known for extracting reality and stories hidden in various data to create emotional experiences. Centred on their unique approach called DATA-TAINMENT, they engage in a wide array of fields including advertising, events, sports, art, urban development, and outer space, aiming to create new experiential values in which everyone can participate.

https://bascule.co.jp/

Northeastern University (USA)

Members pictured (from left) Chloe Prock, Paolo Ciuccarelli, Jasmine Yiming Sun, Elizabeth McCaffrey

Under the direction of Paolo Ciuccarelli, head of Northeastern University’s Center for Design, Chloe Prock, Jasmine Yiming Sun, and Elizabeth McCaffrey form a team of designers and researchers exploring the wide intersections of data visualisation, experience design, and creative practice. With expertise spanning immersive media, computational data visualisation, UI/UX design, and design research, their work bridges the gaps between emerging technologies, human-centred design, and poetic computation to create engaging and thought-provoking experiences.

https://camd.northeastern.edu/center-for-design/

Lexus Design Team (Japan)

Members pictured (from left) Moto Takabatake and Yuri Tamura

Members of the Design Team at Toyota Motor Corporation have challenged new expressions and experiences by reinterpreting the Black Butterfly. As a mentor, Takabatake works as a Concept and Vision Designer, planning future visions and concepts targeting all products, including experiences for both Lexus and Toyota brands. Designer Yuri Tamura began her career as a CMF designer and now explores innovative designs that challenge existing concepts across all genres. She focuses on capturing human emotions and experiences from new perspectives, aiming to deliver inspiration to many.

• New, extended line-up offers more power, greater efficiency and dynamic performance that delivers increased driver rewards 
• First application of Lexus’ steer-by-wire system 
• Comprehensive revision of the battery electric system secures increased range and faster charging 
• Introduction of the first RZ F SPORT model, the RZ 550e, offering more power and Lexus’s new Interactive Manual Drive virtual gear shifting
• New RZ to be introduced in Europe from autumn 2025 
   

The new Lexus RZ receives its world premiere in Brussels, Belgium, today. The battery electric luxury SUV benefits from comprehensive revisions that take the driving experience to a higher level, introducing innovative technologies that deliver more power, enhanced control and deeper driver engagement and rewards. These ground-breaking changes are accompanied by further refinement of the luxurious onboard experience.

Lexus has been a pioneer in electrification in the luxury market since the launch of the RX 400h in 2005, consistently pursuing a balance between driving quality and engagement and environmental efficiency. With its Lexus Electrified vision, announced in 2019, it is aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral society by offering a range of vehicle technologies, including battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, to meet the diverse needs of its customers and markets.

The RZ was launched in 2023 as Lexus’ first model constructed on a dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) global architecture platform. It offered a new driving experience and design made possible by electrification technology. In 2024, the range was extended with the introduction of a front-wheel drive model, responding to customer demand.

Development of the new RZ focused on four key pillars: driving pleasure; driving range and battery charging; performance; and design.

The technical innovations are led by the first application of Lexus’ steer-by-wire system. This provides a new driving experience with smooth, easy and more intuitive operation, particularly when enjoying winding roads. It is also tuned for responsiveness and driver feedback that is free from unwelcome vibrations. To ensure the desired qualities of the Lexus Driving Signature were achieved, the car underwent extensive development at Lexus’ Shimoyama test centre in Japan.

The new model range also brings F SPORT performance and style to the RZ for the first time. The all-wheel drive RZ 550e is the most powerful RZ and offers a new BEV driving experience with Lexus’ Interactive Manual Drive, an electronic system that provides virtual manual gear shifting (further details of the RZ F SPORT in the dedicated chapter, below).

As is always the case with Lexus, the customer has been the prime consideration in ensuring that as well as delivering extra power, the RZ is more efficient and delivers an enhanced user experience. Comprehensive changes to the BEV system, including revisions to the lithium-ion battery for high output and capacity and an evolution of Lexus’ eAxle, allow for an expected increase in driving range of up to 100km (depending on the model and final homologation).

In addition, battery charging time will be quicker, - aided by the adoption of a new battery pre-conditioning system and 22 kW AC onboard charger.

The global reveal paves the way for the new RZ’s European market introduction from autumn 2025.

Completely revised BEV system

The RZ’s battery electric system has undergone complete revision, with a focus on raising the quality of both practicality and driving pleasure. Key changes include the introduction of a new eAxle with improved motor output and inverter efficiency and a significant reduction in losses. There is also a new lithium-ion battery with capacity increased to 77.0 kWh.

With higher output and more model options, the new RZ will extend its market reach, catering for a wider spectrum of customer needs and preferences.

The performance of the high-output lithium-ion battery has been enhanced by improving and increasing the number of battery cells. In turn, this enables higher output from the eAxle’s electric motor. For the customer, this brings not only improved full-throttle acceleration and top speed performance, but it also contributes to a more exhilarating and responsive drive in the mid-range.

High power performance is further supported by the adoption of water cooling for the battery and BEV system.

Combining the high-output battery and eAxle with different systems has produced an RZ range with three different power options: 224 DIN hp/165 kW in the RZ 350e; 380 DIN hp/280 kW in the RZ 500e; and 408 DIN hp/300 kW in the RZ 550e F SPORT.

In addition, there is a doubling in the towing capacity of the all-wheel drive RZ, which can now pull braked loads of up to 1,500 kg.

Increased driving range

The technical enhancements to the RZ’s powertrain yield a significant improvement in the driving range, notably the reduction of power losses in the eAxle, the increased battery capacity and optimisation of the control systems. Provisional data show the new RZ’s range has been increased by up to 100 km (depending on model and final homologation).

Reduced charging times

Charging performance has also been enhanced, thanks to the increase in battery capacity, revisions to the battery pack structure and the adoption of a new 22 kW AC onboard charger, anticipating the wider provision of public infrastructure that supports faster charging.

Charging in low temperatures has been improved with a new battery pre-conditioning function. This optimises the battery temperature before charging starts, eliminating delays. As a result, charging time should be reduced by around 30 minutes.

A unique driving experience with Lexus’ steer-by-wire system

The new RZ is the first model to adopt Lexus’ new steer-by-wire system. This creates a new, intuitive and comfortable driving experience that seamlessly integrates driver and vehicle. It also transforms the traditional driver’s cockpit.

Instead of being completely round, the steering wheel is designed without the upper and lower sections so is almost rectangular in shape, with curved grips on the left and right sides. The design helps focus the driver’s attention on the road ahead and, being compact, it frees up more space around the knees and legs for easier entry and exit to the car.

The system operates in a range of approximately 200 degrees from neutral to full left or right lock. This gives the driver precise control and easy operation.

Also, with steering gear ratio dynamically adjusted according to vehicle speed, it provides easier manoeuvrability at low speeds; agility for smooth driving on winding roads; and a high level of stability in high-speed motorway driving.

Although there is no physical link between the steering wheel and the axles, the driver receives appropriate feedback communicated by electric signals, minimising unpleasant vibrations.

An evolution of Lexus DIRECT4 drive control

As well as renewing the RZ’s BEV system, Lexus has revised the DIRECT4 vehicle motion control technology, a system unique to Lexus which enhances traction and stability performance on the all-wheel drive models.

At start-off and in straight-line acceleration, front/rear power distribution is controlled between 60:40 to 0:100 to suppress pitching and produce a direct acceleration feel. During cornering, the distribution ratio is optimised between 80:20 and 0:100, according to vehicle speed and steering angle, to match the driving conditions.

During turn-in, more power is directed to the front axle to achieve a smooth turn. When exiting a corner, torque distribution is in line with the load on each wheel, to maintain vehicle balance and allow for smooth acceleration. The result is a rewarding feel when cornering and precise line tracing.

The adoption of Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) contributes to a flatter, more comfortable ride , together with enhanced driving stability and emergency hazard avoidance handling.

Delivering the Lexus Driving Signature

It is Lexus’ mission to ensure every model in its range delivers the Lexus Driving Signature, a unified driving experience in which the driver enjoys comfort, confidence and control at all times. Strategic measures applied to the new RZ reinforce this quality.

Structural rigidity has been increased with improvements to the radiator support and the addition of a rear brace. This helps reduce localised torsional deformation, contributing in turn to clean and linear steering response.

The suspension system benefits from fine adjustment to the front and rear dampers and springs to promote dynamic performance, stability and ride comfort.

The pursuit of quietness and comfort

Exceptional quietness in the cabin is a key quality of Lexus BEVs and with the new RZ Lexus is going further with the installation of additional features, soundproofing and sound absorption measures. These include a new floor silencer beneath the rear seats and enhanced soundproofing in multiple locations. To address road and wind noise, soundproofing has been introduced for the tonneau cover, back door trim and load compartment. Action has also been taken to further suppress vibrations.

New techniques in interior design

Lexus has created the first cabin trim to feature laser-processed graphics applied to Ultrasuede. Made from sustainable 30% plant-based materials, the Ultrasuede door panel trim creates a new luxury expression.

In another first, the multi-colour ambient lighting has a new, dynamic shadow effect. This creates changing patterns that evoke the passage of time, fostering an emotional, comfortable connection with the car’s occupants. A new dimming function of the panoramic roof helps keep the cabin comfortable in bright sunshine. By reducing reflections, it has made it possible to use both the dimmable roof and an electronic rear-view mirror simultaneously.

THE NEW RZ 550e F SPORT

·       F SPORT performance and styling introduced to the RZ range

·       Maximum output 408 DIN hp/300 kW

·       Lexus-first Interactive Manual Drive virtual gear shifting

·       DIRECT4 all-wheel drive

The new RZ marks the introduction of an F SPORT model to the range for the first time, giving customers the option of a more exhilarating drive with a sportier styling and cabin ambience.

The 550e F SPORT is the most powerful RZ model, delivering a maximum 408 DIN hp/300 kW. To ensure this higher output is translated into rewarding and engaging performance, the suspension has been retuned with changes to the damper and spring settings.

Lexus-first Interactive Manual Drive

The F SPORT adopts the Lexus-first Interactive Manual Drive, giving the driver deeper interaction with the car, allowing them to control power output with paddle shift controls, as if using a manual transmission. Operation is accompanied by real-time feedback through the throttle and sounds and visuals that create a closer connection between man and machine.

The system is programmed with an eight-speed virtual gear set-up. Virtual power source torque is calculated according to the accelerator position and vehicle speed, then multiplied by the ratio of the virtual gear selected. To enhance the experience, Lexus has replicated engine sounds and the system operates with a rev limiter, so drivers have a sense of timing their gear shifts and the changes in the vehicle’s state they produce.

To help the driver perfect their shift timing, a shift guide meter in the instrument display indicates the vehicle’s status.

F SPORT exterior styling

The powerful exterior styling contributes to the RZ 550e F SPORT’s aerodynamic performance as well as making a bold visual statement. The function-driven features include front lower bumper mouldings, brake ducts, front and rear spoilers and rear bumper. The 20-inch aero-design wheels have an alloy base and aerodynamic resin covers. As well as improving energy efficiency by smoothing airflow, these also save weight.

The F SPORT model will be available in an exclusive new exterior colour, Neutrino Grey, a hard, solid finish with metallic highlights that will strike a strong contrast with the car’s black styling elements.

F SPORT interior styling

The F SPORT-dedicated interior is in Black x Dark Grey, with blue stitched accents, inspired by the powerful driving experience that is characteristic of BEVs. The design includes a trim panel with a Microgeometric pattern.

The front seats are made using an integrated foaming method to provide superior body holding performance. Other details include F SPORT scuff plates and steering wheel and an aluminium pedal set.

The Black Butterfly, a dual-interface cockpit control system developed by Lexus for its LF-ZC concept car, has provided inspiration for international creators to develop immersive new installations at the cutting edge of art and design.

These exciting interpretations of how future technologies will bring man, machine and mobility closer together will be showcased by Lexus at Milan Design Week 2025, one of the world’s premiere events for global creatives. The exhibits will be on public view at the Superstudio Più, from April 8 to 13.

 “A-Un” is an interactive installation that connects intuitively with the viewer, combining the principles of the Black Butterfly with the traditional Japanese concept of Aun no kokyo – breathing in harmony. It has been developed by Lexus in collaboration with the Tokyo-based creative agency SIX and the STUDEO design studio. It presents a new dimension in seamless communication between humans and mobility and captures a spirit of mutual understanding through perfectly synchronised interactions.

Lexus’ Milan Design Week presence also includes “Discover Together”, produced by up-and-coming creative talents from Bascule Inc. in Japan, Northeastern University in the USA and the Lexus Designer Team, from Japan. For more than a decade, Lexus has supported innovative creators striving to help shape a better future world and society through the Lexus Design Award. Building on this legacy, Lexus has launched the “Discover Together” initiative. This project emphasises co-creation and reinterprets and expresses the new possibilities presented by the Black Butterfly cockpit control interfaces.  Through their original works, the creators demonstrate the different chemistry and experience that can occur when humans interact with the Black Butterfly.

Lexus has been an active participant in Milan Design Week over many years, using the opportunity to demonstrate its challenge to the status quo in the luxury automotive space, pushing boundaries in both products and services to create amazing experiences for its customers.

Exhibition information

“A-Un” creator profiles

Takeshi Nozoe (SIX Inc.)

Takeshi Nozoe founded the creative company SIX Inc. in 2013. As creative director, Nozoe takes on the challenge of creating new forms of communication and real-world experiences with brands both in Japan and overseas, including Toyota GR and Lexus. He has worked on a number of projects that have expanded the boundaries of expression through the fusion of technology, including spatial expression using 1,000 drones; the music video “Obsession for Smoothness”, created in collaboration with OK Go; and the Space Balloon Project, a real-time interaction with the stratosphere. To date, he has received more than 100 international creative awards, including a Cannes Lions Gold Award and a New York Festival Gold Awards. SIX’s original product, the COTODAMA Lyric speaker, is sold in 44 countries worldwide, demonstrating high recognition for its innovation in product development.

https://sixinc.jp/

Tatsuki Ikezawa (STUDEO)

A graduate of the Department of Design Informatics at Musashino Art University, Ikezawa founded the creative studio, STUDEO in 2020. Approaching brand strategy from the perspective of art direction, he seamlessly integrates concept development, product design including packaging and logo design, and the planning of communication tools such as commercials, graphics, and spatial design to create a cohesive brand world. In 2018, Ikezawa held a solo exhibition BEYOND THE CRAFT in New York and, in 2024, participated as a designer in The Trio Asia Posters at the Mexico International Poster Biennial.

His works have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, ONE SHOW, and New York ADC. He is a member of the Tokyo Art Directors Club and the Japan Graphic Designers Association.

https://www.studeo.co.jp/

“Discover Together” creator profiles

Bascule Inc. (Japan)

Members pictured (from left) Tomoyuki Iwabuchi, Masayoshi Boku, Sakiko Osawa

Bascule Inc. is a creative team based in Tokyo, known for extracting reality and stories hidden in various data to create emotional experiences. Centred on their unique approach called DATA-TAINMENT, they engage in a wide array of fields including advertising, events, sports, art, urban development, and outer space, aiming to create new experiential values in which everyone can participate.

https://bascule.co.jp/

Northeastern University (USA)

Members pictured (from left) Chloe Prock, Paolo Ciuccarelli, Jasmine Yiming Sun, Elizabeth McCaffrey

Under the direction of Paolo Ciuccarelli, head of Northeastern University’s Center for Design, Chloe Prock, Jasmine Yiming Sun, and Elizabeth McCaffrey form a team of designers and researchers exploring the wide intersections of data visualisation, experience design, and creative practice. With expertise spanning immersive media, computational data visualisation, UI/UX design, and design research, their work bridges the gaps between emerging technologies, human-centred design, and poetic computation to create engaging and thought-provoking experiences.

https://camd.northeastern.edu/center-for-design/

Lexus Designer Team (Japan)

Members pictured (from left) Moto Takabatake and Yuri Tamura

Members of the Design Team at Toyota Motor Corporation have challenged new expressions and experiences by reinterpreting the Black Butterfly. As a mentor, Takabatake works as a Concept and Vision Designer, planning future visions and concepts targeting all products, including experiences for both Lexus and Toyota brands. Designer Yuri Tamura began her career as a CMF designer and now explores innovative designs that challenge existing concepts across all genres. She focuses on capturing human emotions and experiences from new perspectives, aiming to deliver inspiration to many.

• Lexus looks forward to another year of thrilling competition in 2025 as Platinum Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the ATP Tour, the top level of international men’s tennis
• New series of short Lexus films capturing the obsession with detail that makes amazing experiences possible for everyone involved in tennis and for Lexus customers 
• Lexus sponsors 12 ATP Tour tournaments across Europe in 2025, including the season’s climax, the Nitto ATP Finals 

A new season of premier sporting competition is under way with Lexus entering its third season as Platinum Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the ATP Tour, the top level of international men’s tennis.

The 2025 calendar will once again see a prominent presence for Lexus both at the tournaments and on the ATP Tour’s digital and social platforms, connecting with sports fans and the global tennis community through innovative and engaging content.

This season, Lexus will present a campaign featuring three short films that capture the essence of what makes tennis such a compelling and popular global sport. They are available to view at The perfect match: Lexus and the ATP Tour | Lexus Europe.

The films’ common theme is the attention to detail that’s shared by everyone who is part of the game and by Lexus. Whether on the court, or in the car, detail is everything. Only when you sweat the small things and refuse to rest until every detail is flawless can you experience amazing.

That spirit is shared by the players at the top of their game, the dedicated coaches, the hard-working teams delivering the tournaments and the passionate fans. It also defines the approach of the Lexus engineers, designers and craftspeople who strive to deliver the finest quality and customer experience.

Each film will combine a theme, a role integral to tennis and a Lexus model. The first, on Dedication, takes the player’s perspective and features the Lexus LM luxury mover.

The second, on Persistence, looks at the work of the coach and includes the Lexus NX family-sized SUV.

The third film is about Focus, looking a fan’s experience and introducing the LBX compact crossover.

Lexus is a sponsor of 12 ATP tournaments across Europe in the 2025 season, including the prestigious ATP 1000 Rolex Paris Masters in October and the Nitto ATP Finals, the climax of the tour, taking place in Turin from November 9 to 16.
 

A secluded beach far from the crowds, a dramatic mountain trail and panoramic landscapes rich in natural beauty: these are the kind of destinations that the new NX Overtrail was designed to discover.

It’s a new special version of the globally successful Lexus SUV that car that’s designed for those who like to step away from the everyday and enjoy lifestyles with a sense of adventure, but with all the refinement and comfort that are essentially “Lexus”.

Designed for refined adventure

This latest addition to the range expresses Lexus’ mission to “make luxury personal,” presenting a more powerful and purposeful look while retaining all qualities of Takumi hand-crafted luxury and the comfort, convenience and peace of mind provided by Omotenashi hospitality.

The NX Overtrail adds extra emphasis to the NX’s “functional beauty” desing with a ride height raised by 15 mm, dedicated 18-inch black multi-spoke alloy wheels shod with chunky all-terrain tyres and a black finish for the prominent spindle grille, door mirror casings, roof rails, fog light surrounds and door handles. A new metallic exterior paint finish option, Moon Desert, is exclusive to the Overtrail.

The interior design features supportive sports front seats upholstered in soft Tahara synthetic leather in a combination of black and khaki, with contrast stitching – another feature exclusive to the Overtrail model. The connection to nature is also expressed in new Bookmatch woodgrain trim inserts.

The raised ride height gives everyone on board an excellent view of their surroundings. For the driver, the focused “Tazuna” cockpit design builds their sense of connection with and command of the vehicle, with only the slightest movement of hand and eye required to operate controls and monitor information sources, keeping their focus on the road ahead.

A calming cabin environment is guaranteed, insulated from unwelcome noises and vibration so driver and passengers feel safely cocooned, whatever the weather or terrain outside might be. The Lexus Climate Concierge maintains an ideal temperature and healthy air quality and the ambient lighting’s 64 different colour options helps set the mood for any journey.

Expanding the reach and appeal of the Lexus product portfolio

The introduction of the new NX Overtrail demonstrates Lexus’ strategy to broaden its product range and deliver models that take it into new market territory, connecting with new customers with cars that more closely match their personal preferences and lifestyles.

It’s a principle that has also supported the recent introduction of the all-new LBX compact SUV, reaching out to people seeking a smaller but no less luxurious vehicle with multiple opportunities for personalisation, and the LM, which brings ultimate luxury to the world of the people carrier.

Lexus recognises that one size does not fit all and that by “making luxury personal” it can make its cars attractive a wider and more diverse audience.

·       Achievement supported by a record performance in Europe where the total rose by +20%, giving the brand its best premium market share yet

·       Electrified vehicles* accounted for 91% of all Lexus’ European sales; 99% in Western European markets

·       Lexus global electrified vehicle sales reached a new record of 52%

Lexus has announced record-breaking global sales in 2024, the total rising by 3.3% on 2023’s figures to 851,214 units.

Europe played a significant role in delivering these results, with a +20% increase in its new car sales performance to 88,184 vehicles. This gave its largest share yet of the region’s premium market at 2.5%.

Strong customer demand also delivered growth in North America, where annual sales volume was up 6.7%, and Asia.

On the global stage, the new LBX urban crossover and LM luxury mover were well received and the core RX large luxury SUV and NX mid-size SUV models continued to perform well. The battery electric RZ SUV range and UX 300e crossover achieved a 19% increase in sales, increasing the electrified model mix to a record 52%.

In Europe, the electrified vehicle performance grew by +24% year-on-year to 80,088 sales, accounting for 91% of Lexus sales. In the brand’s Western European market, the mix was 99%.

The top three models in Europe were the NX (26,635 units); LBX (23,018); and RX (13,772).

Announcing the global results today, Lexus International President Takashi Watanabe said: “We would like to thank each and every customer around the world for their continued support of Lexus vehicles. In 2024, we launched the all-new LBX and GX, offering a new value experience that has been highly praised by many customers. Additionally, the new Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama (TTC-S) has begun full-scale operations, giving us the opportunity to launch a new development framework as a company.

“In 2025, we are set to debut new models and showcase innovative concepts. We remain committed to reshaping the future of mobility through innovative engineering and enhancing lifestyles with customer-focused services. Our goal is to continue providing the distinctive value that defines the Lexus experience.”

The Lexus LBX compact crossover, the LM luxury people carrier and the all-terrain GX full-scale SUV are completely different propositions, but at heart each one is truly “Lexus”.  They are taking Lexus into new market segments and giving customers the opportunity to personalise their luxury choices. They exemplify the qualities that are the essence of Lexus as an international luxury brand and support its “experience amazing” ethos.

Central to this is Omotenashi, the uniquely Lexus interpretation of the best traditions of Japanese hospitality. That means for driver and passengers alike, every need is anticipated and taken care of in a safe, welcoming and rewarding experience. Its influence extends from on-board comfort and well-being to seamless connectivity, comprehensive safety provisions the focused design of the driver’s cockpit.

Luxury craftsmanship is another distinguishing element in the Lexus ownership, with an attention to detail that is rooted in the finely honed skills of the Takumi craftspeople.

Moreover, the latest models go further in Lexus’ mission to “make luxury personal,” giving customers greater opportunities to specify their vehicle in a way that better reflects their individual preferences and character. This includes a move away from the established formalities of prestige cars to offer something that better fits more modern perceptions of what luxury means, with a more relaxed and casual feel.

To showcase their individual qualities and capabilities and to provide a first-hand insight into today’s Lexus brand, the LBX, LM and GX were recently brought together in an adventure programme in New Zealand. Influencers and lifestyle specialists from Europe and beyond were immersed in an authentic Lexus “amazing experience” that took them through spectacular landscapes of the South Island and introduced them to the richness of the local nature, culture and cuisine.

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Lexus LBX: redefining luxury craftsmanship in its class

The LBX is a game-changing model, the most compact Lexus model yet and one which brings authentic Lexus luxury to a whole new audience for the brand. This is a compact crossover that makes luxury personal, offering a wealth of choice, premium equipment features and a great driving experience, all with a more casual, contemporary feel. It’s a proposition that European customers have responded to in their thousands, putting the LBX firmly on course to become Lexus’ top-selling model in the region.

Lexus LM: redefining luxury transport

Lexus designed the LM – its “luxury mover” – to deliver the ultimate in luxury travel. It is a car in its class of its own, a people carrier where every detail of the on-board experience is focused on the comfort and well-being the occupants. Wherever the journey takes you, the atmosphere inside the LM is guaranteed to always be calm, quiet and supremely comfortable. The passengers ride in airline-style seats, with access to a 48-inch widescreen monitor and bespoke 23-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system at their fingertips. The Lexus Climate Concierge ensures optimum temperature and air quality are maintained at all times.

Lexus GX: redefining the authentic off-roader with luxury

The all-new GX is a perfect illustration of the breadth of choice offered by today’s Lexus range. It is an authentic off-roader with imposing looks, all-terrain capabilities, combined with the luxury, driving rewards and advanced technologies that are key to every Lexus model. It’s a car that’s engineered for adventure, capable of mastering all kinds of challenging terrain: wherever the drive takes you, on smooth, fast roads or wilder trails, the Lexus GX can be relied on as the truest and most trusted partner.

For more information on these and all other new Lexus models, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/new-cars

Its status as a serious SUV made it a key contributor to a recent Lexus adventure programme in New Zealand, where guests were immersed in the local culture, cuisine and natural world. Joining the GX were the all-new LBX compact crossover and the LM “luxury mover,” giving guests first-hand insights into what Lexus’ “experience amazing” means and the breadth of its product offering.

The GX will carry you in comfort and with confidence to unexplored territories and New Zealand provided the ideal landscapes and challenging routes to demonstrate these qualities . It’s a car that’s engineered for adventure, capable of mastering all kinds of challenging drives, while respecting the integrity and quality of the natural environment. This is helped by a Multi-Terrain Select system where the car’s performance can be optimised at the touch of a switch for surfaces ranging from deep snow and mud to sand and rocks. Furthermore, with the benefit of the Multi-Terrain Monitor, you’re given a complete view of the area around and beneath vehicle so you can position the GX with confidence in extreme situations.

At the same time, the GX is essentially a Lexus. That means attention to every detail and luxury made personal with distinctive contemporary design, Takumi craftsmanship and the uniquely Lexus Omotenashi approach to comfort and convenience that enhances the well-being of driver and passengers. This is witnessed in features such as specially developed seats that are shaped for perfect support when off-roading, upholstered in fine leather and a focused Lexus Tazuna cockpit, with controls and information sources organised for quick, intuitive operation, whatever the driving conditions.

For those who want to go even further, the GX Overtrail model is designed and equipped to take even more extreme environments in its stride, but with no sacrifice of luxury quality or comfort.  Its special off-road-focused features include a wider track, dedicated 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres and an intelligent electronic suspension system. The bodywork is adapted, too, with details shaped to help avoid contact with bushes and rocks when heading off-road.

Wherever the drive takes you, on smooth, fast roads or wilder trails, the Lexus GX can be relied on as the truest and most trusted partner, responding instantly and faithfully to the driver’s use of the steering wheel, brakes and throttle. The rewards are control, comfort and confidence at all times, and a sense of being at one with the vehicle.

In Europe, the GX is available in eastern markets: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

For more information, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/new-cars/gx

When it set out to create the new LM people carrier, Lexus set the goal of delivering the ultimate in luxury travel: four-wheeled transport that achieves a level of sophistication and exclusivity more frequently associated with world of private jets. Taking a no-compromise approach, it has succeeded in delivering a unique “Luxury Mover,” a vehicle that is truly in a class of its own.

Wherever the road – crowded city street or sweeping mountain pass – the atmosphere inside the LM is guaranteed to always be calm, quiet and supremely comfortable. It’s the perfect expression of Omotenashi, the Japanese hospitality principle, that’s central to Lexus, where your every need is anticipated and seamlessly catered for.

Omotenashi is one of the ways in which Lexus seeks to provide its customers with Amazing Experiences and it made the LM a worthy participant in a recent Lexus adventure programme in New Zealand. Here, guests were able to experience a Lexus spirit of adventure that combines a great driving experience with luxury and comfort. They were immersed in the local culture, cuisine and natural world, travelling through breathtaking landscapes in three all-new, contrasting models: the LM, the LBX crossover and the GX luxury off-roader. The event illustrated the breadth of Lexus innovation and the brand’s diversification into vibrant new market areas.

Guests travelled as passengers along routes through spectacular natural landscapes, enjoying panoramic views from the twin rear seats in the top-of-the range model. This four-seat version of the LM takes Omotenashi design, technologies and features to the maximum. The rear passenger seats are upholstered in finest L-aniline leather and are equipped with extending ottomans to support the lower legs and integrated heating, ventilation and massage functions. They also recline airline-style to fully horizontal should you want to take a break during the journey. Lexus Climate Concierge monitors each passenger’s body temperature to help maintain an ideal cabin temperature and air quality.

The cabin is insulated from any unwelcome external noise, yet offers a “natural silence” more like you would find in a quiet New Zealand forest than an acoustically perfect recording studio. And if the view outside doesn’t capture your attention, a 48-inch high-definition widescreen monitor can be used for streaming movies, or online meetings. The hospitality aspect also includes innovative technologies such as a 23-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system, tailor-made for the LM, folding tables and power doors and sunshades. And if you need a cooling drink during the journey, a 14-litre refrigerator can accommodate plenty of liquid refreshment.

Equal attention has been paid to the engineering aspects of the vehicle, with a smooth, refined and powerful self-charging hybrid system and suspension that maintains poise and comfort in all conditions. It is also an all-new vehicle from the ground up, and – unlike many other people carriers – not a passenger vehicle that has been adapted from a van model base.

In addition to the four-seat version, the LM range includes a seven-seat model that brings another level of luxury to chauffeur-driven executive transport. The rear cabin features two VIP seats and a two-plus-one second row seating arrangement that can be folded away to provide extra load space when not in use. Features include semi-aniline leather seats, the Lexus Climate Concierge, a 14-inch drop-down rear monitor, a folding table and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson 3D Surround Sound audio system.

The LM can be classified as a new kind of limousine for the modern age, where business, leisure and relaxation can overlap in a single journey and where peace, quiet and privacy are the most highly valued luxury qualities.

For more information, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/new-cars/lm

In just its first year of sales, the Lexus LBX has held true to its promise of changing the face of luxury motoring, delivering premium quality and style without compromise in a compact crossover that’s eminently stylish, affordable and appealing to a whole new audience for the Lexus brand. It’s Lexus’ relentless focus on quality – both physical and perceived – in every detail that distinguish the LBX from its competitors.

In terms of simple dimensions, it’s the smallest Lexus yet, but its size has been no barrier to making this a model that redefines the meaning of luxury in its class. It offers more than simply a wealth of choice in premium equipment features and a great driving experience; it delivers Lexus’ exceptional craftsmanship and human-centred Omotenashi hospitality. This is achieved with a more casual, contemporary feel that captures changing popular perceptions of what luxury means.

It shifts the dial for the brand, diversifying its product range with new thinking to shape a fresh future for Lexus and its customers.

It’s a proposition that European customers have responded to in their thousands, putting the LBX firmly on course to become Lexus’ top-selling model in the region.

While its agile, highly manoeuvrable character makes it a natural for urban streets, it’s just at home on the open road, as a recent expedition in the breathtaking mountain landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island reveals.

Lexus vehicles are conceived to open up the possibilities of amazing experiences for their owners – in the case of the LBX, making the “everyday extraordinary”. To demonstrate what this means in practice, Lexus headed to New Zealand for an adventure programme which immersed guests, including influencers and lifestyle commentators from around the world, in the rich and varied local culture, cuisine, nature and outdoor pursuits. The itinerary combined off-road trails, remote scenic roads as well as exploration by air and water, introducing the adventurers to the natural wonders of this distant land.

Capturing the spirit of a Lexus “Amazing Experience,” the event illustrated the diversity and wide appeal of Lexus’ current product portfolio, showcasing the latest all-new models: the LBX, the GX off-roader and the LM “luxury mover”. 

Moving away from the traditions of premium quality motoring, Lexus has made luxury personal with the new LBX, giving each customer the chance to create a car that best suits their individual style. That’s accomplished with discerning and distinctive range of options, from bold exterior colours to different interior upholsteries, textures and trims. Forget the concept of the structured model range: the LBX line-up instead offers a different Atmosphere for each version – Cool, Relax, Elegant and Emotion – where the focus is on character, appearance and feel rather than simply the level of equipment features.

The tech dimension extends from the latest, super-efficient hybrid powertrains to seamless onboard connectivity and multimedia experience, including wireless smartphone integration and cloud-based navigation that benefits from moment-by-moment traffic intelligence. There is also the peace of mind provided by the same Lexus Safety System + advanced and intelligent safety and assistance systems found on all Lexus models, supporting the driver at every step of the journey.

For more information, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/new-cars/lbx

• Shimoyama is the new international headquarters for Lexus vehicle development in Japan
• State-of-the-art, purpose-built facility brings all Lexus functions under one roof for the first time, including R&D and design 
• Opening coincides with the 35th anniversary year of the Lexus brand 
• Shimoyama is also a new home for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicle development 
• Site includes high-speed test track and routes replicating different road types from around the world 
• Development undertaken in harmony with the local natural environment 

Lexus has completed its move to a new headquarters at Shimoyama, a state-of-the-art, purpose-built development in a mountainside location close to Toyota City in Japan. This landmark in the history of Lexus coincides with the 35^th anniversary year of the founding of the international luxury brand.

For the first time, all Lexus operations (sales, marketing, planning) have been brought together under one roof, including research and development and design. This promises to foster even stronger and quicker co-operation between the teams, enabling swift delivery of development prototypes and production models, including the next generation of Lexus cars. 

Development work will be further supported by the adjacent Shimoyama testing ground, operational since 2021, which includes a high-speed course and a network of routes which replicate the different types of roads and surfaces found around the world. This has already proved invaluable in delivering the Lexus Driving Signature – comfort, confidence and control for the driver at all times – in models including the all-new LBX, latest generation NX and fully electric RZ.

Lexus is joined by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the new Vehicle Development Building, constructed on the western side of the Shimoyama site. The ground floor is home to a series of vehicle bays, designed to emulate the look and feel of the pit garages at the legendary Nürburgring circuit in Germany – a location that’s been used in the development and fine-tuning of both GR and Lexus models. It’s a place where members from all business functions can work together, assessing vehicles on the test tracks and collaborating on test and development to produce ever-better cars.

Speaking at the official unveiling ceremony earlier this year, Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman, said: “Around 3,000 people, including development members and test drivers from Lexus and GAZOO Racing, will drive, break and improve cars here. Although Shimoyama is not a production plant, cars made here will be driven on every road in the world and bring smiles to many people’s faces.”

The western area is also home to visitor building, a venue for creative collaboration with business partners and suppliers. It also provides an open space for innovation, encouraging new ideas by giving people the chance to interact close-up with the cars.

Maintaining and managing the natural environment was a prime consideration during the development process. This included preserving trees and greenery that cover approximately 60% (650 ha) of the site, as well as creating new green areas. An environment learning centre has also been constructed for use as a venue to engage with local communities.

SHIMOYAMA FACTS AND FIGURES

• A new multisensory installation and limited-edition capsule collection explore the material innovation, responsive technology and personalization at the core of Lexus' luxury design

Today, Lexus unveils Liminal Cycles, a multisensory and responsive installation created in collaboration with Bratislava-based research and design studio Crafting Plastics. Presented in partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami), the installation embodies Lexus’ exploration of material innovation, responsive technology and personalization, drawing inspiration from the Lexus LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Catalyst) Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) concept car.

Coinciding with the unveiling of Liminal Cycles, Lexus officially launches its limited-edition capsule collection, featuring 26 collectible design objects by renowned designers Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy, and Tara Sakhi (T SAKHI) alongside Crafting Plastics. The capsule collection expands on the concepts explored in Liminal Cycles, inviting viewers to consider these objects as manifestations of Lexus’ core ethos of materiality, innovation, performance, sustainability, and technology.

Intended to highlight the possibilities of natural materials and reactive software, Crafting Plastics and Lexus welcome viewers of Liminal Cycles to embark on an immersive journey toward discovery. The installation, situated in the ICA Miami sculpture garden, realizes the adaptability and responsive technology that is central to the developing concept of SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles), which envisions software-enabled customization as a key element of personalized luxury design. By engaging a global art and design audience in its exploration of the SDV concept, Lexus continues to champion bold and uncompromised luxury experiences for the next generation.

Tasked with bringing the SDV concept to life, Crafting Plastics, comprised of co-founders Vlasta Kubušová, Miroslav Král and their team, employed their research practice to create a dynamic, fragmented central “car” sculpture referencing the Lexus LF-ZC at scale. The material foundation of the central sculpture is 3D-printed bioplastic Nuatan®–a bio-based material series that is biodegradable, based on 100% renewable resources and leaves no microplastics behind. Coated with a UV-responsive material skin, the sculpture reacts to environmental stimuli, such as UV radiation and a viewer’s proximity, in real time by changing colour and expanding and contracting with breath-like movements. This pulsating mimics the rhythmic movements of natural beings to symbolize the potential harmonies between nature and technology.

Liminal Cycles also features three satellite installations to complement its central sculpture, each incorporating design elements of the LF-ZC to showcase sensory reactions ranging from audio and visual to olfactory. A flower-like sculpture references the shape of the LF-ZC’s steering wheel and entices viewers to interact with its rugged, earthy texture.  It responds to human touch with fluctuations in the volume and intensity of the installation’s site-specific sound composition. A second sculpture reimagines the form of the LF-ZC’s headrest as a section of lounge seating which emanates a Lexus-inspired scent in response to visitors’ interaction. Anchoring the four-part installation is a wind-activated, lattice-like sculpture that uses UV-reactive bioplastic material to detect shifts in UV radiation, responding to this stimuli with a subtle reveal of the Lexus logo across the delicate structure. Each response discovered throughout the installation is an expression of the expansive possibilities of material innovation and software-enabled reactive design.

On view through December 15, Liminal Cycles marks Lexus’ third year partnering with ICA Miami and the brand’s ninth year participating in Miami Art & Design Week. Through their collaboration and presentation of world-class installations, Lexus and ICA Miami are committed to building inspiring experiences that encourage thoughtful dialogue centring on creativity and design.

Founded by Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král, Crafting Plastics is recognized as a global advocate for the adoption of biobased materials within mainstream creative industries from fashion and product design to interior homewares. With the groundbreaking development of their proprietary Nuatan® material series, Crafting Plastics challenges a design landscape where planned obsolescence and significant environmental waste is the norm. Through this collaboration, Lexus and Crafting Plastics employ an elevated approach to responsible design that combines beauty, utility and endurance, with an emphasis on reuse and reintegration.

“This installation presents a rare opportunity to explore an ambitious creative project that demonstrates the extensive capabilities of biomaterials with minimal compromises,” says Vlasta Kubušová, co-founder of Crafting Plastics. “We are proud to showcase our vision alongside Lexus, a brand that shares the same values of sustainability and innovation in design. We hope that visitors will be inspired by the possibilities of bio-based materials and begin to view them as an asset of our shared future.”

Lexus in Design Capsule Collection

Expanding upon its dedication to the future of sensorial design and holistic luxury experience, Lexus introduces an exclusive capsule collection of 26 collectible design objects crafted by a group of leading design talents. Selected for their individual explorations of sustainability, sensory design, and material innovation, Lexus in Design collaborated with five visionary designers–Crafting Plastics, Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy, and Tara Sakhi (T SAKHI)–for this one-of-a-kind collection. For the collection, the five designers each created an edition of bespoke objects inspired by key elements of Lexus’ brand ethos–personalization, sustainability, materiality, technology, and performance. The objects serve as sensory vessels, designed to hold a specially crafted Lexus fragrance in candle or diffuser form.

Throughout the collection, the designers employ materials ranging from amber glass, gold leaf, fired clay and ceramic, to biodegradable plastic, interlocking slit paper, and recycled aluminium from a Lexus hood. The resulting collection balances innovation with heritage, the ephemeral with the collectible, and technology with human nature to transport viewers on an immersive and sensory journey.

Each designer’s creations unite Lexus’ design ethos with their existing practice.

• Crafting Plastics’ Ephemerables series marries the core ethos of personalization with their use of bioplastics in modular, customizable and biodegradable forms.
• Germane Barnes’ ceramic vessels in his series, The Beauty of Labor, echo his award-winning research to reflect the value of high-quality performance in all aspects of design.
• Tara Sakhi (T SAKHI)’s Memory series encounters sustainability as an expressive representation of material evolution, resulting in exceptional luxury design achieved through the fusion of recyclable material.
• Michael Bennett presents a series of amber glass vessels, titled Synesthesia, as an exercise in materiality and repetition inspired by Lexus’ meticulous design process.
• Suchi Reddy foregrounds the role of technology in the design process with Bloom, a tabletop centerpiece for flowers and scents, employing interlocking slit paper to explore the intersection of technology-enabled intelligent design.

Lexus in Design x dilo Candle

Alongside the capsule collection, Lexus also launches a custom scent developed in close collaboration with clean fragrance brand dilo and created specifically for integration into the capsule collection and Liminal Cycles installation. The fragrance will also be available as a limited-edition candle and features prominent top notes of blood orange and bergamot, paired with nature-inspired hints of cedar and moss and a renewing base of amber and fir. The candle’s overall olfactory profile welcomes notions of progress and renewal balanced with a grounding alignment with nature. Renowned for its innovative scents and clean formulas, dilo uses 100% US-grown soy wax, non-phthalate fragrances, and clean burning cotton wicks.

“We are honored to collaborate with some of the world’s leading designers to bring Lexus’ vision of holistic luxury and personalized experience to life through this year’s installation and launch of our capsule collection,” says Heather Updegraff, ​​General Manager of Lexus International Strategic Communications. “These works embody the potential of responsive technology, sustainable materials, and sensory-driven design, offering a tangible glimpse into the future while inspiring viewers to contemplate these concepts in their everyday lives.”

The Lexus in Design capsule collection will be on view at ICA Miami and Alcova Miami during Miami Art & Design Week 2024. Pieces from the collection will be available for purchase at the ICA Miami gift shop and online at HBX.com, with sales profits going toward the support of ICA Miami’s sustainability initiatives.

Once again, in the ICA Miami sculpture garden, Lexus will present Lexus Art Series: Art and Innovation Talks with Whitewall alongside the Liminal Cycles installation. On Wednesday, December 4, two panels will engage the public in inspiring discussions centering on materiality and sustainability in luxury and automotive design. Moderators, Katy Donoghue (Whitewall Editor-in-Chief) and Tamara Warren (Co-founder & CEO of LE CAR) will be joined on stage by designers Vlasta Kubušová (Crafting Plastics), Suchi Reddy, Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër) and Tara Sakhi (T SAKHI) as well as Sellene Lee, Chief Designer at Calty Design Research.

ABOUT LEXUS

Lexus launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 2.33 million electrified vehicles including HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs.

A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its line-up to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries/regions worldwide.

Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.

ABOUT CRAFTING PLASTICS

Crafting Plastics is an award-winning interdisciplinary design and research studio founded by Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král in 2016. The studio’s practice focuses on the research, development and implementation of a new generation of advanced ecological bio-based materials, both currently and in the future. Operating at the intersection of science and design, Crafting Plastics revolutionizes the properties and aesthetics of ephemeral materials, such as naturally-derived bioplastics, to offer durable design solutions across diverse industries. At the forefront of its practice, Crafting Plastics works to develop natural and scalable bioplastics to elevate the application and uses of the material within design and architecture. Nuatan®, the material brand developed by Crafting Plastics, is an ecological alternative to fossil-fuel-based plastic, created using 100% biobased and biodegradable biopolymer blends. Additionally, the studio is conducting innovative research on advanced environmentally responsive materials that act as sensing systems and enhance the relationship between humans and nature.

Crafting Plastics has worked with renowned brands such as Dior, Nike and Lexus, and presented projects at distinguished institutions worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, ALCOVA, MAK Vienna and Salon de Mobile. The studio has earned international acclaim, receiving nominations for the Slovak National Design Award, German Design Award (2018, 2021) and Beazley Designs of the Year at the London Design Museum. In 2022 Crafting Plastics was recognized by Dezeen as one of the world’s top emerging studios and in 2018 co-founder Vlasta Kubušová was featured in Forbes Slovakia’s 30 Under 30 List, underscoring Crafting Plastic’s pioneering role in circular design and sustainable material innovation.

ABOUT DILO

Founded in 2017 in Philadelphia, dilo launched as a product designer and manufacturer of comfort goods - candles, room sprays, reed diffusers - all that tell a story beyond their typical use. In the years to follow dilo filled out collections with Eau de Parfum, Apparel, Incense, and other home and personal care products, all designed and created carefully to ensure that they are of the cleanest in the industry. Largely picked up by independent retailers, dilo can be found in all 50 States and in several countries within Europe, Asia, and Australia.

• Lexus is the Official Automotive Partner and Platinum Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals, the annual climax of the premier international men’s tennis competition, taking place in Turin, Italy, from November 10-17 
• New “Lexus Break Point” digital screen flashes will highlight crucial moments in every match 
• New Lexus video driving game will challenge visitors to the Lexus Experience Amazing booth in the Fan Village 
• The latest Lexus LBX and NX SUV models will be on display at the competition venue and the dramatic LF-ZC battery electric concept car will be showcased in Turin’s historic city centre 
• A fleet of Lexus electrified vehicles will provide official transport for players, officials and tournament VIPs 
• Nicolai Kjær, Lexus Ambassador and the world’s number one-ranked junior men’s player, selected to participate as a sparring partner for the finalists 

Lexus joins the sporting world in anticipating competition of the highest quality at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, the climax of the premiere international men’s tennis competition, taking place in Turin, Italy, from November 10-17.

Completing its second season as Official Automotive Partner and Platinum Partner of the ATP Tour, Lexus will be adding to the excitement and engagement for spectators and helping with the smooth running of the prestigious event.

The competition brings together the top eight singles players and doubles teams who have achieved the best qualifying results during the 2024 ATP Tour season. The competition has an initial round-robin format in which each player plays three matches to secure a place in the semi-final, one step from the final and the overall title.

Lexus’ presence at the tournament venue, the Inalpi Arena, will include the new “Lexus Break Point,” a flash logo displayed on the large digital courtside screens, every time a player has the chance to break their opponent’s serve.

In the Fan Village the Lexus booth will offer a fun challenge to visitors in a new video driving game. Players choose their Lexus model – hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric – and collect tennis balls to score points along the route. Featured Lexus models on display are the all-new LBX hybrid and the latest NX hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs.

Moving beyond the venue, Lexus will showcase its dramatically styled LF-ZC concept car – its vision for a future battery electric sedan – in Turin’s historic city centre.

Throughout the competition, Lexus electrified models will be a familiar sight on the roads to and from the arena, with a fleet provided by Lexus serving as official transport for the players, tournament officials and VIP guests.

The finals further provide an exciting opportunity for Nicolai Kjær, a Lexus Ambassador and the International Tennis Federation’s current number one junior player. The 18-year-old Norwegian star has been selected to join the tournament as a practice partner for the finalists, giving him the chance to test and develop his skills with the world’s finest professionals. 
 

• Boundary-pushing design and research studio to present multi-sensory installation at ICA Miami, showcasing the expansive possibilities of sustainable material innovation and software-enabled reactive design 
• Lexus announces limited-edition vessel collection with collectible objects from Germane Barnes, Suchi Reddy, Tara Sakhi, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër) and Crafting Plastics, dilo to launch a custom fragrance inspired by Lexus 

Today, Lexus announces its collaboration with award-winning design and research studio Crafting Plastics to present an interactive, multi-sensory installation during Miami Art & Design Week 2024. In partnership with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami), the installation will be on view in the Museum’s sculpture garden this December. To accompany the installation, Lexus will debut a new product extension developed in collaboration with clean fragrance brand dilo, for which four additional designers–Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy and Tara Sakhi, –will join Crafting Plastics to create a capsule collection of 26 limited-edition collectible design objects.

Titled Liminal Cycles, the installation’s central sculpture is directly inspired by the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Lexus LF-ZC concept car and is made from environmentally responsive bioplastic materials, welcoming viewers to explore Crafting Plastics’ and Lexus’ innovations in personalization and responsiveness within responsible design. The installation will be on view from December 4 throughout Miami Art & Design Week.

Liminal Cycles will explore the developing concept of SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles), meaning a vehicle with software-enabled personalization and adaptability. Taking its dedication to personal and responsible luxury to the next level, Lexus invites viewers on a multi-sensory exploration of the dynamic innovations in sustainable materials and reactive software, signalling toward a future of customizable in-vehicle experiences.

Through its collaboration with Crafting Plastics, Lexus will present four interactive and sensory-responsive sculptural pieces, including a central sculpture designed to reference the Lexus LF-ZC at scale. To embody Lexus’ ethos of connectivity, craftsmanship, sensory design, and commitment to advancing sustainability research, Liminal Cycles depicts the Lexus LF-ZC as a living, breathing organism in harmony with its surroundings. The four-part installation will engage viewers through sight, smell, sound and touch with reactive changes to the sculptures’ color, amplified sound, and an aromatic mist featuring the new Lexus in Design fragrance developed in partnership with dilo.

The central sculpture employs UV-responsive material skin to change its colour based on fluctuations in ultraviolet radiation levels in real time. Alongside the central piece, two satellite installations transform interior design elements of the Lexus LF-ZC into interactive sensory experiences. The concept car’s steering wheel and headrest forms are each reimagined as complimentary sculptures, enlisting environmentally responsive technology to prompt visual, tactile, auditory and olfactory responses triggered by the viewer’s proximity. Finally, a bioplastic lattice design and UV-responsive material skin are incorporated into a wind-activated third satellite sculpture, revealing the Lexus logo in a striking and unique optical experience emphasizing the ephemeral quality of materials derived from natural environments.

“We are thrilled to return to ICA Miami with another large-scale project, this time with revelatory design studio Crafting Plastics,” says Heather Updegraff, ​​General Manager of Lexus International Strategic Communications. “Vlasta and Miroslav are pushing the boundaries of technological and material capabilities and we are honoured to collaborate with them in creating an immersive work that represents some of the most exciting concepts being developed at Lexus today.”

Founded by Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král, Crafting Plastics has quickly become a global advocate for the adoption of bioplastics within design and fashion industries. With their pioneering use of plant-based biopolymer materials to create design objects, installations, functional fashion items and accessories, Crafting Plastics continues to demonstrate the accessibility, durability, and functionality of biobased materials for varying use cases. The studio is credited with its ground-breaking development of the material brand, Nuatan®, a plastic-like, bio-based material series that is biodegradable and based on 100% renewable resources, leaving no microplastics behind.

Guided by the intention to design products with a built-in lifespan, embracing both utility and an eventual reintegration into the natural world, Crafting Plastics’ practice ranges from small-scale products such as eyewear to large-scale installations and collaborations with renowned brands like Dior, Cash App, Nike, and more. Crafting Plastics has long been committed to expanding the possibilities of sustainable materials, making the duo a natural collaborator to join Lexus in its exploration of circular materials, technology, and personalization.

“We’re honoured to collaborate with Lexus, whose commitment to sustainability and innovation, aligns closely with our own mission,” comments Vlasta Kubušová, co-founder of Crafting Plastics. “Through this collaboration, we have fully integrated sustainable material innovation into a luxury context to showcase the potential of bio-based materials that are durable, scalable and responsive. We hope this sensory installation allows viewers to explore these possibilities in a tangible and memorable experience."

2024 marks Lexus’ third year partnering with ICA Miami to present Lexus in Design during Miami Art & Design Week.

“Sustainability is a critical focus for ICA Miami in our practices across the museum, so it is wonderful to partner once again with Lexus to raise awareness about sustainable design,” said Alex Gartenfeld, Irma and Norman Braman Artistic Director of ICA Miami. “Vlasta and Miroslav have a truly innovative and exciting approach to using sustainable materials, and we are thrilled to provide this platform for their work.”

Accompanying the Liminal Cycles installation is a new Lexus in Design capsule collection of collectible design objects developed in collaboration with leading design talents as well as clean fragrance brand, dilo. Alongside Crafting Plastics, renowned designers Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett (Studio Kër), Suchi Reddy and Tara Sakhi will each create editions of distinct design objects. Each edition of five will embody the core aspects of Lexus’ brand ethos–personalization, sustainability, materiality, technology, and performance. Dilo will create a custom scent inspired by the collection, which will be integrated into the Liminal Cycles installation and design objects and will also be featured as a limited edition candle.

The limited-edition collection will be on view and available for purchase at ICA Miami, coinciding with the unveiling of Liminal Cycles. Design objects from the capsule collection and the limited edition Lexus in Design candle will be available for purchase at HBX.com with sales profits going toward support of ICA Miami’s sustainability initiatives.

Returning this year will be the Lexus Art Series: Art and Innovation talks with Whitewall, a program of engaging discussions between Lexus collaborators, ambassadors, and industry leaders across the art and design worlds. Details on the Lexus Art Series are to be announced.

ABOUT INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, MIAMI

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) is dedicated to promoting continuous experimentation in contemporary art, advancing new scholarship, and fostering the exchange of art and ideas throughout the Miami region and internationally. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs, and its collection, ICA Miami provides an important international platform for the work of local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, and advances the public appreciation and understanding of the most innovative art of our time. Launched in 2014, ICA Miami opened its new permanent home in Miami’s Design District in December 2017. The museum’s central location positions it as a cultural anchor within the community and enhances its role in developing cultural literacy throughout the Miami region. The museum offers free admission, providing audiences with open, public access to artistic excellence year-round.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami is located at 61 NE 41st Street, Miami, Florida 33137. For more information, visit icamiami.org or follow the museum on Instagram and explore the ICA Channel for inside looks at ICA Miami exhibitions and the practices of the most exciting artists working today.

ABOUT LEXUS

Lexus launched in 1989 with a flagship sedan and a guest experience that helped define the premium automotive industry. In 1998, Lexus introduced the luxury crossover category with the launch of the Lexus RX. The luxury hybrid sales leader, Lexus delivered the world’s first luxury hybrid and has since sold over 2.33 million electrified vehicles including HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs.

A global luxury automotive brand with an unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has developed its line-up to meet the needs of the next generation of global luxury guests and is currently available in over 90 countries/regions worldwide.

Lexus associates/team members across the world are dedicated to crafting amazing experiences that are uniquely Lexus, and that excite and change the world.

ABOUT CRAFTING PLASTICS

Crafting Plastics is an award-winning interdisciplinary design and research studio founded by Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král in 2016. The studio’s practice focuses on the research, development and implementation of a new generation of advanced ecological bio-based materials, both currently and in the future. Operating at the intersection of science and design, Crafting Plastics revolutionizes the properties and aesthetics of ephemeral materials, such as naturally-derived bioplastics, to offer durable design solutions across diverse industries. At the forefront of its practice, Crafting Plastics works to develop natural and scalable bioplastics to elevate the application and uses of the material within design and architecture. Nuatan®, the material brand developed by Crafting Plastics, is an ecological alternative to fossil-fuel-based plastic, created using 100% biobased and biodegradable biopolymer blends. Additionally, the studio is conducting innovative research on advanced environmentally responsive materials that act as sensing systems and enhance the relationship between humans and nature.

Crafting Plastics has worked with renowned brands such as Dior, Nike and Lexus, and presented projects at distinguished institutions worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, ALCOVA, MAK Vienna and Salon de Mobile. The studio has earned international acclaim, receiving nominations for the Slovak National Design Award, German Design Award (2018, 2021) and Beazley Designs of the Year at the London Design Museum. In 2022 Crafting Plastics was recognized by Dezeen as one of the world’s top emerging studios and in 2018 co-founder Vlasta Kubušová was featured in Forbes Slovakia’s 30 Under 30 List, underscoring Crafting Plastic’s pioneering role in circular design and sustainable material innovation.

ABOUT DILO

Founded in 2017 in Philadelphia, dilo launched as a product designer and manufacturer of comfort goods - candles, room sprays, reed diffusers - all that tell a story beyond their typical use. In the years to follow dilo filled out collections with Eau de Parfum, Apparel, Incense, and other home and personal care products, all designed and created carefully to ensure that they are of the cleanest in the industry. Largely picked up by independent retailers, dilo can be found in all 50 States and in several countries within Europe, Asia, and Australia.

• A new Lexus that’s designed to help you make the most of leisure lifestyles and take you closer to nature
• The latest version of Lexus’ globally successful mid-size SUV and best-seller in Europe
• Strong exterior styling features and a raised ride height that gives a commanding view of the landscape
• Smart black/khaki interior with new Bookmatch woodgrain door inlays
• Exclusive new Moon Desert exterior paint colour
• Personal well-being supported by sophisticated Lexus Climate Concierge, power-adjustable seating and ambient lighting system with 64 colour options
• Trail mode provided for stable, comfortable driving on rougher or loose surfaces
• NX Overtrail available in NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, NX 350h self-charging hybrid and NX 350 petrol versions
• Available to view and purchase at Lexus centres and online now

INTRODUCTION

Lexus presents the NX Overtrail, an SUV that’s designed to be an ideal choice for those who enjoy a free and easy lifestyle where personal wellbeing, a love of nature and the great outdoors are priorities.

The NX Overtrail is the perfect partner for trips away from the daily routine to explore new horizons, enjoy new experiences and recharge your inner batteries. It’s equipped to take rougher roads in its stride, while being equally poised and confident when travelling on urban streets.

Whatever the destination, life on board is comfortable, safe, and care-free, with uniquely Lexus luxury craftsmanship, intelligent technologies, and comprehensive safety provisions.

It builds on a heritage of worldwide success for the NX. It has been a consistent best-seller for Lexus in Europe while worldwide its popularity places it second only to the larger RX model. The NX Overtrail comes with all the winning qualities that have made it the choice of hundreds of thousands of customers.

THE NX OVERTRAIL PROJECT

In the belief that “one size does not fit all,” Lexus is evolving its model range to offer choices that appeal to an ever-wider range of customers, developing styling, colours, equipment features and performance to keep step with changing trends and preferences. It is about “making luxury personal,” giving people more freedom to build the car that meets their needs and makes a statement about their personality and lifestyle.

The new NX Overtrail reflects this strategy, an interpretation of the best-selling NX mid-size luxury SUV that’s designed to promote more peaceful, confident and fulfilling journeys, whether driving around town or getting closer to nature on roads less travelled. It’s the perfect partner for those who enjoy active pastimes, exploring new landscapes or simply getting away from it all. Supremely quiet, comfortable, and relaxing, it’s a car that can make the journey all part of an enriching experience.

Its design sets it apart from the regular NX range with styling details that project strength and purpose and a raised ride to give everyone on board a more commanding view of the road and landscape. Just as the NX F SPORT models put the focus on dynamic style and performance, the NX Overtrail speaks to those keen to travel beyond the everyday and enjoy a sense of “refined adventure”.

THE NX OVERTRAIL IN DETAIL

Exterior

The NX Overtrail is easily distinguished from other NX models with its dedicated external styling features. It sits higher from the ground, with the suspension raised by 15 mm, and rides on exclusive-design 18-inch matt black alloy wheels fitted with chunky all-terrain tyres. The black detailing theme also includes the roof rails, the door mirror casings and the fog lamp surrounds. The window mouldings have a black metallic finish, while the Lexus spindle grille has a gloss black mesh and black stainless steel surround.

These black elements strike a sharp contrast with the NX Overtrail’s signature new colour, Moon Desert. Six other paint finishes are available. In a distinctive touch, the LEXUS name on the back door is rendered in grey.

Interior

The cabin is equally distinctive, with an Overtrail-exclusive finish. Supple yet durable Tahara black synthetic leather is used for the seat upholstery, with contrasting khaki used for the bolsters, arm rests, door panels and detail stitching in the black headlining. There are also new Bookmatch natural woodgrain trim inserts.

True to the Lexus welcoming spirit of Omotenashi, there is a range of features that help make life on board more comfortable, relaxing, and restorative. For example, the air conditioning system uses advanced nanoe-X air quality technology, feeding trillions of minuscule water molecules into the cabin. This has the proven effect of combating bacteria, viruses, mould and bad odours, while also helping refresh human hair and skin with a moisturising effect. And with the Lexus Climate Concierge system, heating and ventilation sources are precisely adjusted to ensure an ideal temperature for all occupants. The front seats are heated and ventilated and power adjustable.

The cabin’s ambient lighting system can also be used to foster wellbeing. This provides, gentle, indirect illumination in the footwells, door panels and centre consoles, with 64 different colours to choose from, to suit your mood or the journey. The spectrum includes 14 shades curated by Lexus to reflect different moods inspired by nature.

The interior lay-out is flexible so you can easily fold rear seats when you need more space to carry your leisure kit or luggage. Even with all the seats in place there’s room for two large suitcases in the load space, while a power back door with hands-free kick-sensor operation makes loading easy. If you need to carry more, there are multiple accessories such as roof boxes and cycle carriers to choose from. If a towing hitch has been specified, you can tow up to 1,500 kg* – muscle enough to carry plenty of sports or leisure equipment.

*Towing capacities may vary according to local market.

Smart technologies

The NX Overtrail keeps you connected when on the move with the latest Lexus Link Pro multimedia system. This package includes a high-definition 14-inch touchscreen, an on-board voice assistant and both cloud-based and embedded navigation systems. As well as a front USB-A port for device connection, there are four USB-C charging ports, plus a wireless smartphone charging tray. Simple wireless smartphone connection is enabled for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Keeping you safe

This is a car that’s constantly working to keep you safe, warning of hazards and ready to act when there’s imminent risk of an accident. The latest generation Lexus Safety System + uses advanced camera and radar technology to check the NX’s surroundings, recognise hazards and alert the driver or initiate braking, steering and car control to help avoid an accident. As well making driving safer, it eases the burden on the driver, effortlessly maintaining a steady speed and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles and road users.

 The NX was the first Lexus to be equipped with an E-latch system. Linked to the car’s Blind Spot Monitor, this gives an alert if the driver or a passenger is about to open a door into the path of traffic approaching from the rear. If necessary, it will block the door opening if there is a collision risk.

There is more help when you need to manoeuvre into tight parking spaces with both front and rear parking sensors. When precise positioning is needed, a Panoramic View Monitor gives you a 360-degree view of the area immediately around – and beneath – the car, showing areas that can’t be seen from the wheel.

The driving experience

For the driver, the elevated position at the wheel is complemented by the Tazuna cockpit design. Tazuna is a Japanese term describing a rider’s control of their horse using just slight adjustment of the reins; in the NX it provides similar easy and intuitive control with all the principal controls and information sources – head-up display, digital instrumentation, and multimedia display – arranged closely around the driver, so only minimal hand or eye movement are needed, keeping your focus firmly on the road ahead.

The raised suspension increases the ground clearance to 200 mm, so the NX Overtrail can take uneven road surfaces in its stride. On slightly loose and slippery ground, the driver can engage Trail mode which has been added to the Drive Mode Select.  This automatically optimises the car’s suspension and control systems to suit the conditions.

Like the NX F SPORT, the Overtrail has sophisticated Adaptive Variable Suspension which instantly responds to changes in the driving conditions so that the ride remains stable, comfortable and reassuring. Precise handling and body control are further helped by additional performance dampers at the rear of the vehicle.

Peaceful progress

A calm and quiet cabin is central to the NX Overtrail driving experience. To ensure life on board is insulated from unwelcome noise and vibration, Lexus began right at the start of the car’s development phase by risk-mapping of the interior so that countermeasures could be perfectly designed and located.

Major features that suppress noise intrusion and generation include using acoustic-quality glass for the windscreen and front windows and adopting flush door mouldings and a new twin-latch system for securing the bonnet. The level of attention extends all the way to the surface shape of the fins on the cabin air vents to minimise noise from the airflow. There’s also the benefit of Active Noise Control which reduces noise and booming from the engine.

Powertrains

The NX Overtrail can be specified with three of the current NX powertrains: the NX 350h self-charging hybrid; the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid and the NX 350 petrol (available only in Eastern Europe). All-wheel drive is provided as standard – Lexus’ electric E-Four system on the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

THE NX SUCCESS STORY

The first generation NX was first introduced in 2014 and was an instant success for Lexus. Having originated the market for luxury, recreational SUVs with the RX model in 1998, the company was now offering a mid-size model that gave the brand wider appeal, reaching new and younger customers.

The aim was to capture the crossover between sport and fashion, witnessed in everything from fashion to bikes and watches. Practicality was blended with user-friendly tech and refinement to create a car that expressed “progressive luxury”.

The NX was established as Lexus’ best-selling model in Europe by the time an all-new second generation was introduced in 2021. This was a transformative model, not just for the NX but Lexus as a whole, opening the “next chapter” for the brand, setting the template for every subsequent new model.

The innovation extended from a brand new vehicle platform to a new design language and new powertrains. It was Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid and the first model to adopt the Tazuna driver’s cockpit design.  “Feel More in Every Moment” was the tagline, reflecting how the car’s dynamic performance – the control, comfort and confidence of the Lexus Driving Signature – had been taken to a higher level.

To date, Lexus has sold almost a quarter of a million NX models in Europe and more than 1.5 million globally. Last year it was again the brand’s most popular European model, with nearly 26,000 units sold. By the end of June this year, the sales tally stood at more than 13,000 units.

• Lexus congratulates the winners of the 81^st Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale de Venezia – which concluded yesterday
• Lexus has proudly fulfilled its role in the international celebration of cinema as the official car of the festival for an eighth consecutive year
• The luxury car maker’s electrified models brought actors, directors, celebrities and officials to and from festival red carpet events
• Lexus put its future in the festival spotlight, presenting its LF-ZC concept for a future electric performance sedan in a special installation

The 81^st Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia – drew to a close yesterday with Lexus joining the international world of cinema to celebrate the event’s success and the winners of its prestigious Golden Lion awards. This year the leading honour was bestowed on “The Room Next Door,” a film by Pedro Almodóvar.

This was the eighth consecutive year for Lexus as the official car of the festival, where it proudly provided luxury transport to red carpet events and screenings for such respected and famous figures as Sveva Alviti, Isabelle Huppert, Willem Dafoe, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Kevin Costner. Its fleet numbered 35 cars and featured all its principal electrified models, including the LBX Self-charging Hybrid, NX Plug-in Hybrid, RX Performance Hybrid and the all-electric RZ.

Together, these provided a powerful expression of the luxury brand’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Going further, the festival also turned the spotlight on Lexus’ visionary nature and its commitment to achieving a green transition in the premium car sector, with an installation on the Venice Lido dedicated to the LF-ZC – Lexus Future Zero Catalyst.

Signalling a future production model that could appear as soon as 2026, the LF-ZC is a powerfully styled concept, designed for mobility without compromise. It stands as an emblem of Lexus’ desire to embrace a future of sustainable mobility, applying cutting-edge technologies that not only respect the environment but also raise the driving experience to new heights.

This message was reinforced at the festival by Italian actor and Lexus Ambassador Stefano De Martino. He said: “It was exciting as always to be in Venice with Lexus for the festival again and a source of pride. When I enter a theatre to watch a film, I know that it will stir emotions, and it’s a similar experience when I get into my Lexus. It’s something unique, combining beauty, technology, innovation and sustainability. It’s a vision in the present but which looks ahead towards the future of mobility.

“The Venice Film Festival and Lexus both stand as an undisputed point of reference for excellence in their respective fields.”

The bond between Lexus and Venice has deep roots, they share the same vision and values, for people and sustainability. This has inspired Lexus in its support for the world of entertainment and the shared desire to create magical experiences that stir the emotions.

• Lexus is the official car of the 81st Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia 
• A fleet of Lexus electrified cars is providing luxury transport for actors, directors and delegates to red carpet events at festival venues 
• Lexus’ eighth year of official support for the festival reflects the values of craftsmanship, innovation and the desire to deliver amazing experiences the brand shares with the world of film 
• A special installation on the Venice Lido is showcasing the exciting LF-ZC concept for a future electric performance sedan 

The 81^st Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia – just opened, with Lexus returning as the official car of the festival for an eighth consecutive year. The event, one of the world’s most celebrated and significant celebrations of cinematic art and achievement, provides Lexus with a perfect opportunity to present the style, comfort and driving rewards of its luxury models.

As in previous years, a fleet of Lexus electrified vehicles will provide transport for actors, directors, VIP guests and officials to and from red carpet events. The celebrities enjoying the Lexus experience include Sveva Alviti, this year’s festival “godmother”. The line-up of cars features the LBX Self-Charging Hybrid – which made a high-profile debut at last year’s festival – the NX Plug-In Hybrid, the RX Performance Hybrid and the all-electric RZ. Together they demonstrate Lexus design and innovation excellence, embracing different options for electrified driving.

Lexus joined the red carpet for last evening’s opening ceremony and the premiere screening of the new Tim Burton feature “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, starring Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Sveva Alviti. The occasion also marked the first festival engagement for Italian actress Miriam Leone in her role as an official Lexus ambassador. Leone’s talent, charisma, and versatility make her an ideal match for the brand and highlights Lexus’ strong bond with the world of cinema.

“I am thrilled to take part in the 81st Venice Film Festival with Lexus, a brand that perfectly reflects my own dedication to excellence in every detail,” said Miriam Leone. “I have a strong affinity with brand and its passion for creating unique and unforgettable experiences, always putting people at the centre of everything. I can’t wait to explore the ways in which the ‘extraordinary’ will be presented in Venice, experiencing the magic of cinema and Lexus’ visionary quality.”

Just as film has its “auteurs”, Lexus pursues a similar desire to create new experiences through meticulous attention to detail, innovative solutions and exceptional craftsmanship – values that for years have linked the brand and the world of cinema. Both place people at the centre of what they do, using their vision and talents to convey authentic, unique and memorable emotions.

“We are honoured to once again be part of La Biennale,” said Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy. “Cinema is the ultimate representation of emotion, innovation and talent. It stirs the imagination and provokes passion. For us at Lexus this is an opportunity to do something disruptive. We are here with a range of electrified cars that are of the moment, but we are also giving a glimpse of the future, with new concepts and a vision for even more sustainable mobility, true to our desire to amaze, innovate and dream.”

The visionary aspect of Lexus is reflected in an installation – for the first time on the Venice Lido – dedicated to the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Emission Catalyst). Against the evocative backdrop of the Venice Lagoon, this concept study provides a first taste of a future flagship for the brand, demonstrating Lexus’ wish to maximise the potential offered by electrification and giving shape to its ideas for a new era in mobility.
 

This year, 17 retailers have been recognised for both their business achievements and an exceptional level of customer service that delivers uniquely Lexus “Omotenashi” hospitality. In essence, this treats every customer with the care and attention to detail that would be extended to a guest in the home, reinforcing the Lexus’ principle of “making luxury personal”.

Pascal Ruch, Toyota Motor Europe Vice President for Lexus, commented: “This is an exciting time for our retailers as we work with them on our programme for future electrified models and maximising the opportunities offered by digitalisation. At the same, we are maintaining our human-centred approach, ensuring that we give our customers a great experience, whether they are visiting our centres in person or through our digital channels.

“My congratulations go to this year’s winners, each of whom has attained exceptional levels of business performance and service.”

The Kiwami (“outstanding excellence”) Awards were introduced in 2016 and this year more than 340 official Lexus retailers were eligible for consideration across Europe.

This years’ winners are being rewarded with a four-day event in Norway (June 28th to July 1st), including an electrification fact finding and best practice sharing, a gala dinner, and opportunities to enjoy spectacular landscapes with hiking and fjord expeditions.

The 2024 Kiwami Award winners

Lexus Astana – Kazakhstan

Lexus Baku – Azerbaijan            

Lexus Bologna – Italy

Lexus Dnipro – Ukraine

Lexus Hull – United Kingdom

Lexus Ipswich – United Kingdom

Lexus Kifisias – Greece

Lexus Madrid Norte – Spain

Lexus Mühldorf – Germany

Lexus Osnabrück – Germany

Lexus Palma de Mallorca – Spain

Lexus Pays-Basque – France

Lexus Průhonice – Czech Rep.

Lexus Shymkent – Kazakhstan

Lexus Szczecin – Poland

Lexus Treviso – Italy

Lexus Warszawa-Wola – Poland