The 80^th Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia – reached its climax on Saturday with the traditional presentation of awards, including the coveted Golden Lion for best picture. While the festival celebrated leading cinematic achievement from around the world, Lexus was proud to have completed its duties as Official Car provider for a seventh consecutive year – a role that allowed it to present its own new “star,” the LBX.

This brand-new electrified “breakthrough crossover” shared the red carpet spotlight with some of the best-known names in world cinema. The famous faces included directors Yorgos Lanthimos – this year’s Golden Lion winner – Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola and Liliana Cavani, and actors Adam Driver, Caterina Murino – the “godmother” of this year’s festival – Bar Refaeli, Patrick Dempsey, Charlotte Rampling and Carla Bruni.

The LBX luxury compact SUV will open an important new market for the brand: designed for the European market, it presents a casually elegant style that will resonate with a younger customer base.  It was joined in Vencie by a  fleet of Lexus electrified models, including the RX  turbocharged hybrid, NX plug-in hybrid and all-electric RZ, was on hand to carry VIP guests to and from screenings and events on the Venice Lido. These vehicles were joined by the all-new LM, Lexus’ new “luxury mover” people carrier that will be joining the European range later this year.

Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy, said: “We were honoured to have attended the festival for a seventh year. To make this unique occasion even more memorable, were able to contribute our own star, the new LBX, a car that’s designed for a new audience that values luxury, design and sustainability.”

Lexus shared the red carpet spotlight with famous figures from contemporary European cinema this week at the opening night of the 80^th edition of the Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia.

As the Official Car of the festival for a seventh consecutive year, Lexus is providing a fleet of electrified models as luxury transport for film-makers, actors and VIP attendees to screenings and events, taking place on the Venice Lido until 9 September. The occasion is also providing a high-profile showcase for the all-new LBX, Lexus’ breakthrough new hybrid electric compact crossover that will be launched across Europe later this year.

The festival opened this week (30 August) with the world premiere of the film Comandante. Its director Edoardo De Angelis and leading actor Pierfrancesco Favino were brought to the red carpet by Lexus, together with actor Caterina Murino (Casino Royale) – the “godmother” of this year’s festival – and director Alice Diop (St Omer), the Luigi De Laurentiis Award Jury President.

Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy, said: “Every year we aim to show and tell something new and extraordinary in the wonderful setting of the festival. This year our undoubted ‘star’ is the new Lexus LBX. We are honoured to present this exceptional SUV that we believe will help make the red carpet even more special.”

In just over a month’s time, the spotlights while be shining again on the Venice Lido to launch the 80^th edition of Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia 2023. Lexus is returning as the Official Car of the festival for a seventh consecutive year and giving a starring role to its all-new LBX compact crossover.

The association between Lexus and one of the world’s longest-established cinematic celebrations reinforces the values the brand shares with the world of cinema, aiming to give people unforgettable experiences and opportunities to explore and immerse themselves in new worlds.

Electrified Lexus vehicles will provide chauffeur-driven transport for film-makers, actors and celebrities throughout the festival, which runs from August 30^th to September 9^th.   Actors Zendaya (Spider Man: No Way Home), Mike Faist (West Side Story), Josh O’Connor (The Crown) and Caroline Murino (Casino Royale) will be among those appearing on the red carpet.

The all-new LBX, the smallest Lexus yet, is a landmark model which captures the pioneering spirit of innovation that has long defined the brand. It breaks with luxury car conventions to offer style, comfort and a driving experience that will take Lexus into a vibrant new market in Europe.

Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy, said: “This year we will again be adding to the magical atmosphere in Venice during the film festival, offering guests the chance to enjoy the ultimate Lexus Amazing Experience. We are particularly proud to be bringing the latest addition to our product range to this important stage, the LBX – an SUV that embraces contemporary ideas in design and technology while maintaining the qualities that distinguish the Lexus brand.”

Lexus today unveils a transformation of its all-new RX 500h F SPORT Performance, inspired by Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” This unique version of the large luxury SUV has been created in a collaboration between Lexus’ Calty North American design centre, adidas, adidas S.E.E.D. and 3D printing specialists Carbon, coinciding with the new movie’s worldwide release.

The project is in the spirit of Marvel “What Ifs” and helps celebrate the recent launch of adidas’ “Wakanda Forever” collection by bringing its Black Panther designs into the automotive space. Created for the world’s best athletes, adidas’ performance sportswear embodies the question “What If… Wakanda had a national athletics team?”.

The RX has been given a full body wrap that builds on the custom identity adidas has envisioned for the fictional African nation. It features a tribal print in the signature Wakandan purple used throughout the adidas sportswear collection. The bonnet is inlaid with a diamond pattern inspired by the Black Panther’s claw necklace. Characters from the fictional Wakandan alphabet are used for the F SPORT and Lexus badging, including the word “Vibe-Branium,” denoting the model’s full name: the Lexus RX 500h Vibe-Branium ( ) AWD DIRECT4. 

Michael Moore, Lexus International General Manager, commented: “The all-new RX 500h is part of our expanding Lexus Electrified portfolio with evolved, innovative technology that elevates the driver’s experience. There’s an athleticism in the RX’s performance that makes it a perfect fit for joining the “Wakanda Forever” team.”

Students from adidas S.E.E.D. (School for Experiential Education in Design) were challenged to reimagine the vehicle’s interior, again taking the new movie sequel as their inspiration.  They were guided through the creative process by Calty Design Research, Lexus’ North American design centre, with workshops on Lexus design principles, creative processes, colours, materials and the power of collaboration.

The custom build will feature future-focused designs, textures and materials, with adidas’s custom Wakandan tribal gold print featured on the seat upholstery, door panel inserts and purple sections of the steering wheel. The F SPORT door sill plate is translated in the Wakandan alphabet ( ) and the steering wheel is embroidered with “Wakanda Forever” ( ). Key tactile areas such as the steering wheel pad and front and rear headrests are covered in the Carbon 3D printed energy-returning athletic shoe mid-sole material used in the adidas 4D-FWD. The front head rests include the Lexus emblem and the rear centre head rest carries the iconic adidas’s logo. A laser-cut wood finish around the shift lever and gold trim accents help create a distinctively Wakandan environment. 

The collaborative project has been recorded in a documentary short film by multi-talented visual storyteller Cami Thomas. Set for release on digital platforms, this feature stands as another example of Lexus’ mission to inspire and nurture emerging creative talent.

Alex Shen, Chief Designer at Calty Design Research, said: “Lexus, adidas and Black Panther may seem like brands that come from totally different worlds but the thread that draws everything together is the pursuit and leadership in unique story-telling and innovative technology.”

Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson, Director, Design Education & Growth | S.E.E.D., adidas, added: “A critical aspect of our curriculum is “open-source” product creation where we partner with experts across various industries to educate and co-create with our S.E.E.D. designers to bring unique products to life. So, collaborating with Lexus, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, Carbon, Calty, and Annex to design the Lexus RX 500h Vibe-Branium Direct4 was such a transformative experience for our students. The end result is a powerful example of what can happen when we leverage the ‘collective genius’ across disciplines.”

Carbon, an adidas partner since 2017, has revolutionised athletic footwear by providing the technology platform for the production of adidas 4D midsoles. Carbon DLS™ (Digital Light Synthesis™) technology is pioneered by 3D printing specialists, aligning innovation and sustainability in collaboration with adidas to create a portfolio of athletic footwear that meets specific performance needs. In addition, Carbon’s footprint on the silver screen contributing to costumes, animatronics and other-worldly environments make them the perfect partner to help realise the S.E.E.D students’ vision.

The project also being celebrated with a limited-edition T-shirt designed by adidas S.E.E.D. students. This features an African proverb in Wakandan script, “ ” (“Educate a Woman, Educate a Nation”), rendered in the traditional Japanese Tategaki style. On the back of the shirt, the periodic table is transcribed in Wakandan, celebrating how the country’s vibranium resources helped it build its future-focused society.

For more information, visit https://www.lexus.com/WakandaForever

ABOUT MARVEL STUDIOS’ “BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER”

In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in Europe from November 9^th, 2022.

The Lexus ES 300h self-charging hybrid will make its Italian debut on the red carpet, accompanying actors, directors and other celebrities, while the new Lexus UX 250h self-charging hybrid will be displayed outside the Lexus Lounge Lido set up at the Terrazza Biennale.

A fleet of 40 Lexus self-charging hybrid vehicles will be available throughout the event. Besides the all-new ES, the line-up will include the NX and RX SUVs, as well as the LS flagship sedan and the LC flagship luxury coupe.

"This year again, Lexus is the main sponsor of the Venice Film Festival, the most important Italian film festival and one of the most important in the world”, said Fabio Capano, Director Lexus Italy. “We are continuously looking for such associations with excellent events highlighting our brand values. Lexus wants to go beyond the rational conception of what a luxury car should bring. We aim to provide a unique customer experience, combined with high levels of craftsmanship, quality and innovative technologies. Our search for creativity and innovation expands well beyond the automobile world, to include for instance events such as the Venice Film Festival, where we can convey an exclusive and amazing experience to our customers and the public.”

The SKYJET was created by the Valerian team with the ambition of featuring a vehicle grounded in reality but befitting of the Valerian world, set 700 years in the future. The film’s creatives collaborated with designers at Lexus to incorporate contemporary design cues taking adaptions of current iconic models to create the final SKYJET.

The final design incorporates an adapted interpretation of Lexus’ signature “spindle” grille, and a similar headlight design to that of the hotly anticipated 2018 Lexus LC coupe, defined by an athletic and aerodynamic shape. What’s more, when designing the interior of the concept model, the Valerian creative team were inspired by the brand’s latest developments in AI and advanced HMI technologies. The narrative is also set to incorporate an imagined energy capsule of the future, inspired by Lexus’ work on innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology. First images of the craft were unveiled in November on the same day as the film’s teaser trailer debut.

Commenting on the unveiling Dane said: “I have always wanted to work with Luc Besson because he really hones in on every single detail in his films, bringing the narrative to life in the most imaginative way possible. The collaboration with Lexus on the SKYJET is a great example of this, Valerian's epic chase scenes with the Skyjet are sure to be one of the most exhilarating moments in the film.”

The unveiling of the replica was choreographed to a dramatic lightshow before Dane took to the stage to talk about filming with the SKYJET and working on set with his co-star Cara Delevingne and director Luc Besson.

Commenting on the partnership Spiros Fotinos, Head of Global Brand Marketing at Lexus, added: “When Luc first spoke to us about his vision for Valerian, it was clear that he shared our ambition to go beyond the ordinary and create amazing experiences. It was an exciting challenge to help imagine the design and technologies for the SKYJET from a Lexus point of view. In addition to having our brand be part of an incredible story, we got to enjoy the look of our designers and engineers when we told them they get to work on a spaceship!”

Lexus is set to provide a host of amazing experiences over the next seven months designed to bring film fans around the world closer to the Valerian action in the buildup to the film’s release in July 2017.

Learn more about VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerianMovie
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• Instagram: https://instagram.com/valerianmovie/

#ValerianSKYJET

ABOUT VALERIAN

Rooted in the classic graphic novel series, Valerian and Laureline - visionary writer/director Luc Besson advances this iconic source material into a contemporary, unique and epic science fiction saga.

Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha’s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.