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 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.
 

• 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. 
 

• 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.
 

• Lexus partners with leading European digital artists to create original works inspired by the ‘Everyday Extraordinary’ theme of the Lexus LBX 
• Featured creatives are Sweden’s Andreas Wannerstedt, Ricardo Orts (aka ‘Ulises’), from Spain, and Charlotte Taylor of the UK 
• Each artist has designed visually striking digital artworks, bringing their distinctive, personal touch to the Lexus LBX launch campaign 
• Artworks launched today by the artists and Lexus on social media channels and other platforms 

Lexus has commissioned a collective of pan-European digital artists to create unique visions of everyday city life using immersive design and dynamic imagery to help celebrate the launch of the LBX compact urban crossover.

Each creative has produced visuals and animations drawing on images and film from the LBX’s ‘Everyday Extraordinary’ campaign which open up new perspectives on familiar city environments, using impactful treatments to transform urban architecture and streetscapes. It is the latest original project in a long association between Lexus and the world of contemporary art and design that supports the company’s commitment to innovation and creative thinking.

The new works are being revealed today by the artists on their social channels and will be used by Lexus across a variety of platforms and marketing initiatives designed to capture the attention and appeal to a younger demographic. Each artist will also contribute a behind the scenes film, giving a personal insight into their ideas and how they brought them to life in their artworks. This aligns with the LBX’s reach to new audiences, in particular younger customers, who value premium quality, but with a more casual feel.

Filip Belmans, Lexus Europe Head of Communications and Customer Experience, said: “It has been amazing to see our LBX philosophy interpreted through diverse digital artistry that reimagines everyday city living. Our design ambition for the LBX was to create a car that is more relaxed than formal in character, displaying an authentic, effortless style that people will instantly feel a connection with. Each artist has captured this quality while applying their own creative vision to the project.”

The artists

The three artists, chosen for their original techniques, artistic vision and strong social media presence are Andreas Wannerstedt (Sweden); Ricardo Orts, known as ‘Ulises’ (Spain); and Charlotte Talyor (UK).

Wannerstedt is an art director and 3D artist who is renowned for his sculptures and mesmerising looping animations. He said: “The LBX brings a fresh and extraordinary approach to everyday life. I was inspired by this and the car’s sharp design and choice of vibrant colours to work with Lexus and create an artwork that expresses the new perspective on city life.” 

Ulises is another 3D artist, also experienced in video and animation. His work with Berlin’s Ulises Studio, evokes premium quality and treads a perfect line between the real and surreal. In his animation, the LBX is driven through a typical monochromatic city which gradually transforms into a colourful array of urban architecture.

Charlotte Taylor is a digital artist, founder of the self-named Studio Charlotte Taylor and Maison du Sable. She specialises in architecture, interior design, and art direction.

The ‘Everyday Extraordinary’ campaign

The LBX makes the ‘Everyday Extraordinary’ by elevating the daily driving experience and turning it into something luxurious and engaging. The marketing campaign to launch the new model previously captured this concept in a series of four pop-events hosted in Milan, London, Madrid and Paris in which familiar everyday situations – a car wash, a multi-storey car park, a street art gallery and a bakery – were transformed into immersive luxury experiences, showcasing the LBX.

About the LBX

The self-charging hybrid LBX is the smallest Lexus yet, but fully deserving of its status as a landmark model, one which breaks down the traditional luxury hierarchy and which will be a game-changer for the brand in Europe.

As a new shape within Lexus’ well-established SUV line-up, it offers strong appeal to a younger audience and those who may not have considered a Lexus before. It has been conceived and developed without compromise, offering the craftsmanship quality and equipment features more typical of a larger model and the kind of rewarding driving experience that are part of every new Lexus.

The range is designed to give owners more freedom to express their individual taste and sense of style, true to the way Lexus makes luxury personal. It offers a choice of different “Atmosphere” influences that express a refined, dynamic or sporty theme through different combinations of styling details, colours, textures and finishes.

Learn more about the Lexus LBX at https://newsroom.lexus.eu/lexus-lbx/
 

Lexus is looking forward to a second season of top-level international sporting excitement and competition as the Official Automotive Partner and Platinum Partner of the ATP Tour, the global elite men’s professional tennis circuit. Having launched its support for the series in summer 2023, it will be enjoying even greater prominence in 2024, participating in up to twice as many tournaments. After an exciting partnership start with ATP 250 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, Lexus kicks-off the activation in Europe with the ATP 250 Open Sud de France in Montpellier which gets under way on January 29.

The calendar of Lexus-sponsored tournaments includes 14 events across the region, in countries such as France, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Austria, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Italy, where the city of Turin will host the Nitto ATP Finals, the climax of the ATP Tour, in November.

Lexus activities will be tailored to each tournament, including potential for the prominent display of its latest models such as the all-new Lexus LBX, the all-electric RZ 450e, together with hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric models, and the provision of courtesy vehicles for tournament officials and players.

Lexus will continue to be the title partner of ATP Head2Head, which will present different, exciting and entertaining challenges on the ATP Tour’s digital and social channels. Showcasing the lighter side of the players’ personalities, this will offer fans the chance to see their favourite sporting stars battling each other, also outside the tennis courts, doing something new, interesting and unexpected.

Pascal Ruch, Toyota Motor Europe, Vice President Lexus and Value Chain said: “The ATP Tour provides a perfect, high-profile stage for our brand and this year we will have even more opportunities to connect with millions of people through being part of one of the world’s greatest sporting contests. Human dedication and supreme performance are key to success for the players, just as they are essential qualities for our business and our products. We look forward to contributing to the excitement and engagement on and off the court as the season progresses.”

About the ATP

As the 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 Pepperstone 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 eight qualified singles players and doubles teams, the tournament also sees the official crowning of the year-end ATP World No. 1, presented by Pepperstone, the ultimate achievement in tennis.

• Esteemed award voted for by lounge guests and travel industry leaders
• The exclusive luxury lounge concept remains a benchmark for business travellers
• THE LOFT’s sophisticated design and craftsmanship echoes that of Lexus cars

THE LOFT at Brussels Airport has been again named “Europe’s Leading Airline Lounge 2023” at the prestigious World Travel Awards. The announcement was made last Friday evening at an exclusive gala ceremony in Batumi - Georgia, attended by selected decision-makers, influencers and media from travel, tourism and hospitality. Conceived, crafted and curated by Brussels Airlines and Lexus, THE LOFT lounge has claimed this accolade each year since it opened in 2018.

“Winning this prestigious award for the fifth consecutive time, while having to compete against lounges of globally known airlines, is a real honour. It’s a recognition for our hard work every day, creating a space where people feel at home. I want to thank our guests for their trust in us, all our partners for the great collaboration and of course our team for propagating Belgian hospitality,” comments Olivier Brynaert, Head of Customer Experience, Brussels Airlines.

“This award reaffirms The LOFT as a tangible expression of our brand promise to ‘experience amazing’, and to win it for the fifth time in a row, shows our and all partners unwavering commitment to improve year on a year in a world of fast changing customer expectations”, comments Tommaso Grassi, Head of Communications & Customer Experience at Lexus Europe.

“With its blend of Lexus Takumi craftsmanship and Japanese Omotenashi hospitality, the LOFT offers a uniquely personal luxury experience for the business traveller.

The same purpose has driven the development of the last model of our electrified range, the New Lexus LM, that pushes the boundaries of ultimate in car passenger experience.”

Across more than 2,000 m², the lounge divides into luxury areas with distinctive ambiences, including a central bar, comfortable seating zones and a break-out space for undisturbed working. Iconic Lexus design elements characterise the space, including detailing from the Lexus signature grille, Lexus library and a Mark Levinson audio system.  

On entering THE LOFT, guests are greeted with bespoke touches such as a personal welcome and traditional warm Oshibori towels. They can relax with a wide array of digital newspapers in Lexus LS-like shiatsu massage chairs, enjoy the extra-sensory Grohe shower suites or take a refreshing nap in a bedroom with starlit ceiling, before savouring the fine catering which includes exclusive delights from a Neuhaus maître chocolatier.

THE LOFT at Brussels Airport draws on the award-winning INTERSECT BY LEXUS brand space in Tokyo. This unique airline lounge concept was inspired by Lexus luxury, design and the traditional Japanese Omotenashi hospitality, which centres on anticipating a guest’s needs even before they do.

Lexus Brand Ambassadors welcome guests in THE LOFT each day from 5 am till 9 pm. More information on THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus can be found at: THE LOFT By Lexus | Lexus Europe.

ABOUT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, its programme is the most prestigious and comprehensive in the industry, with in excess of 2 million votes being cast.

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.”

As a highlight, from 2023, Lexus becomes Platinum Partner and Official Automotive Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from November 12 to 19 in Turin, Italy, where only the Top 8 qualifying singles players and doubles teams will compete for the prestigious title. Lexus will provide a fleet of electrified models, including the new all-electric Lexus RZ450e, to support transportation of players, officials, and other guests during the tournament.

Lexus will also receive year-round brand exposure across ATP Tour’s fast-growing digital and social platforms, including Title Partnership of ATP Head2Head, a popular interactive feature that enables fans to explore rivalries between players on Tour.

Lexus is a pioneer in electrification in the premium car industry, building towards a holistic sustainable mobility vision, called Lexus Electrified. The brand’s comprehensive electrified portfolio includes self-charging electric hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, and all-electric models. Promoting the use of such models during ATP tournaments, in 2023 and beyond, aligns with the ATP Tour’s climate ambitions under ATP Serves and UN Sports for Climate Action, which includes a Net Zero emissions target by 2040.

Massimo Calvelli, ATP CEO: “The ATP Tour and Lexus brands tell a story of innovation, performance and excellence, that also-perfectly aligns with our efforts under ATP Serves. Our fans and customers come first, and our brands both operate with a focus on providing unforgettable experiences. We’re delighted to welcome Lexus an ATP Tour Platinum Partner and to build on that shared narrative across our global platforms.”

Pascal Ruch, TME Vice President Lexus and Value Chain: “At Lexus, we adopt a human centred approach in everything we do. This not only applies to our cars but also to the class leading experience we provide to our customers. Our goal is to put a smile on the face of our customers. We see a great match with tennis competition, where individual performance creates ultimate excitement. We are thrilled to partner with the ATP Tour and to share the passion of top-level tennis with millions of fans across Europe and beyond.”

About The ATP

As the 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 Pepperstone 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 Pepperstone, the ultimate achievement in tennis. 

About Lexus

Launched in 1989, Lexus is a global luxury lifestyle brand offering a full range of premium vehicles, including the LS and ES sedans, the LC and RC F coupes, the LC Convertible, the LBX, UX, NX, RZ and RX crossovers, and the GX and LX SUVs. Lexus aims to ‘make luxury personal’ through imaginative technology, meticulous craft, refined elegance, and ‘omotenashi’ - the Japanese sense of heartfelt hospitality. With more than 2.5 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 2022, Lexus delivered about 625,000 vehicles globally including 50,467 in Europe, of which more than 80% were electrified.

Lexus has today unveiled ‘Shaped by Air,’ an installation by the acclaimed New York-based artist and architect Suchi Reddy, the founder of Reddymade Architecture and Design.  The work is being presented alongside the prototypes produced by the four winners of the Lexus Design Award 2023 in a public exhibition taking place at Milan’s Superstudio space until April 23^rd. Both the installation and the Lexus Design Award express an overarching theme of shaping the future.

The presentation is the latest in a series of compelling, immersive visitor experiences Lexus has brought to Milan Design Week, partnering with visionary creatives including Philippe Nigro, Neri Oxman, Sou Fujimoto, Rhizomatics and Germane Barnes, among others. Reddy’s ‘Shaped by Air’ maintains this tradition. Her work is inspired by the Lexus Electrified Sport, Lexus’ vision for a future all-electric sports coupe, and the quality it projects of being shaped by the air around it.

Reddy’s artwork was first presented at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami (ICA-Miami) during Miami Art & Design Week 2022. It has been reimagined for Milan Design Week as a multi-sensory experience which visitors can move through. The light and airy installation celebrates a commitment to human-centred, carbon-neutral and impeccably crafted design that is shared by both the artist and Lexus.

Brian Bolain, Lexus’ Global Head of Marketing, said: “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Suchi Reddy in Milan, a city that has inspired so much ground-breaking creativity. We hope that by placing her human-centred approach to design in dialogue with the innovation of our Lexus Design Award winners, we will inspire visitors to imagine new futures. The Lexus Electrified Sport and Reddy’s interpretation of it, together with these award-winning prototypes, represents forward-looking design and expresses our ongoing commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability.”

The site-specific installation inside Superstudio invites guests to discover a to-scale interpretation of the Lexus Electrified Sport after travelling through a forest-like collection of composite shapes, suspended from the ceiling. Set at varying heights and finished in a vibrant shade of green, these subtly call to mind the cut-outs of French painter Henri Matisse. The sculptural steel and aluminium elements are made partly from recycled or re-used consumer materials. Punctuated by dappled light, they create an absorbing environment that evokes the natural world. An accompanying soundscape inspired by the wind further helps bring visitors into harmony with nature.

Suchi Reddy commented: “I am excited to partner with Lexus – a brand committed to uplifting artists and designers – on a new iteration of ‘Shaped by Air’. This immersive interpretation in Milan makes use of repetition, multi-sensory elements and three-dimensionality to create an emotional environment that envelops the body like a car.”

Reflecting Lexus’ commitment to Omotenashi––a concept that encompasses both hospitality and mindfulness––the Superstudio space invites visitors to rest in an upstairs lounge, where they can observe ‘Shaped by Air’ from a different vantage point. The lounge’s air is purified by Panasonic’s nanoe™ X, a technology that helps create a healthier in-car atmosphere in many Lexus models.

Digital audiences will be able to engage with ‘Shaped by Air’ through a partnership with Diorama, a Milan and Paris-based digital creative agency. Diorama has imagined the installation as a metaverse experience that complements the physical installation, but has a life of its own. This virtual extension is realised as a dynamic digital forest. Users can explore an abstract natural world from a completely new perspective, one that is filled with the rustling of leaves, currents of air and diffusions of light. Diorama has also produced an augmented reality journey that visitors to the Milan exhibition will be able to discover on-site, using a custom Lexus Instagram filter.

Lexus Design Award 2023 winners’ prototypes

Lexus’ exhibition also includes the final prototypes created by the winners of the Lexus Design Award 2023. The competition invited designers to submit concepts that anticipate the challenge of the future, address it with an innovative solution and captivate the imagination with exceptional design, while seamlessly enhancing the happiness of all.

The works express Lexus’ belief that design has the power to deliver positive change. Now in its 11^th year, the award celebrates up-and-coming talent from around the world. The panel of judges – Paola Antonelli, Karim Rashid and Simon Humphries, all internationally respected figures in their creative fields – selected the concepts that best represented the theme of ‘Design for a Better Tomorrow’.

Simon Humphries, Toyota Motor Corporation Chief Branding Officer, said: “We as designers have a unique responsibility to create answers to challenges, whether that is through innovative ideas, beautiful aesthetics or any other method that could offer a better future. From this point of view, the winning ideas were a clear reminder of the ‘power of design’.”

Ahead of their showcase at Milan Design Week, the winners were given a unique opportunity to collaborate and share ideas with four world-class creators who served as this year’s Lexus Design Award mentors: Marjan van Aubel, Joe Doucet, Yuri Suzuki, and Sumayya Vally. 

The winners have significantly evolved their prototypes through the mentorship process, transforming already beautiful ideas into practical, scalable and ambitious designs.

●        Pavels Hedström (Sweden, based in Denmark), designer of Fog-X, a jacket that transforms into a tent/shelter and can catch fog that turns it into drinking water.

●        Jiaming Liu (China), designer of Print Clay Humidifier, a sustainable, 3D-printed humidifier made with recycled ceramic waste.

●        Temporary Office, [Singapore (Vincent Lai) and Canada (Douglas Lee), based in USA], designers of Touch the Valley, a 3D topographic puzzle that helps visually impaired people learn about the physical environment through touch.

●        Kyeongho Park and Yejin Heo (Republic of Korea), designers of Zero Bag, a new clothing package that dissolves in water and contains a detergent that can remove chemicals from products while reducing plastic waste.

Sumayya Vally commented: “It was incredible to witness the winners’ hard work manifested in the work they presented. I believe that each of the projects is poetically and pertinently posing meaningful and urgent questions about our present world, and bringing into being a more beautiful and responsive future.”

The final prototypes are on view for the first time in Milan. Visitors are invited to explore the works and learn about how the concepts evolved through the mentorship process.

The Lexus Design Award also welcomes the public to take part in the Your Choice Award and vote for the idea they feel best represents ‘Design for a Better Tomorrow’. The voting is open to those visiting in-person and also online here.

Lexus has been at the forefront of pioneering electrification in the luxury market since 2005. With the presentation of the Lexus Electrified Sport, it continues to push the boundaries of technology and craftsmanship with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and a consideration for the evolving needs of transportation and lifestyles worldwide.  Suchi Reddy’s installation highlights the potential of electrification and, together with the work of the Lexus Design Award winners, underscores Lexus’ vision for a future that is human-centred, carbon-neutral, and focused on craftsmanship and quality.

NOTES TO EDITORS

EVENT DETAILS

Dates

Press day: April 17^th, 3 pm to 9 pm

Public days: April 18^th to 22^nd, 11 am to 9 pm and April 23^rd, 11 am to 6 pm

Venue

Superstudio Più (Day Light)

Via Tortona, 27

20144 Milan, Italy

Exhibition details

‘Shaped by Air’ installation by Suchi Reddy

Prototype works by the winners of the Lexus Design Award 2023

Online experience

‘Shaped by Air’ Metaverse Experience : https://discoverlexus.com/stories/shaped-by-air-at-milan-design-week-2023/

Shaped by Air AR Filter: https://www.instagram.com/ar/1378144106301649/ 

Lexus Design Award ‘Your Choice Award’: http://lexusdesignaward.com/vote

ABOUT SUCHI REDDY

Suchi Reddy founded Reddymade in 2002 with an approach to design that privileges the emotional quality of human engagement with space. Guided by her mantra “form follows feeling,” Reddy’s architectural and artistic practice is informed by her research at the intersection of neuroscience and the arts. Working towards a larger idea of “design justice,” she is dedicated to expanding our notions of empathy, equity, and agency—where the importance of design is recognized as an asset for the benefit of all, not just for some.

Reddy teaches at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, and Cooper Union’s Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture. She was the 2022 Walton Critic at the Catholic University of America, and the Plym Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois School of Architecture, Champaign–Urbana in 2019, where her work focused on contemporary architectural experience through the lens of neuroaesthetics, neurophenomenology, and sensory design.

She sits on the board of the Design Trust for Public Space, Storefront for Art and Architecture, and Madame Architect; and she is a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors at Detroit Mercy School of Architecture + Community Development.

ABOUT THE LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2023 WINNERS

Pavels Hedström　

Sweden, Based in Denmark

Pavels Hedström began his career as an architect after earning his Master of Architecture and Extreme Environments degree (architecture, design conservation) from the Royal Danish Academy. He explores how holistic approaches can be applied to existing ecosystems.

Fog-X　

Fog-X is a jacket that transforms into a tent/shelter that catches fog and turns it into drinking water. Through the mentorship programme, Fog-X has evolved significantly – both transforming from a heavy backpack to a light jacket/shelter and adding the creation of a mobile app for easy access to find fog. The idea became a solution incorporated in an everyday object.

Jiaming Liu

China

Jiaming Liu is an industrial designer who focuses on bringing fresh perspectives into people’s daily lives. He is currently exploring cross-cultural and sustainable design. He was born in China, where he completed his bachelor's degree, and recently graduated with a master's degree from Folkwang University of the Arts.

Print Clay Humidifier

Print Clay Humidifier is a 3D-printed humidifier made with recycled ceramic waste. After rounds of testing and prototyping with different materials and techniques, Jiaming landed on a 3D printing method and powdered ceramic (recycled from ceramic waste) that further improved water absorption efficiency. It is a non-electric, recycled and recyclable version of a common household device that is both functional and elegant.

Temporary Office

Vincent Lai (Singapore), Douglas Lee (Canada)

Based in USA

Temporary Office is a design team of Vincent Lai and Douglas Lee, graduates from University of California, Berkeley. They have worked on projects crossing the boundaries of architecture, public space, preservation and product design. With a strong focus on historical research and precedent, Temporary Office seeks to constructively respond to the ever-changing needs of our environment in a rational yet playful way.　

Touch the Valley

Touch the Valley is a 3D topographic puzzle that helps visually impaired people learn about the physical environment through the sense of touch. Taking feedback from user-testing, the puzzle’s playability was improved by the addition of small features, including magnet feedback, elevational grooves, and smoother edges – enabling people to enjoy immersing themselves in exploring and playing the puzzle without too much cognitive load.

Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo　

Republic of Korea

Kyeongho Park & Yejin Heo are students majoring in industrial design at Hanyang University's ERICA campus in the Republic of Korea. They are concerned about social and environmental problems and explore user-centred solutions through design.

Zero Bag

Zero Bag is an eco-friendly packaging with paper detergent or baking soda film attached to an alginate water-soluble bag. Through the mentoring programme, Kyeongho and Yejin developed and articulated the potential use cases and target markets for this type of product. The idea for clothing packaging for the retail market evolved to include explorations for different industries, from clothes to food. The development process continues to evolve, as the designers embrace the myriad potential for their ideas.

When it comes to air quality, Lexus isn’t just concerned about the emissions produced by vehicles, it is taking care to ensure the atmosphere inside its cars is kept as pure as possible. To maintain a clean and healthy cabin environment and protect the wellbeing of everyone on board it is introducing nanoe next generation: nanoe X. This technology, created by Panasonic, is invisible to the human eye, but is effective in suppressing potentially harmful and unpleasant particles.

The scientific principle is simple: water molecules are discharged into the airflow containing microscopic hydroxyl radicals. These can inhibit viruses, bacteria, pollen and other allergens and can act against the spread of mould. They can also deodorize bad odours and stops moisture evaporation, leading to hydrated skin and hair.

The new generation nanoe X technology was first introduced in the Lexus ES executive saloon in 2021.  It is now also available on the new UX, the new generation RX and the all-new RZ as part of the Lexus Climate Concierge system. Other models will follow in 2023.

The effectiveness of nanoe X has been independently tested by organisations and academic bodies worldwide[2]. For example, laboratory research has shown that in one hour, it can inhibit more than 99% of viruses and bacteria; achieve a 1.8 reduction in odour intensity

The new nanoe X technology is a major development of the original nanoe technology previously used in Lexus vehicles. A much greater effect has been achieved thanks to a 10-fold increase in the number of hydroxyl radical particles that are emitted – from 480 billion per second to 4.8 trillion.

Abundant in nature, hydroxyl radicals are now being used to improve air quality in enclosed areas such as vehicles, places of work and public spaces. Once released, they react with elements in the atmosphere. This is a naturally occurring process that allows them to inhibit the growth of pollutants, breaking them down and neutralising their adverse effects. These include hazardous substances contained in PM2.5 particulates.

The benefits of this advanced air purification technology can be enjoyed on every car journey but are of particular value when driving in heavily polluted urban areas.  Its rewards will also be appreciated when different passengers are carried day-to-day. This can include private hire vehicles, business fleets with multiple users and cars used to ferry groups of children to and from school.

For more information about Lexus and nanoe X technology, please visit:  https://www.lexus.eu/discover-lexus/technology/lexus-nanoe-x 

[1] nanoe™ and the nanoe™ X marks are trademarks of Panasonic Holdings Corporation

[2] Japanese and international research and academic testing, including the Japan Food Research Laboratory. Full details and document reference available at Evidence | Verification | All about nanoeX | nanoeX | Panasonic UK & Ireland.

Today, Lexus unveiled Shaped by Air at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami), presenting a vision by acclaimed New York-based artist and architect Suchi Reddy, founder of Reddymade Architecture and Design, that draws inspiration from the Lexus Electrified Sport’s quality of being “shaped by air.” Reddy’s ethereal installation celebrates the collaborators’ shared commitment to human-centred, carbon-neutral, and impeccably crafted design. On view through December 11th, it envisions the vehicle as shaped by mist and light, draws upon the curves of the vehicle’s design, and incorporates foliage-inspired cutouts to suggest movement through nature.

Situated in the Sculpture Garden at ICA Miami, the site-specific installation features a to-scale interpretation of the Lexus Electrified Sport enveloped by cooling mist and warm light. To create the immersive and dynamic design, Reddy placed the vehicle on a platform among organic, leaflike shapes in a vibrant shade of green, subtly calling to mind the cutouts of Henri Matisse. These abstract, reflective forms sit in dialogue with neighbouring sculptures by Pedro Reyes and artist duo Allora & Calzadilla, and they also exist in harmony with the garden’s own greenery. Comprised in part of post-consumer materials, the sculpture’s steel and aluminium form includes mirrored side panels. As the mist clings to its metal body and conveys a sense of movement, the piece appears as if it is levitating. Its ever-changing nature is further illuminated in the daytime, as shadows cast unexpected patterns on the surrounding surfaces.

Reflecting Lexus’ commitment to omotenashi––a concept encompassing both hospitality and mindfulness––the Shaped by Air installation invites garden visitors to rest on benches made of eco-terrazzo. Their shape takes inspiration from the tail of the Electrified Sport vehicle, and they include wireless charging stations as well activated by a solar-charged battery. Reddy, whose design ethos has been described as a “form follows feeling” approach, has carefully calibrated the environment to be a welcoming, contemplative, and constantly evolving one.

“Lexus’ steadfast commitment to the arts and to excellence in craftsmanship has been an inspiring departure point for the installation. Shaped by Air animates the courtyard using mist, light, and metallic forms to create an ethereal installation that both reflects and is transformed by the natural elements of the sculpture garden, blurring the boundaries between art and design,” remarked Suchi Reddy. 

Since 2005, Lexus has been at the forefront of pioneering electrification in the luxury market. With the introduction of their next-generation Electrified Sport concept, Lexus continues to push the boundaries of technology and craft with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and a consideration for the evolving needs of transportation and lifestyles worldwide. Suchi’s public installation––the brand’s fifth immersive experience during Miami Art & Design Week––highlights the full potential of electrification and underscores Lexus’ vision for a future that is human-centred, carbon-neutral, and focused on craftsmanship and quality.

“We are thrilled to partner with the inimitable Suchi Reddy and see the Electrified Sport come to life through the lens of her human-centred approach to design,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus’ global head of marketing. “The Lexus Electrified Sport represents a visceral expression of a Lexus Electrified future. Suchi has brought that vision to life, using mist and light to give it movement, underscoring the exciting future of Lexus design and performance dynamics.”

“ICA Miami is committed to reducing our climate footprint by adapting best practices for sustainability. This includes implementing carbon offsets for major exhibitions and partnering with organizations that are working towards carbon neutrality. We are delighted to align with organizations equally committed to a carbon neutral future, Lexus and Reddymade, in providing a platform for innovative work by Suchi Reddy,” added Alex Gartenfeld, ICA Miami’s Artistic Director.

For more information about Suchi Reddy and Reddymade Architecture, please visit: https://rmdny.com/

For more information about the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, please visit: https://icamiami.org/

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 luxury car brand welcomed cast members, celebrities and VIP guests, who took photographs in front of the all-new 2023 Lexus RX 500h. The hybrid electric vehicle was custom wrapped as a tribute to the new movie, complete with black panther claw decals on the hood. Behind the car was an LED screen featuring exclusive clips from Lexus. This is the third time the luxury brand has collaborated with Marvel Studios.

Danai Gurira, who is one of the stars of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” was stunning as she posed for photos on the red carpet and at the Lexus activation. Gurira’s character, “Okoye,” is also featured in the luxury brand’s latest commercial “An Electric Future,” which premiered earlier this month featuring the all-new, all electric, Lexus RZ 450e.

Other celebrities photographed at the Lexus activation: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Mitzi Mabel Cadena, Boris Kojoe, and son, Nicolas Neruda Kodjoe, Michael Ealy and his son, Daymond John, WNBA players and sisters, Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike and more.

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

This fall, the Marvel Studios’ Black Panther franchise and Lexus will once again join forces as the official automotive partner of the highly anticipated Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Ahead of the film’s global release beginning, November 9, 2022, the RZ 450e, driven by Dora Milaje warriors, will star in heart-pumping 60-, 30-, and 15-second spots called “An Electric Future”.

Directed by Anthony Leonardi III, the visually thrilling spot finds General Okoye (played by Danai Gurira) in the RZ 450e as she prepares to fulfil her national duty in the unfamiliar roll of public speaker. General Okoye is joined by her fellow Dora Milaje as they embark on what becomes a car chase experience filled with spectacular jinks, explosions, and pin-point accurate vibranium spear throws.

The RZ 450e welcomes General Okoye’s adventure in stride, allowing the Dora Milaje to dodge their pursuers with its precise One Motion Grip steering, balanced handling thanks to DIRECT4 all- wheel drive, and a seamless on-demand application of power via front and rear e-Axle motors. And because of the RZ’s BEV-specific seating placement and versatile digital rear-view mirror, all- around visibility for General Okoye’s driver and front passenger is optimal.

“The power, elegance, and future-forward vision of the Lexus brand aligns perfectly with the Black Panther franchise. We couldn’t be happier to team-up with Lexus once again to bring an action-packed story and supporting 360 campaign to life,” said Mindy Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Global Partnership Marketing at The Walt Disney Company.

“We’re excited and honoured to continue our collaboration with the Marvel Studios’ Black Panther franchise,” said Michael Moore, Lexus International’s General Manager for Strategic Communication. “Our all-electric RZ 450e is a perfect fit in the Dora Milaje’s cutting-edge arsenal, bringing an elevated driving experience that intuitively connects with its users through advanced technology and compelling performance.

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 as from Nov. 9, 2022.

·       The campaign marks the launch of the new compact crossover UX, one of Lexus’ best-selling models in Europe

·       Joy’s hit song “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” features as the soundtrack for the television commercial (TVC)

Today, Lexus reveals its campaign for the new UX, starring internationally acclaimed, BRIT-nominated and Mercury Prize-shortlisted Joy Crookes as its face and voice.

The collaboration marks a shift in the brand’s talent strategy to reach a younger, more diverse, and socially engaged audience. Crookes is the embodiment of the new Lexus consumer, an ambassador discerningly redefining modern luxury and style.

Coupled with her talent, Joy’s striking style is a curated fusion of cultures and eras, influenced by her upbringing in richly diverse South London. The result is an intentionally unique and powerful aesthetic that shines in every creative output she produces, ensuring she is always pushing visual boundaries while celebrating her heritage. Crookes also uses her platform to raise awareness of issues close to her heart, including sustainability, focusing on how future generations should have access to natural spaces, no matter where they come from. 

The new campaign celebrates the concept of “the energy that drives you on”, and sees Joy enjoying the UX as a space to facilitate her childhood dream of being a world-renowned musician. Acting as a vehicle for her creativity and fast-paced lifestyle, Joy harnesses her passion and energy, two characteristics that continually drive her on.

Content created with Joy falls under several creative pillars, with the underlying narrative that the UX is the facilitator of her metropolitan exploration. Four short films bring this concept to life: viewers are taken on this exciting journey with Joy, firstly with a trip to the beach. Other films follow Joy through a vibrant metropolis, whilst highlighting the UX’s state-of-the-art technology and amazing driving experience. In a vehicle developed with the idea of ‘Continuous Evolution’ in mind, Joy is seen enjoying a drive in her Lexus UX, exploring the city using the faster and more intuitive Lexus Premium Navigation multimedia with ‘Hey Lexus’ voice assistant and cloud updates, which she uses to play the soundtrack of the campaign, ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’.

Improved smartphone integration in the UX means apps are displayed on the new extra-large 12.3” HD or 8” touchscreens, that are now positioned closer to the driver for easier interaction. Meanwhile, the new Lexus Link connected services app helps enhance the driving experience, with intelligent features such as remote air conditioning and remote lock/unlock. Capitalising on Joy’s diverse and far-reaching social following, the campaign also includes exciting content shot for Instagram and TikTok – another opportunity to target a new and more social-savvy audience.

Additional key features and upgrades in the Lexus UX include the introduction of the new F Sport Design grade with sporty exterior design features, as well as the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and front/rear performance rods which are standard features for the UX F SPORT. New exterior colour, bi-tone paintwork options and interior upholstery choices create a truly personalised experience for those seeking Lexus’ world-renowned Omotenashi philosophy.

Revisions to the UX’s Lexus Safety System+ bring improved performance in the Pre-Collision System, equipping the car with Intersection Turning Assist for safer left and right turns across traffic at intersections and Emergency Steering Assist, which helps the driver steer to avoid obstacles without departing from their traffic lane.

Joy Crookes: “Creativity in all forms gives me energy and inspiration. Working on the new UX campaign, I’ve seen first-hand Lexus’ commitment to craftsmanship and creativity. Like the Lexus UX customer, I’m always striving to express myself. I’m fortunate enough to be able to do that through my music, fashion, and art, and I am thankful that Lexus provided a new platform for me to do just that.”

Pascal Ruch, Vice President in charge of Lexus Europe: “Joy embodies Lexus’ passion and energy for creativity, design and sustainability. Her unique style and bold personality make her the perfect ambassador for the new Lexus UX.”

The new Lexus UX campaign is available to view online at https://www.lexus.eu/car-models/ux/ux-mc-joy-crookes/ and includes a television commercial, OOH advertising, digital advertising, CRM and social media content (both Instagram and TikTok).

For more information, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/car-models/ux/all-new-ux/

For the world-premiere press release, please visit: https://newsroom.lexus.eu/lexus-ux-upgrades-deliver-new-tech-improved-handling-and-more-choice/

World Music Day (21 June) encourages people around the world to enjoy making and sharing music together. For Lexus, it is an opportunity to celebrate an exclusive and long-running partnership with luxury audio specialists Mark Levinson that has brought great music to millions of Lexus drivers and passengers.

Together, Lexus and Mark Levinson (one many prestige brands owned by parent company HARMAN International) have been raising the bar for the quality of in-car entertainment for more than 20 years. Today, bespoke sound systems are developed for each new model, benefiting from ever-more sophisticated technologies to deliver the best listening experience for everyone on board. That’s true whatever your listening preference: the grandeur of a symphony hall, the intimacy of jazz club or the thrill of a stadium gig – the sound reproduction gives you the sense that you are part of the event.

The latest fruits of this partnership will be revealed later this year with the launch two all-new SUVs – the new generation RX SUV and the ground-breaking, all-electric RZ.

“It’s really a partnership that begins with understanding the vision for the car and its occupants,” explains Savion Thompson, Acoustics Engineer at Mark Levinson. “Our team makes a point to learn early what a model means to Lexus, then we develop the system to enhance this vision.

“We do a lot of listening – to the chief engineers, the factory workers and the dealerships, and then to the buyers. Part of my job is to know what is out there, but even more important is to choose the right fit for the car. That’s a process that takes an entire team and constant feedback at every checkpoint, following a strong philosophy of constant improvement, or kaizen,” continued Thompson.

The synergies between the two companies include the fact they both aim to deliver the highest standards. “We strive to be the highest performing audio brand in the world,” says Kyle Roche, Senior Global Marketing Manager at HARMAN. “Aiming to achieve near zero per cent harmonic distortion and crystal-clear acoustic performance, our goals align with Lexus very closely. That is one of the reasons why the partnership has lasted for more than 20 years.”

One of the most recent examples of Mark Levinson’s work in a Lexus production model is the audio system tailor-made for the new NX 350h hybrid electric SUV. The focus of the development programme was to use new PurePlay architecture to create a 7.1 surround sound effect, bringing the sound closer to the listener’s ear level and taking the listening experience beyond what might be expected from an in-car audio system. This reflects how the quality of the audio contributes to Lexus’s famous omotenashi hospitality principles, going beyond people’s expectations to make them feel completely at home in their car.

Work began on designing the audio system around five years before the model’s market launch and involved close scrutiny of the size and shape of the vehicle interior.

“Space is always at a premium, particularly in a vehicle the size of the NX,” says Savion Thompson. “However, both Lexus and Mark Levinson set a goal to keep the sound system as close to ideal as possible. This called for months of vehicle study, lots of hand-made prototypes, simulations, measurements and presentations. The team persisted, even stripping the vehicle down to the sheet metal and reworking the factory process to make way for innovation.”

There is also the quest to find the right balance between performance and efficiency: “As vehicle manufacturers strive to increase output while using fewer resources, the multimedia system has to respond to the same challenges. Every millimetre of space and gramme of material needs to be negotiated with a clear value-added purpose,” Thompson adds.

The Pureplay speaker layout in the NX features seven matched 90mm speakers, positioned strategically around the cabin to create an enhanced sound stage. To this are added an internally coupled subwoofer, and 8x9 door woofer and a brand-new, fully discrete 12-channel amplifier.

“The amplifier is the core of our sound,” says Thomson, “we have been working on it for five years in what has been a true collaboration between our automotive and luxury teams.”

On Lexus’s part, there is great appreciation for Mark Levinson’s contribution to the quality and appeal of its vehicles: “During the past two decades our two companies have evolved side-by-side with our shared values of precision craftsmanship, innovation and an amazing experience for our customers,” says Spiros Fotinos, Head of Lexus Europe. “With each new model, we have been able to deliver a more immersive and rewarding listening experience, thanks to Mark Levinson’s leadership in audio technology and close understanding of our values as a global luxury brand.”

For more information, please visit https://www.lexus.eu/car-models/

This year’s event, Lexus: Sparks of Tomorrow, presents a trio of design explorations, all inspired by Lexus’ human-centered, future-oriented approach to design. Compelling and engaging, Lexus: Sparks of Tomorrow, includes an immersive installation by award-winning architect and designer Germane Barnes with lighting studio Aqua Creations, new prototypes from LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalists, and work by students at London’s Royal College of art envisioning a more sustainable future.

“We are excited to return to Milan Design Week with an incredible array of projects that highlight next generation design and our commitment at Lexus to forging a path towards a carbon-neutral future through technology, craftsmanship, and innovation,” commented Brian Bolain, Lexus’ global head of marketing. “We are especially thrilled to be able to present the work of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022 finalists and Royal College of Arts students in the context of Germane Barnes’s ON/ installation, in its second iteration here with lighting design studio Aqua Creations. As Milan Design Week opens, we look forward to seeing how the public engages with the Lexus presentation, and makes our vision for the future their own”

Developed in partnership with Lexus and Germane Barnes, the ON/ installation gives a vision for an electrified, carbon-neutral and human-centred future. The display showcases the Lexus RZ, the first Lexus dedicated battery-electric model. Rendered in a wire frame that is suspended just above the ground, the vehicle’s interpretation embodies Lexus' vision of a more sustainable future coming into focus and embracing the ideas of electrification, technology, and bespoke design. The RZ is illuminated by Aqua Creations’ Code 130° silk collection of colorful pendant lights, which add a material quality to the immersive installation reflecting Lexus’ vision for a carbon-neutral future becoming a reality. The installation will be accompanied by a lounge area featuring the new ToTeM lighting collection by Aqua Creations.

“It is thrilling to revisit the ON/ installation with Lexus and bring the display to Milan,” said Germane Barnes, principal of Studio Barnes. “The original ON/ exhibit featured the LF-Z, a concept car that signaled a move toward carbon neutrality.  Now, with the RZ, we explored the evolution from concept to reality, partnering with Aqua Creations to create an environment that is infused with heightened sense of materiality.  Designing for a future that is collaborative, sustainable, equitable, and prioritizes the unique experiences of individuals is both a driving force of my practice and an exciting synergy with the designers showcased across Sparks of Tomorrow.”

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the work of the six finalists of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022, promising talent. Finalists were chosen for their original solutions contributing to a better tomorrow, while articulating the Lexus brand's three core principles – Anticipate, Innovate, and Captivate; while seamlessly enhancing the happiness of all, by a panel of design luminaries. The finalists spent three months developing their original proposals and creating prototypes under the enthusiastic and highly skilled mentors. Mentoring by the world's leading creators was a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience for these up-and-coming talents and it is recognized as a feature of this Award.

Lexus’ presentation will also include work by students presenting radical new luxury transport concepts in a creative programme commissioned by Lexus, “2040: The Soul of Future Premium” for the Royal College of Art in London, UK.  The project challenged postgraduate students at the college’s Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) to explore new vehicle architectures to meet changes in European city life and society and to re-imagine the role Lexus might play as a luxury mobility brand. The six-month programme included mentoring and assessment sessions with Ian Cartabiano and Lance Scott, respectively President and Senior Manager at Lexus’ European design studio, ED2, together with Prof Dale Harrow, Chair of the IMDC, and Dr Chris Thorpe, the RCA’s Intelligent Mobility Head of Programme.

Dates and opening hours

June 6 – 12, 11 am to 9 pm

Venue

Superstudio Più (Art Point)

Via Tortona, 27 20144 – Milano, Italy

Exhibits

• ON/ installation created by Germane Barnes with Aqua Creations
• Designs by the six finalists in the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2022
• Designs by students at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London

About Germane Barnes

Germane Barnes is the director of Studio Barnes, and Associate Professor at the University of Miami School of Architecture. Barnes’ practice investigates the connection between architecture and identity, examining architecture’s social and political agency through historical research and design speculation.  Believing strongly in design as a communal process, he approaches each condition imposed on a project as an opportunity for transformation.

He was a winner of the 2021 United States Artists Fellowship, 2021 Wheelwright Prize, 2021 Architectural League Prize for Young Architects and Designers, and is a 2021-2022 Rome Prize Fellow at the American Academy in Rome.

A Lexus design challenge to envision how luxury mobility might evolve in the year 2040 has been won by “ALTO,” a radical concept for a personal, globe-like flying vehicle.

The work of young designer Richard Newman  was selected from among  six finalists in the Lexus 2040: the Soul of Future Premium programme. Presented by Lexus with the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, the project challenged postgraduate students at the college’s Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) to explore new vehicle architectures to meet changes in European city life and society and to re-imagine the role Lexus might play as a luxury mobility brand.

“ALTO,” is a hydrogen-powered VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) vehicle, its pendant shape inspired by hot air balloons and plant terrariums. Newman looks to a future where technology will become so commonplace, it will no longer be considered a luxury; instead, people will value “celebration of the everyday” as premium experiences. He describes the vehicle as “jewellery in the sky – like a cloud’s earring,” with an exterior that can be personalised. The design’s functionality also allows for seamless docking onto the side of buildings.

“I wanted to create something that is quite challenging, that would raise a few eyebrows, but which would also make people smile,” said Richard, from Coventry, UK. “It proved to be quite an organic design process and the changes I needed to make became quite evident as the programme progressed, with the input from the Lexus designers.”

The six-month programme included mentoring and assessment sessions with Ian Cartabiano and Lance Scott, respectively President and Senior Manager at Lexus’ European design studio, ED², together with Prof Dale Harrow, Chair of the IMDC, and Dr Chris Thorpe, the RCA’s Intelligent Mobility Head of Programme. They were joined on the judging panel by design author and commentator Nargess Banks and senior representatives from Lexus Europe to select the winner. 

The designers presented their work in person to the judges at a ceremony at the IMDC on 15 March. In addition to the winner, there were commendations for two runners-up:  Zhenyu Kong (China) for ”Lexus #Units” and Ben Miller (Canada) for “Crucible”.

Lexus #Units’ unique design takes its inspiration from the shape of coastal barriers. It is highly flexible and can reduce its footprint to adapt to narrow roads. The interior can be personalised using blockchain technology, so NFT artworks can be brought on a journey. Lexus #Units caters for Generation Alpha’s desire for diversity in self-expression, tapping into the popularity of social media for sharing of opinions and emotions. The vehicle can link to other vehicles and be used as a projector device, e.g. to join concerts or parties virtually.

The Crucible is a hydrogen-fuelled escape vehicle that divides itself to meet different use scenarios and contexts.  It separates the owned luxury cabin from the technology to create a service that is both carefree and personalised. The morphing interior can adapt to any configuration for seamless comfort and could even be put inside a house. Users could choose a different vehicle for weekdays and for weekends when they want to explore and meet others. In reference to Lexus design cues, Miller reinterpreted the Lexus spindle grille and created a light and airy vehicle that is easy to get in and out of, and that can be reclined for comfort.

Lance Scott said: “All the designers impressed us with their thinking, their ideation and the breadth of their imagination. What they produced was not just fantasy, but based on factual study of what ‘premium’ might mean in a future society, and they extrapolated this to create something very forward-thinking. With Richard Newman’s winning project, everything was well-thought-out and executed. His positive, optimistic view of the future of Lexus is very much what we want for our brand, something that can bring a smile to everyone’s face.” 

Prof Dale Harrow commented: “This has been a very rewarding project for everyone involved, and with Lexus we have been able to explore profound issues surrounding mobility in terms of future lifestyles and products. The results show how young designers are thinking deeply about mobility issues and bringing their day-to-day experiences to the project, from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.”

Etienne Plas, Senior Manager, Lexus Product Communications, said: “As a brand, we actively encourage and support the development of new design talent and thinking. This project has delivered intriguing and exciting new ideas about how Lexus might evolve as a brand to address changing mobility requirements and perceptions of what ‘premium’ means.”

Lexus has today launched a new design project to explore how luxury transport might evolve towards the middle of the 21st century. It is partnering with the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London for “Lexus 2040: The Soul of Future Premium,” a program for postgraduate students at the college’s Intelligent Mobility Design Centre.

Students from the RCA’s Intelligent Mobility Master of Arts degree course will explore new vehicle architectures to meet the needs of societal and demographic changes in European cities and new vehicle usage models.

The students will also be challenged to re-imagine the role Lexus brand could play in the European mobility landscape beyond the next two decades, addressing issues of sustainability, future lifestyles and how emerging technologies could help shape a relevant and impactful vision for the brand.

The RCA is one of the world’s most prestigious and influential postgraduate universities for art and design research and education. Its Intelligent Mobility Design Centre was established in 2016 as an interdisciplinary centre of excellence in design and research for future mobility that can deliver social, environmental and economic benefits.

The new program is perfectly aligned with Lexus’ status as an international luxury lifestyle brand and its core commitment to brave design, craftsmanship and imaginative technologies. It also reflects the brand’s human-centred approach and the spirit of Omotenashi, addressing the priorities and needs of each customer as an individual.

Lexus will directly support the project with mentorship from the leading creatives at its European Design Development centre, ED², in the South of France, giving the students a deeper insight into real-world advanced automotive design thinking and techniques. At a kick-off meeting with the students at the RCA in Battersea, ED² representatives gave a briefing on the Lexus brand and its L-finesse design philosophy which encompasses refinement, anticipation, simplicity and awareness. They also explained the importance of the brand’s Japanese heritage and its human centric design approach.

The program is scheduled to run for four months, during which time students will research future scenarios to produce informed design perspectives about and how and where the Lexus brand might evolve. This will provide the starting point for design concept propositions, developed through tutorials and group workshops, leading to the creation of 2D visions in film and digital media and 3D models and experiments.

The three best projects will be selected for further development and the production of exhibition-quality renderings in film and scale models. These will form part of a concluding project show at the RCA, together with all the related digital media work, in January 2022.

Professor Dale Harrow, Chair and Head of the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre at the RCA, welcomed the new partnership: “The IMDC is dedicated to the design and research of advanced mobility. The staff and students are delighted to be partnering with Lexus on The Soul of Future Premium project to discover and present new directions for mobility in Europe.”

Dr Chris Thorpe, the Head of Programme for the Intelligent Mobility MA at the RCA, added: “The current MA cohort reflects the interests and concerns of a global GenZ mindset – bringing an invaluable perspective to this project and highlighting the value of the IMDC, which combines MA students and design research teams to deliver vision.”

Ian Cartabiano, President of ED² said: “As a world-leading centre for new automotive design thinking, the RCA is the perfect partner to help us explore the future of luxury premium travel in Europe and to examine opportunities for our brand to evolve and deliver real benefits to our customers and to society in the years ahead. With the support of our own design experts, we will also play our part in helping this new creative talent realise their potential and envision exciting, relevant and sustainable mobility for the future.”

Driven by a shared dedication to pushing the boundaries of design and creativity, Lexus and American footwear designer Salehe Bembury today announced a collection showcasing apparel from Champion, a leader in authentic sports apparel since 1919.

In celebration of Lexus’ commitment to electrification and mobility innovation, the collaborative brings together two distinct, yet synergistic, design approaches. Bembury approached Lexus’ push towards the electrification of its vehicle line-up through his own signature nature-inspired design ethos.

“This collaboration was a new type of challenge for me. It is both challenging and rewarding to explore design outside of footwear and allowed me to think outside of my usual realm of design,” said Bembury. 

The Lexus x Salehe Bembury collection includes three unisex items: a hoodie, T-shirt and hat. The designs themselves were created by merging recognizable elements of Bembury’s body of work, such as his logo and signature fingerprint, with Lexus graphic elements. As an emblem of a fresh and forward-thinking approach, the collaboration reimagines Lexus’ iconic logo, distilling Lexus’ human-centric design into an apparel collection.

Archway shapes on the front and back were used to tie the design elements together, symbolizing a pathway toward the future. Graphic accents on the back frame the word “electrified” and were based on the all-new Lexus NX’s taillights. 

Lexus and Bembury identified Champion Reverse Weave as the best apparel silhouette for storytelling and took a deliberate approach with details that would amplify the collection’s narrative. For example, incorporation of reflective ink represents the idea of electrification and is used on both the T-shirt and hoodie. The fabric is dyed dark grey through a custom oil wash process, giving it a unique look. Colours are drawn from the Lexus NX exterior options and the incorporation of a hand-finished, wash tag appliqué in both English and Japanese at the front hem ties together all of the brands working on the project. The focal point of the unstructured baseball cap is Salehe’s fingerprint logo wrapping the brim. In addition, embroidered Salehe, Lexus and Champion logos complete the piece, which is adjustable using a strap and metal buckle. 

“This collaboration merges different design disciplines to create a modern collection rooted in heritage for fans across the three brands,” said Jon Ram, Global President Champion Athleticwear. “As a brand that continuously pushes the boundaries of creativity, Champion is excited to work with Bembury and Lexus to elevate the conversation around design, fashion and technology.”

The unisex apparel pieces are available in sizes S-XL and range in price from $50-$150. The collection is available for purchase exclusively at HBX.com as from August 16^th. 

The project is a continued partnership between Lexus and Bembury, who designed a rendering of the LZ-F Electrified concept interior as part of the Virtual Interiors Program in April 2021. 

Born in Corsica, France, his talent blossomed after studying French cuisine under the Master Chef, Michel Troisgros. He then moved to Japan, where his philosophy towards cooking changed as he spent time reflecting on the art. What prompted the change was nature and the earnestness of the farmer-producers interacting with the Japanese landscape. “I used to cook to express myself,” Lionel explains, “but when I encountered the amazing wonders of Japanese nature and the people empowered by it, I realized that it ought to be ingredients that are expressed in the food, not the chef.” Now, he believes that “it is my mission and responsibility as a chef” to embrace and value this connection with nature.

And so to experience the power of nature directly, the LC Convertible was the partner of choice. “The natural, flowing design makes it look as if it had been born that way. What it symbolizes is similar to what I look for in a dish,” according to Lionel, giving his first impressions of the LC Convertible. Lionel begins his journey behind the wheel of the LC convertible, a car that resonates with his own philosophy.

Lionel, eager to discover the true meaning behind his cuisine, heads back to Oita Prefecture in southern Japan, a region he has visited in the past. This is a place energized by the earth’s power, nestled as it is, in the bosom of Mount Aso, one of Japan's most famous volcanoes. It is a locale where water is pure, plants are fresh, the air is clean, and the people live in harmony with nature. For Lionel, this is a special place that once helped him connect with nature and changed his views on cooking.

 “People say that my cuisine is unique because I possess both French and Japanese viewpoints, allowing me to show two different sides. So, experiencing Japan again through this drive is great for shaping my mentality and philosophy as a chef,” he says.

He takes the wheel and starts driving along the highland route. With the roof open, he can experience the mountain air directly; the steady acceleration releases all five senses to connect with nature.

“You feel at one with the car.” The drive creates a profound sense of freedom, as if the mind were blending into nature. While driving through the magnificent landscape, an image of wild birds, leisurely flying in the sky, occurs to Lionel. He feels as if he too could fly freely to wherever he desired. “Liberté absolue (absolute freedom)” were Lionel's words to describe the drive in the LC Convertible.

When Lionel returned to Tokyo after his trip, he prepared a dish based on his driving experience. One of the key ingredients was the wild bird that came into his mind as he drove through the highlands. “Free and wild, yet graceful and elegant. That is the shared image I had in my mind when I thought of the LC Convertible and wild birds,” Lionel explains. “What you discover through traveling enriches you and, in my case, is food for thought as a chef,” says Lionel as he reflects on his trip.

Food and cars. At first they may seem unrelated but Lionel explains that there are definite similarities: “Eating and driving are both physical sensations. They both need to appeal to the five human senses.” Those words signify the determination of a man set to satisfy the endless desires of the "human senses". Lionel concluded that, "There is no final goal to creating things. So, just as LEXUS continues evolving, I hope to take on further challenges myself."

Last month, Lexus launched the Virtual Interiors series, a collaboration with three luminary designers to reimagine the interior of the LF-Z Electrified, a concept vehicle that embodies the future of the brand. Now Lexus takes the series one step further, partnering with Shudu, the world’s first virtual supermodel, to bring the Virtual Interior to life.

Focusing on the hyper-futuristic interior imagined by digital artist Ondrej Zunka, Shudu was a natural fit to explore the space between reality and digital art. Zunka’s design features space-age mechanisms, sci-fi materials and nods to artificial intelligence, yet it is rooted in the human experience. Elegantly perched in the driver’s seat of Zunka’s re-envisioned LF-Z Electrified Concept, Shudu brings a warmth and human touch to the virtual design.

A pioneer in the virtual fashion space, Shudu is no stranger to real-world collaborations. She has modelled in campaigns for Ferragamo and Christian Louboutin and editorial features in Vogue Australia, Glamour Brasil and Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. This is her second collaboration with Lexus, after last year’s Freedom to Move project which featured masks created by Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo and British textile designer Chrissa Amuah.

To celebrate the world premiere of the LF-Z Electrified, a battery electric concept vehicle symbolizing the brand’s next chapter, Lexus has partnered with three pioneering artists and designers to re-imagine the latest concept car’s interior. Star footwear designer Salehe Bembury, digital artist Ondrej Zunka and Japanese fashion label Hender Scheme bring virtually rendered interiors that reflect Lexus’ continued dedication to accelerating its electrified future.

Conceived as a platform for collaboration, the LF-Z Electrified Virtual Interior series brings together ambitious and innovative talent across a range of creative practices. The program introduces a new approach to design, a synergy between art, fashion, lifestyle, and technology that challenges the status quo of the automotive space. The collective of creatives, handpicked by Lexus, exemplifies the different aspects of Lexus’ core principles: future-inspired design, Japanese heritage and takumi craftsmanship, and an enhanced human-machine connection.

“LF-Z Electrified embodies the future of the Lexus brand, so it is exciting to see that future represented by such diverse talent across the design space,” says Brian Bolain, general manager at Lexus International. “Each of the collaborators brings a fresh energy that not only reinterprets the interior of the LF-Z but also examines the themes of Lexus’ next chapter.”

Salehe Bembury: blending future aesthetic with organic materials and bright colors

Kicking off the series is award-winning footwear designer Salehe Bembury, whose interior design concept embraces the future. Bringing his nature-inspired design approach to the LF-Z Electrified, Bembury conceptualized a virtual interior that blends both a futuristic aesthetic with organic materials alongside his signature use of bright colour.

“I want this car to feel like a seamless juxtaposition of machine and nature,” says Bembury. “Equally utilizing the function of the machine and the benefits and nature to fuel and nurture the passengers to their destination.”

The concept uses colours inspired by sandstone landscapes and other natural tones, setting aside traditionally futuristic materials in favor of natural materials like cedar, cork and granite. These natural materials sit alongside textiles and patterns that reference Bembury’s background in sneaker design, such as a “hairy” suede used on the seatbacks, and a fingerprint motif that is often found in the designer’s work, applied here for a personalized control panel.

“Just as he has done with footwear, Salehe has pushed the envelope of what design can be in terms of material selection, silhouette and storytelling,” says Bolain. “He is one of the most exciting designers in the sneaker space right now, and he embodies the bold thinking and energy that we see in Lexus’ future.”

Ondrej Zunka: seamlessly embracing future technologies rooted in thoughtful consideration

Forgoing traditional notions of car design and transporting the Lexus LF-Z Electrified further into the future, Ondrej Zunka’s concept car features space-age mechanisms, sci-fi materials and multidimensional hues that transcend both time and space. “This interior design is purely speculative, so I allowed for free associations and pure imagination and creativity,” says Zunka. “I wanted to make the interior feel as if it wasn’t made by humans, but maybe designed by a sophisticated artificial intelligence. I wanted to go past any known language and design concepts and forget about what is usually used in automotive interior design.”

Looking at Lexus’ commitment to intuitive technology, Zunka, through the lens of his digital art practice, renders a virtual interior that pushes the boundaries of functionality and design. The tech-forward interior imagines intelligent lighting along the car’s panels that emit an entirely visceral sensation that subtly regulates mood. Translucent silicone seat cushions with memory foam-like properties and a panoramic ceiling, crafted from brushed chrome, complete Zunka’s hyper-futuristic vision for the Lexus LZ-F Electrified.

Hender Scheme: leather craftsmanship rooted in Japanese heritage

With their deep focus on the natural material characteristics of leather, Tokyo-based fashion label Hender Scheme was a natural fit to reflect Lexus’ Japanese heritage and takumi craftsmanship. For their LF-Z Electrified virtual interior, Hender Scheme imagines an entirely leather interior juxtaposed with the concept vehicle’s groundbreaking technology. The untreated, organic material will develop a “patina” over time, deepening in color and becoming unique to each vehicle. The concept reflects the passage of time and the driver’s relationship to the vehicle.

In a process that mirrors the 60,000 hours of experience required of a Lexus takumi craftsman, the design is rooted in the work of specialty craftsmen from Asakusa, Tokyo. At the beginning of the process, leather requires trained eyes to identify its natural material characteristics for use on the project such as thickness and elasticity. From there, molding methods would be introduced to shape the leather to the roof, doors and dashboard, beautifully finishing these sculptural parts.

In keeping with the Lexus automotive experience and core values, Freedom to Move reconsiders human movement in this new world, creating a design that is elegant, functional, and luxurious. The headpieces fuse new innovations with lost techniques and bring together cultural references from across the world, including Japanese principles of design, omotenashi (exceptional hospitality) and takumi (expert craftsmanship), which were integral throughout the design process. Collaborating in Lagos, Nigeria, where Oshinowo is based, the designers considered their context in Africa, in addition to the diversity of cultures around the world. With an understanding of today’s face mask and its functionality, Oshinowo and Amuah explored global history in which the head has always been a focal point for protection and adornment across cultures. Though rooted in history, the headpieces also nod to the future, signaling an unbounded and unending pursuit of advancement, innovation and discovery.

“As nomadic beings, it is unnatural to stand still, and we wanted to reconfigure how we move in a positive way in spite of the restrictions of motion the world now finds itself in,” commented Chrissa Amuah. “Our conceptual design makes a bold stride towards our new human existence and is enraptured in a marriage of ergonomics and spectacle,” said Tosin Oshinowo.

The three uniquely designed headpieces are titled; Egaro, Pioneer Futures, and Ògún, which have slight alterations, and integrate multiple materials such as brass, bronze, leather, and acrylic, with detailing of hand beading, laser etching and embroidery using the West African tinko method. Working by hand with artisans that use ancient craft techniques, was matched with the use of 3D printing and advanced technologies. All three of the mask designs feature transparent panels, which allow the wearer to overcome the challenges of communicating with limited facial expressions presented by typical protective masks.

As a long term partner of Design Miami/, Lexus approached this year’s fair as an opportunity to reflect on the shared global condition, choosing a collaboration that is inspired by the brand’s human-centered approach, and reflects on the common desire for comfort, safety, and beauty as we collectively move towards a new future. For more than three decades, Lexus has demonstrated unwavering commitment to bold, uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance. In addition to the collaboration with Oshinowo and Amuah, Lexus will be staging an LC 500 Convertible in Miami’s design district and will present the fifth installment of the Lexus Art & Innovation series with Whitewall from December 2-3. Speakers include Yves Behar, the Haas brothers, Marcel Wanders, Katie Stout, and Misha Khan, to name a few, in addition to Oshinowo who will participate on the panel discussing Africa and its relationship to innovation in design and creativity on December 3 at 2pm.

Timed to Design Miami/, Freedom To Move is intended to reach audiences worldwide through a dynamic digital experience. In addition to partnering with a selection of content creators to showcase the headpieces from different global perspectives, Lexus has debuted a compelling three-part docuseries which follows Oshinowo and Amuah on location, bringing to life the personalities behind the collaboration and showcasing the design journey from sketch, concept generation to prototype and final production.

Design Miami/ runs from November 27 through December 6 online and in-person in the Miami Design District.

The World Travel Awards celebrate organizations that are recognized for their commitment to excellence. Both customers and travel and tourism professionals voted for THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus as winner in its category. While the award is a recognition of the product that THE LOFT has been offering since June 2018, the voting for the World Travel Awards took place during the coronavirus pandemic, when Brussels Airlines and Lexus were offering a product and service that was adapted to and in line with the current health and safety measures. The fact that customers and professionals voted for THE LOFT even at this moment makes the reward even more precious, as both companies do their utmost to continue putting the customer at the center, no matter the circumstances.

THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus is a unique lounge concept, centred on comfort, technology, design and a blend of ‘Belgitude’ and Japanese hospitality.

“Customer centricity is at the heart of everything we do, in normal times and in these extremely challenging circumstances. The fact that we have won the award for “Europe’s leading airport lounge 2020” in the most difficult year our company and the aviation industry have ever experienced, makes it all the more valuable. I am extremely grateful to the travel and tourism professionals who voted for THE LOFT, and even more so for the customers who continue to visit THE LOFT in this challenging time. They give us the energy to reinvent ourselves in times of crisis and to continue offering great experiences, even within the limitations we face due to the current health measures.” says Tanguy Cartuyvels, Head of Customer Experience & Marketing at Brussels Airlines. “Working together with partners who are driven by the highest quality services, enables us to offer an exceptional guest experience. Lexus is the perfect example of that.”

Pascal Ruch, Head of Lexus Europe, said: “We are grateful to our customers for their trust and we are delighted to receive this esteemed Award for the second consecutive year. The Lexus’ spirit of Omotenashi, the Japan-inspired personalized and exceptional guest experience we bring to our guests is valued this year, more than ever, making a real difference and providing peace of mind for business travellers in today’s uncertain times. We strongly appreciate the outstanding collaboration with Brussels Airlines and other partners together with whom we share this Award today”.

THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus opened its doors on June 25, 2018 as a relaxing new space for international travellers inspired by Lexus luxury, design and Omotenashi hospitality.

It marks a further expansion of Lexus beyond the premium automotive world as a global luxury lifestyle brand. Lounge guests are provided with a wealth of facilities to make their visit comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable, together with opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of Lexus.

Covering an area of 2040m², THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus offers seating for 500 guests. It is divided into areas with different ambiences and features, including a central bar, seating zones and a break-out space that’s ideal for those who need to work while on the move.

A unique blend of premium features are offered to visitors:

• Japanese hospitality values brought by Lexus
• Chocolate experience hosted by a Neuhaus maître chocolatier
• At home SPA Grohe shower suites
• Individual nap rooms with star lid ceiling
• Lexus LS Shiatsu-effect massage chairs
• Variety of fresh organic dishes and drinks by Foodmaker and Rombouts
• Beer taps including best Belgian beers
• Plastic bottles-free living space
• Award winning arts and inspirational sleek design elements by Lexus
• Dedicated Mark Levinson hi-end audio listening room
• Regular events ranging from wine tasting to music ensembles

Following the decision by the Belgian Federal Government to temporarily close the hospitality sector in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines and Lexus is currently closed. In the meantime, Brussels Airlines and Lexus put everything in place for a safe reopening as soon as the circumstances permit it.

Lexus International introduces Volume Two of the global digital cookbook, Culinary Perspectives.  The brand’s culinary partner chefs share enticing menus of robust dishes that have been enjoyed at recent Lexus events around the world.

Writer and editor Joshua David Stein is a James Beard Award-nominated author whose work has appeared in the Best American Food Writing, and a former restaurant critic for the Village Voice and New York Observer. He has been the editor-in-chief of Blackbook magazine and a senior editor at Departures, Eater and Black Ink magazines.

The cookbook’s foreword is by contributing writer Chef Nyesha J. Arrington, celebrated for her advocacy of recipes using farm fresh, local and responsibly sourced ingredients and whose culinary approach is inspired by diverse cultures, flavors and techniques from around the world. She reminds us of the deeper arc of culinary themes by celebrating amazing meals. Bringing joy to eating is rooted in the anticipation of one’s need and the hospitality ethos of the Lexus brand known as omotenashi.

“Culinary Perspectives enables Lexus to connect with our audience on a topic of deep personal interest to them. We hope our audience will embrace this opportunity to explore their own epicurean artisanship.” said Brian Bolain, General Manager, Lexus International.

Creating food and elevating it to culinary art is fundamentally human; a highly evolved level of craftsmanship and thoughtfully detailed execution are basic pillars of the Lexus brand. The ten recipes in this collection provide a menu for a multi-course meal across a range of difficulty levels that can be mastered by novice chefs or expert culinary architects in the comfort of their homes.

Recipes include:

1. Tuna Tartare by Chef Ricardo Sanz of “Kabuki,” Madrid.
2. Heirloom Tomato Salad by Chef Nickolas Martinez of Intersect by Lexus, New York.
3. Warm Lobster Taco with Yellow Salsa by Chef Dean Fearing at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.
4. Cured Squid with Chicken and Caviar by Chef Sergio & Javier Torres of “Cocina Hermano Torres,” Barcelona.
5. Chawanmushi with Truffle Oil by Chef Leonardo Jun Sakamoto of “Sakamoto” in Sao Paolo.
6. Spicy Miso Salmon with Broccoli Rice by Chef Reuben Riffel of “Reuben’s” in Johannesburg.
7. Chilled Dandan Udon Noodles by Chef Matsuo Nagasaka of “Azabu Choukou,” Tokyo.
8. Young Goose with Sauerkraut by Chef Zdenek Pohlreich of “NextDoor by Imperial,” “Divinis Praha” and “Café Imperial” in Prague.
9. Halo Halo My Way by Chef Mark Singson of “Boneta” and “AnnaLena” in Vancouver and “Vue de monde” and “Saint Crispin” in Melbourne.
10. Chocolate Tart by Chef Emily Roux of “Caractere” in Notting Hill.

ABOUT LEXUS CREATES

The Lexus Creates initiative is a new content series from the luxury marque. This social-media driven program engages participants in activities that both inform and delight, with subjects related to the Lexus brand hallmarks of design and craftsmanship. This is accomplished with the help of a range of partners who, through their unique talents, inspire participants to create, while also elevating the value of their craft.

The 12-minute film, made before the COVID-19 lockdown, records their first meeting at Alex’s home track and the drive they shared in a Lexus RX F Sport. The result was a remarkable conversation between two very different generations, covering a variety of topics: their inspirations, an addiction to winning, the changing definition of power, social media’s influence and even Seb’s first taste of grime music on the car stereo.

The film will feature in an interactive player on the Lexus UK website: lexus.co.uk/poweroftwo that allows you to explore the many stories and anecdotes in their conversation in more detail.

Ewan Shepherd, Director of Lexus in the UK said: “Taking a drive with one of sport’s most powerful and progressive figures is always going to be interesting. By inviting Seb Coe to share his RX Hybrid with a young athlete who embodies the dynamic power and potential of a brave new generation, we captured something really fascinating. The way we generate and use power today is very different to how it was done in previous generations and this is clearly illustrated in the film and made the chemistry between Seb and Alex all the more captivating. We hope viewers enjoy interacting with the many topics that were discussed with humour and insight.”

Seb’s Soundbites:

• ‘You don’t choose your sport, your sport chooses you’
• On rowing: ‘that’s running, sitting down, going backwards’
• On his father’s training mantra: ‘If you cannot measure it, it doesn’t make a lot of sense
• On what his father told journalists was his biggest regret: ‘…that my son didn’t win the Tour de France’
• On winning: ‘Winning is quite addictive and … there is no feeling in the world like there is when you’ve actually won something’
• On losing: ‘Some of the things that I’ve learnt most about myself have actually been in races I’ve lost. My whole career was based in large part on losing the European Championships in 1978’
• On the power of athletics: ‘It’s one of the most accessible of all our sports. It’s one of the most potent social workers in all our communities..and properly used is an amazing soft power
• On being a technophobe: ‘I don’t type, I’ve never owned a computer and only write long-hand’. This is followed by Alex explaining to Seb how regenerative braking works in hybrid cars like the RX
• On hybrid cars: ‘I like the idea of hybrid cars. In towns I’m certain they’re more eco-friendly. My daughter’s got asthma…so I understand the need to keep clean air’
• On hearing some of Alex’s grime music: ‘I’d have to listen to it a bit more..to really get into it if I’m honest’
• On young people: ‘they get a bad rap….but the vast majority are amazing, amazing young people’

Alex’s soundbites:

• On how he got into athletics: ‘I did a lot at primary school and that’s the point where…fastest gets all the girls’
• On his hero, Usain Bolt: ‘The name Bolt, I though that was a stage name…You can’t be named Usain Bolt and come second’
• On losing: ‘I like to give myself a healthy sulking period before thinking constructively ….just be in the moment, “I hate this”’
• On the Lexus RX: ‘If a car could smoulder!’ and ‘It’s like being on the sofa at home’
• On social media: ‘for me (it) has come with some really great benefits. When people halfway across the world say “I watched your race, I really enjoyed it, I wish you all the best,” you really feel like what you’re doing is more than your immediate environment’
• On his athletics: ‘Everything feels like its going in the right direction and I have faith in the process, I have faith in all the people around me…If it doesn’t happen this time it will happen at some point. I know that for a fact; I’ve visualised it so many times’
• The film concludes with Seb’s advice to Alex: ‘Keep doing what you’re doing and there will be setbacks…Try and even out those bumps in the road.’

The images, commissioned by Lexus in the UK, capture the strong influence of Japanese traditions and aesthetics on Lexus cars, depicting some of the brand’s most popular models in comic book adventure style. The three artists for the Lexus commission are Yishan Li, Timothy Kong and Daniel Atanasov, whose work features respectively the new UX compact SUV, ES sedan and LC coupe.

Yishan Li is a self-taught artist whose work has been published internationally in more than 30 comic books. Her interpretation of the UX is inspired by the car’s “New Horizons” tagline and shows a woman sitting on her car by the shore at sunset, relaxing after completing a big creative project. Asked what the most challenging aspect of the work was, she said: “The Car! There are so many precise curves and design elements, they’re a lot harder to draw than characters.”

Timothy Kong’s work blends manga with Japanese anime and western influences from Old Masters. He has produced a fantastic scene in which a Lexus ES sedan is being driven at speed away from a fire-breathing dragon. He explained: “I chose a dragon to highlight the brave design of Lexus cars. In Japanese culture dragons are shown to be incredibly powerful and proud creatures that represent courage and strength, and to challenge one is seen to be a brave endeavour.”

Daniel Atanasov is a Bulgarian-born artist who became fascinated by anime animated films as a child. With a classic background in art, he has gone on to explore and work in a form of manga which focuses on sci-fi, adventure and martial arts. This influence is clear in his depiction of a scarlet Lexus LC coupe with a warrior figure on its roof, set against the backdrop of an exploding city skyline. “This was the first time I had been asked to draw a real car within a piece and make it look like part of a fictional story. The car itself is an autonomous being, but at the same time has a symbiotic relationship with the man. That’s why there is no driver behind the wheel; the car is intelligent, self-driving and reliable.”

The podcast title, “Go and See”, is an approximate translation of the Japanese “genchi genbutsu,” or “go and see for yourself.” The idea stems from the belief that a person will have a better understanding of people and how to create something for them from actual personal experience. In the series, Lexus invites Gladwell to Japan to discover their unconventional thinking and processes firsthand in the exclusive behind the scenes look at the luxury automaker.

Gladwell’s unique storytelling ability shines as he explores how culture and engineering merge at Lexus. The podcast series follows Gladwell as he travels to the luxury brand’s headquarters in Japan, explores a topsecret racetrack, and shadows engineers and executives. All while gaining firsthand exposure to how the brand takes learning from research on human behavior and processes that have set the brand apart.

Each episode dives deep into unique elements of the luxury automaker’s identity, from how a Japanese tea ceremony influenced the engineering of a car window; to the musical composition of a coupe’s engine and the emotions it elicits. ”Go and See” offers car nuts like Gladwell, and anyone who is simply curious, a true appreciation of the exceptional craftsmanship behind the Lexus badge.

“I once had a Lexus sports car and loved it. But after I gave it up, I didn’t really give them much more thought,” said Gladwell. “In Japan, I saw firsthand just how much thought and cultural know-how and expertise goes into the final product.”

Recorded over 10 weeks from December through February, Gladwell’s own Pushkin Industries® produced the six-part series in partnership with Lexus. The first episode was launched on March 5, 2020, and new episodes are launching each Thursday. Listeners can stream or download the series from Apple Podcasts®, Radio.com®, Google Podcasts, Spotify®, Pandora®, Pocketcast, Stitcher®, iHeartRadio®, Castbox®, NPR One®, Web Players and more.

For the link to the Go and See podcast series, click here.

About Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of six New York Times bestsellers — The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, David and Goliath and Talking to Strangers. He is also the co-founder of Pushkin Industries, an audio content company that produces the podcasts Revisionist History, and Broken Record®, where he, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam interview musicians across a wide range of genres. Gladwell is a staff writer at The New Yorker, has been included in the TIME 100 Most Influential People list, and was touted as one of Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers.

Zero Gravity is a Lexus like no other, a motorbike-style machine that will rocket above the surface of the moon at 500 km/h. It delivers speed, thrills, future tech and, of course, the coolest Lexus design.

It might not be a production model (yet), but it’s been created in striking image form by the team at Lexus’ ED2 European advanced design studio and has all the hallmarks of a Lexus “Amazing Experience.”

Even though they were breaking free from all the usual rules for creating luxury cars, the designers were able to draw directly on their latest ground-breaking work, the futuristic Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept.

The original idea for Zero Gravity came from Karl Dujardin and was the top pick from among a series of concepts put forward by leading international designers and architects from outside the automotive world. Their work is rich in imagination, focusing as much on the “driving” fun to be had in the low-gravity lunar environment as on the practicality of getting from A to B across a rough and untamed landscape.

They were responding to a call from the international art and design magazine Document Journal for ideas about how a future lunar world might look. Seven were chosen to be developed at ED2 and included in the magazine’s Lunar Design Portfolio.

“The design team was already looking beyond near-term production to how advanced technology will change the way we interact with vehicles,” said Ian Cartabiano, President of ED2.

“The lunar project came at the right time, half-way through the LF-30 development. It gave the team a chance to dream further and apply some of the design language from the LF-30’s interior to the lunar proposals.”

Zero Gravity is a single-rider vehicle that’s driven like a motorcycle but which uses magnetic levitation to hover above the ground – a technology already used by Lexus in the real world for its unique hoverboard project. It might be a futuristic machine, but it’s controlled with same kind of direct communication you find between a rider and their horse – a new Lexus concept called Tazuna (tazuna is a Japanese word for rein). The result is real sense of the rider being connected to their machine, adding to the enjoyment factor of every lunar journey.

Lexus Lunar Design Concepts

Zero Gravity, by Karl Dujardin

The future of Lexus is captured in the design of Zero Gravity, which reinterprets the signature Lexus spindle form as a three-dimensional architecture. Sharp and squared edges are transformed into fluid, curved surfaces to create a sense of mystery in the design language. The motorcycle-style format allows for a strong connection between the vehicle and driver/pilot, with more direct control and feedback as human and machine interact with each other. The driver maintains total control while gliding smoothly over the rough and bumpy lunar service, even at speeds estimated to up to 500 km/h.

Lexus Cosmos, by Jean-Baptiste Henry

Lexus Cosmos is a transportation concept designed for travelling both in space and across the lunar surface. It has a fully sculpted glass form that functions both as a massive observatory and as a means of exploring the phenomenon of low gravity. With a rear cockpit that emphasises the feel of driving, and a front section dedicated to contemplation, the concept was designed to create a new and exclusive luxury experience for the future.

Bouncing Moon Roller, by Julien Marie

The Bouncing Moon Roller is protected by a flexible graphene nanotube-based bubble. This structure allows the vehicle to jump and roll at any angle over a wide range of terrain. The cockpit and batteries sit together in a gyroscope cell, while a wheel-like stabiliser creates a fun yet protected feel.

Lexus Lunar Cruiser, by Keisuke Matsuno

The Lunar Cruiser is a multi-purpose lunar vehicle for use on land and in the sky. Its large tyres provide a comfortable ride, even over rough terrain. The wheels can also turn through 90 degrees so the vehicle can fly like a drone, giving the driver the freedom to explore both the moon’s surface and skies. The organically shaped cabin has a distinctive body graphic in the form of a “3D spindle motion”, giving an open view, a comfortable interior and an iconic appearance.

Lexus Lunar Mission, by Yung Presciutti

The Lunar Mission is designed for people to fly to, then walk on the moon. The body design integrates a liquid side form which can reflect the universe during flight. The wings have the iconic spindle shape integrated into the Lexus emblem to form the vehicle’s principal geometry.

Lexus Moon Racer, by Yung Presciutti

The Moon Racer is a recreational, one-person vehicle, designed to cope with different peaks found across the lunar surface, and to let the user enjoy the effects of low gravity, jumping, climbing, racing and discovering the entire moon. The feeling of freedom is emphasised by a giant glass bubble that surrounds the driver.

Lexus Lunar, by Yung Presciutti

Lexus Lunar is a large-scale vehicle designed for safe lunar exploration. It is divided into two parts: the bottom consists of a platform with six rugged wheels, giving the vehicle the freedom to go wherever the driver wants; the upper part contains the living area. The vehicle’s two component sections can be divided, with the upper section detachable so that it can be used to start of a lunar colony.

The new Lexus UX 250h, the only hybrid model in the premium compact crossover segment, is the vehicle of choice to bring VIP guests to the official projections of the 76th Venice International Film Festival - La Biennale di Venezia - happening from 28 August to 7 September 2019.

Brad Pitt, star of the film "Ad Astra", one of the most anticipated celebrities of the Festival, made his entrance on the red carpet accompanied by the Lexus UX 250h.

As official automotive sponsor of the Festival for the third consecutive year, Lexus has provided a fleet of 35 cars, all equipped with its self-charging hybrid technology, to convey celebrities during the festival.

Lexus connects with cinema as it aims to provide amazing experiences to its customers – through its high quality vehicles and unique sense of Japanese hospitality. Lexus Experience Amazing turns function into emotion, performance into innovation, technology into passion. Production excellence, maximum attention to detail, superior quality, perfect symbiosis between craftsmanship and innovative technologies, are some of the values that unite Lexus with the award-winning cinema in Venice.

For more information about Lexus UX, please visit: https://newsroom.lexus.eu/lexus-ux/

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For the third consecutive year Lexus is a Sponsor of the 76th Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia, which will take place at the Lido from August 28th to September 7th, 2019, with the Argentine director Lucrecia Martel, president of the International Jury of the Competition.

Production excellence, maximum attention to detail, superior quality, perfect symbiosis between craftsmanship and innovative technologies are some of the values uniting the world of Lexus with the world of cinema awarded at Venice.

The new Lexus UX Hybrid, the first full hybrid electric compact SUV in the premium C SUV segment, will be the star of the show, alongside flagship Lexus LS, Lexus ES Hybrid and Lexus SUV RX.

As the Official Car of the event, throughout the Film Festival week, Lexus will have the privilege of driving actors, directors, and other well-known faces of cinema to the red carpet with 35 cars, all equipped with Full Hybrid Electric Technology.

"For the third consecutive year, Lexus is a 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 of Lexus Division – confirming how the magic of cinema joins Lexus' ability to amaze and excite, combining levels of craftsmanship, quality and technology at the top of the market. This search fits perfectly with initiatives and events like this one, ensuring and transmitting to our customers an experience with a strong sense of exclusivity, in line with the Lexus “Experience Amazing".

To complete their missions, the Men in Black need vehicles with the horsepower for high speed pursuits, the most advanced alien-fighting technology, and sophisticated styling befitting the most exclusive group of secret agents in the galaxy. Lexus is pleased to fill that role as the official vehicle of Sony Pictures’ Men in Black: International, slated to open in U.S. theaters June 14, 2019.

The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

Lexus vehicles are the official fleet of Men in Black agents globally in the film. The 2020 Lexus RC F stars as the Men in Black agents’ vehicle of choice for their high velocity pursuits. The luxury sport coupe recently underwent an exciting change, making it faster, lighter and even more ready to transport the Men in Black as they save the universe, plus in the film it boasts some pretty amazing alien tech. The Lexus RX Hybrid and Lexus LX SUVs are also featured in film scenes with alien encounters.

“We’ve added some advanced capabilities to the RC F to assist the Men in Black agents, creating a truly one-of-a-kind alien-fighting machine,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. “We can’t wait for moviegoers to see the RC F as they’ve never seen it before.”

The collaboration between Lexus and Sony Pictures’ Men in Black: International includes integration in the film, a co-branded TV spot, a custom Men in Black RC F and sponsorship of the film premiere.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Lexus on this multi-tiered campaign in support of Men in Black: International,” said Jeffrey Godsick, EVP, Brand Management and Global Partnerships, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. “The Lexus RC F sports coupe provides the perfect vehicle for our team of Men in Black agents, led by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, as they protect the galaxy.”​

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.”

Lexus Europe has chosen Lisbon to host the UX Art Space by Lexus, a pop-up gallery illustrating Lexus’ ambition to move beyond automotive as a luxury lifestyle brand.

In addition to displaying an exclusive prototype of the new Lexus UX, the gallery will feature immersive art works by emerging artists Inês Zenha and Bence Magyarlaki, Divine Southgate-Smith and Pedro Henriques, who were challenged by Lexus to deconstruct the new UX and present their interpretation of the new Lexus crossover.

Natxo Checa, founder, director, curator and producer for the Zé dos Bois Gallery (ZDB), will be in charge of the UX Art Space executive production, alongside Carolina Grau, independent curator and expert in contemporary art, with extensive experience in international events and exhibitions.

“As it continues to evolve as a creative and cultural hub, Lisbon offers a perfect backdrop to showcase our new UX crossover in an innovative, artistic environment, said Pascal Ruch, Head of Lexus Europe. The UX Art Space by Lexus offers visitors an opportunity to be immerged in Lexus’ world and share our passion for creative design and innovative technology.”

“The UX Art Space by Lexus harmoniously connects the vehicle and the artwork, said Carolina Grau. This exhibition will transport visitors and engage their emotions with the use of abstraction and deconstruction, while creating an artistic interpretation of the movement, sound, shape and colour pallet that is truly Lexus”.

THE UX ART SPACE BY LEXUS

Address: Largo dos Stephens 5, Cais Sodré district, Lisbon

Opening hours: June 29-Oct 17, Mon-Sat, 12pm to 8pm

Free entrance

The LOUNGE by Lexus at Brussels Airport marks a further expansion of Lexus beyond the premium automotive world as a global luxury lifestyle brand. Lounge guests are provided with a wealth of facilities to make their visit comfortable, relaxing and enjoyable, together with opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of Lexus.

Covering an area of 700m², LOUNGE by Lexus has seating for 175 guests. It is divided into areas with different ambiences and features, including a central bar, seating zones and a break-out space that’s ideal for those who need to work while on the move.

Pascal Ruch, Head of Lexus Europe, inaugurated the new lounge at an official opening ceremony on April 25. He said: “With half a million international guests visiting Brussels Airlines’ Business Lounge “THE LOFT” each year, Lexus sees this partnership for the LOUNGE by Lexus as a unique and exciting opportunity to bring its core brand values to a global audience, reaching beyond the automotive world. This is a place where people can enjoy and get to know Lexus without getting behind the wheel of one of its cars.”

LOUNGE by Lexus is not like a conventional “showroom,” it goes beyond cars to give visitors the chance to explore Lexus and discover the many ways in which it seeks to create and enable amazing experiences.

The space offers everything the air traveller would expect, and more, delivered in a way that is uniquely Lexus. This extends to original, contemporary designs throughout the space, high-quality furnishings and materials, carefully designed food and drinks menus and facilities for work, entertainment, relaxation and revitalisation.

Furniture items have been selected or purpose-designed for the lounge, including multi-function occasional tables and bar counters that interpret the same L-finesse design language as Lexus cars. Lighting is adapted to suit different environments within the lounge and includes two striking installations – a cluster of Iris globes above the bar and Inaho standing lights that sway as people approach them – both of which have evolved from entries in the annual Lexus Design Award. Examples of work by other emerging designers who have participated in the Lexus Design Award are also on display.

There are extensive spa facilities for guests, including individual spa rooms equipped with latest shower and shower-toilet facilities from GROHE. Five b.Relaxed sleep pods by Brussels Airlines are provided for those who need to catch up on rest. In a separate room, people can de-stress in new multi-function “Real Pro Hot Stone” relax chairs from Panasonic. The integrated massage programmes are similar to the shiatsu-effect treatments the driver and passengers can enjoy when sitting in the new Lexus LS flagship sedan.

Mark Levinson, one of the world’s leading audio specialists, has a well-established and exclusive automotive partnership with Lexus, designing bespoke systems for each of its model ranges. The exceptional quality of Mark Levinson equipment can be enjoyed in a dedicated listening room within the LOUNGE by Lexus.

The new LOUNGE by Lexus is part of THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines. It is open daily from 5am to 9pm, operating the same guest admission policy as THE LOFT by Brussels Airlines.

LOUNGE by Lexus has been designed by FITCH, a retail and brand consultancy which has also produced a successful design concept for Lexus’ European retailer network. It has been able to expand some of the ideas explored in that project and introduce new and exciting features, drawing further inspiration from the INTERSECT by Lexus brand experiential centres in Tokyo and Dubai.

Rich in contemporary Lexus design, offering innovative, leading edge spa and well-being facilities and even equipped with a state-of-the-art listening room for Mark Levinson premium audio equipment, it reflects Lexus’ commitment to the highest standards of customer service.

DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

LOUNGE by Lexus covers an area of 700 m² and has seating for 175 guests. It is divided into a central lounge, bar area, an upper lounge with a more relaxing environment and a quieter breakout space with work stations.

There is also a brand space where guests can find out more about Lexus design, takumi craftsmanship, performance while browsing “storytelling” cabinets that contain exhibits and information that illustrate its growing range of brand activities and innovations.

The layout includes an extensive spa (detailed in the omotenashi chapter), with sleep pods, personal shower and washrooms and a massage room, and a listening suite where guests can enjoy finest quality audio from Mark Levinson.

Ceiling height, lighting and furnishing materials and colours vary according to the area and its function to create different ambiences.

Applying the principles of Lexus L-finesse design

The overall look of LOUNGE by Lexus is inspired by Lexus’ L-finesse design principles, successfully embracing and adapting a styling philosophy that reflects the brand’s commitment to design, technology and precision craftsmanship.

L-finesse has three core values:

• Seamless Anticipation
  True to the concept of omotenashi – the Japanese spirit of hospitality – we do more than simply meet our customers’ needs and desires. We anticipate them, seamlessly, to give them an amazing experience.

• Incisive Simplicity
  Everything we create must be an intuitive pleasure to use and behold. Any excessive complexity must be stripped away so we can provoke honest, undiluted emotion in the experience.
   
• Intriguing Elegance
  Lexus design has the power not just to catch the eye and turn heads, but also to capture and hold attention. The more you look, the more you’re drawn in. This is what Lexus designers mean when they talk about “visual journeys”.

In the context of LOUNGE by Lexus, L-finesse is expressed in qualities that are also seen in the designs for Lexus’ European retailers. They generate a visual journey with broad expanses that flow into intriguing details, creating a change of pace. The result is a bold visual expression, achieved with an elegant composure.

Examples of L-finesse design include the custom-made central bar units. Finished with a matt white marble surface with concealed lighting and gloss white body section, they are styled with an intriguing mixture of rounded corners and sharp angles. The lounge tables are similar in look, with white marble tops and anodised aluminium bases. Services and cabling are all concealed from view to preserve a pure silhouette.

Signature grille facade

The façade of LOUNGE by Lexus features a subtle yet striking interpretation of the spindle grille that has become a signature design feature of Lexus vehicles. It is rendered in a richly coloured perforated bamboo that is also used in the interiors of Lexus models.

The spindle grille has been a feature of Lexus models since first appearing on the GS sedan in 2012. Its shape has been interpreted to reflect the character of different models, from strong SUVs and crossovers, such as the RX and NX to performance coupes such as the LC and RC F and luxury saloons, like the IS and LS. The upper and lower sections can be changed in size and made more prominent, adjusting the central pinch-point, and the mesh can be formed in different patterns, creating new visual tensions. The choice of materials and colours for the frame and mesh also generates a different look to suit the vehicle’s specific character.

The grille is a concrete example of how Lexus design has evolved from focusing on elegance to becoming sharper, edgier and more distinctive, with details that are instantly recognisable as “Lexus”.

Take a Line for a Walk chairs by Alfredo Häberli

The furnishings in LOUNGE by Lexus have been chosen for their combination of comfort and design excellence. One of the key pieces is the Take a Line for a Walk chair, designed by Alfredo Häberli and manufactured by luxury Italian furniture maker Moroso.

The chair takes its name and inspiration from a quote from the 20^th century artist Paul Klee: “Drawing is like taking a line for a walk.”

The Swiss-Argentinian designer Häberli explained: “The modelling method of rapid prototyping served as the starting point for this design. At the time, I was reading a book about Paul Klee in which he said that when he was drawing, it was like taking the line for a walk. This expression gave me the final theme: to design a lightweight structure for a lounge chair with enormous wings.”

Take a Line for a Walk is a modern, extremely comfortable bergère-style chair with a slim and masculine shape. The armchair and footrest are in cold-foamed polyurethane with inner steel frame. The base is coated steel and the foot pads are made of PVC.

Lexus storytelling cabinets

As part of the Lexus Lounge brand experience, two storytelling cabinets bring together items, pictures and books that draw on different aspects of Lexus, from high technology to motorsports success.

There are two open cabinets, located in the upper lounge, themed on Design and Takumi Craftsmanship and Technology and Performance.

The Takumi and Design cabinet includes design drawings, items from the Lexus Design Awards and even an origami cat – the folding challenge Lexus’ craftsmen have to master, working against the clock and using their non-dominant hand. Further context is provided by a selection of books on art, lifestyle and travel.

The Technology and Performance cabinet illustrates diverse Lexus projects such as the LFA supercar, Hoverboard, Sport Yacht concept and the Skyjet, designed for the sci-fi movie Valerian and the City of 1,000 Planets, plus the company’s international racing activities. Again, there is a range of books to browse on technology, sports, space exploration and related subjects.

The Lexus Parts Wall

The Parts Wall is a striking feature created entirely from parts used in Lexus vehicles, brought together in an artistic arrangement and finished in a uniform white.

The idea for the wall was originally brought to life at the INTERSECT by Lexus luxury brand space in Tokyo by Masamichi Katayama, principal of the interior design company Wonderwall Inc.

Katayama explained: “I wanted to transform the simple act of relaxing in a lounge into a chance to experience the excitement of the Lexus brand.”

The installation comprises dozens individual parts and components – among them bodywork, grilles, exhaust systems and wheels – together weighing more than a tonne. Their arrangement in a single installation creates a fusion of art and engineering that pays tribute to the craftsmanship and advanced technologies applied to Lexus vehicles.

Innovation, inspiration and ingenuity from the Lexus Design Awards

Lexus believes design has the power to make the world a better place, and LOUNGE by Lexus provides a showcase for some of the most innovative and effective entries contributed to the annual Lexus Design Award, an international initiative to encourage and support emerging global design talent.

Each year, designers are challenged to produce ideas which capture a central theme, linked to Lexus’ own design principles. An international panel of design expert judges selects 12 finalists from among hundreds of entries from around the world. The finalists’ work is shown as part of Lexus’s presence at the annual Milan Design Week. From this group, four submissions are given financial help and the support of leading design professionals as mentors to develop their concepts to prototype stage. An ultimate Grand Prix winner is then chosen from this quartet.

Among the works on display is Agar Plasticity, the Grand Prix winner in 2016, created by AMAM, a design group formed by Kosuke Araki, Noriaki Maetani and Akira Muraoka. Their product explores how agar, a substance obtained from marine algae, can treated to make natural and environmentally friendly packaging materials that can be used as alternatives to oil-based plastics.

Instamp is a series of silicon stamps representing the western A to Z alphabet in a simple typeface. Instead of producing a uniform image, the stamps create a different effect depending on the position, pressure and stress applied. The resulting effect is similar to the brushwork used in east Asian calligraphy. Created by Japanese designer Yuzo Azu, Instamp was a finalist in the 2015 Lexus Design Award.

The wide range of inspiration among the award’s thousands of entries is witnessed in Dada, a toy comprising blocks, pegs and bands made from natural products, which children can use to explore their creative imagination. Designed by Myungsik Jang from Korea, Dada was a finalist in the 2016 Lexus Design Award.

Kuniko Maeda (2017 Lexus Design Award finalist), takes disposable paper and upcycles it to create intricately patterned 3D structures, coating and cutting the material to give it a completely new appearance. The process for this Landscape of Paper transforms what would be waste for recycling into a new material combining both traditional craft techniques and digital technology.

Origami Porcelain, developed by Hitomi Igarashi for the 2013 award, is created using a new casting technique with paper, allowing for thinner ceramic pieces and more free-form shapes to be achieved.

The World Clock (2012, Masafumi Ishikawa and Hitomi Ishikawa, USA) is a simple concept that tells you the time in 12 different world cities. The frame is a dodecagon, with each side representing a different location. As you rotate the clock, the single hour hand remains in place, so the local time can be seen at-a-glance.

Iris lights

The cluster of translucent lights suspended above the lounge’s bar area comprises a series of Iris crystal ball lamps, created by Sebastian Scherer and featured in the 2014 Lexus Design Award. Scherer, from Berlin, drew his inspiration from children blowing soap bubbles, and sought to capture the intriguing qualities of these shimmering, floating spheres.

Two years after starting his development work, he made contact with a German company that specialises in dichroic colour coating of glass. They were given the challenge of applying their techniques to a spherical form to created something completely new.

The result is the Iris lamp. Each globe is made from handblown crystal, which is dipped in an alcohol solution before being fired. The resulting finish shimmers in a different colour from every angle. An OLED provides the light source and fixture for each lamp, its extremely thin framework ensuring the design is not compromised.

Inaho Lights

The floor-standing light installation in the centre of the lounge is by Hideki Yoshimoto and Yoshinaka Ono of Japan’s Tangent Studios and was a leading finalist in the 2013 Lexus Design Award. Called Inaho, these freestanding lamps have bulbs shaped like ears of rice (inaho in Japanese).

Mirroring the swaying movement of rice plants, the lights glow with a golden light and lean towards people as they approach. The stems contain artificial muscle fibres controlled by electricity. As you draw near to the light, sensors trigger a micro-controller which causes the muscle fibres to shrink slightly with a certain rhythm, creating the swaying effect. As the stems are made of an elastic carbon fibre tube, these small stimuli can be amplified into a dramatic motion.

Kiriko glass: traditional craftsmanship adapted for modern luxury

Traditional Japanese aesthetics, culture and artforms have a strong influence on contemporary Lexus design. As an example, fine kiriko cut glass has been reinterpreted for use as an exclusive and innovative ornamentation feature in the new Lexus LS flagship sedan.

Lounge guests can admire examples of the hand-faceted glass and see how it has been adapted for use in the LS where it forms an eye-catching element in the interior door panels, changing in appearance according the angle and intensity of light. Its shape and pattern echo the look of the car’s spindle grille.

Although the exquisite glasswork, produced by Studio Kobin, looks beautiful and delicate, it is in fact remarkably strong, thanks to advanced glass reinforcement technology.

LOUNGE by Lexus design partner

LOUNGE by Lexus has been designed by the retail and brand consultancy FITCH.

FITCH produced a retail concept for Lexus’ European dealership network and some of the successful ideas from this experience have been developed in its vision for the new lounge at Brussels Airport.

OMOTENASHI – COMFORT, RELAXATION AND WELL-BEING

Lexus has an industry-leading reputation for the highest levels of customer service, a quality that has its roots in omotenashi – the finest traditions of Japanese hospitality. Customers are treated with the welcome and respect that would be given to a guest in the home.

Omotenashi goes further than just meeting an individual’s needs; it is about anticipating them before they arise.

These qualities are central to LOUNGE by Lexus, where visitors can enjoy a welcoming, comfortable and relaxed environment, whether they need to rest, work, find entertainment, enjoy food and refreshments or revitalise during a long journey.

The design of the lounge, its furnishings and the facilities provided, all support aspects of omotenashi. This includes a spa area equipped with individual shower/washrooms by GROHE, restful b.Relaxed sleep pods by Brussels Airlines and the latest relaxing massage chairs from Panasonic.

Spa rooms by GROHE

Spa rooms by GROHE are a key part of The LOFT by Brussels Airlines, a place where guests can enjoy peace, tranquillity and pampering in a calm and peaceful environment. The relaxing ambience, in complete contrast to the familiar, frantic pace of airport life, has been created through careful selection of materials, furnishings, lighting and equipment.

Visitors can make use of individual spa rooms equipped with the latest shower and shower toilet equipment from GROHE or take time for a refreshing nap in the restful environment of the Brussels Airlines b.Relaxed sleep pods.

Just as the driver and passengers in the Lexus LS flagship saloon can benefit from in-seat shiatsu massage functions, lounge visitors can de-stress in the comfort of Panasonic Relax Chairs, with sophisticated “Real Pro Hot Stone” programmes.

A personal spa experience

Within the lounge’s spa area, there is a suite of six individual rooms equipped by GROHE, the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings. Each has state-of-the-art washroom facilities, including an L-finesse design basin, a lavatory and walk-in shower space. Wireless speakers and dimmable lighting enhance the ambience.

In a perfect expression of utmost hospitality, the facilities give guests the chance to refresh themselves and de-stress in comfortable and beautifully designed surroundings. The fittings represent the latest technologies and designs developed by GROHE, including the AquaSymphony shower system and multi-function Sensia^® Arena shower toilets.

AquaSymphony is a personal spa that is generous in size and has innovative features. A great variety of sprays can be selected, directing water in different shapes and forms while its AquaCurtain of water can be programmed with different coloured lighting effects.

The new GROHE Sensia^® Arena is designed to create the best ever shower toilet experience, with both hygiene and comfort at maximum levels. It has an automatic self-cleaning function and a sensor which detects a person approaching and raises the lid automatically.

Its dual shower arms clean the skin tenderly and thoroughly. The intensity of the spray, the temperature of the water and the positions of the shower arms can all be adjusted to suit personal preference.

b.Relaxed sleeping rooms by Brussels Airlines

Truly relaxing rest and sleep can be hard to find for international travellers moving quickly through different time zones. LOUNGE by Lexus provides five b.Relaxed sleeping rooms by Brussels Airlines, designed to help visitors enjoy complete comfort, peace and quiet.

The individual bedrooms feature a completely flat bed beneath a ceiling lit like a starry night sky. The design was inspired by both the lounge’s Belgian location and the Brussels Airlines long haul business class cabin.

Each room showcases a piece of art picturing Belgium somewhere in the world and is finished with soft, tactile materials and surfaces.

Panasonic Relax Chair: “Real Pro Hot Stone” wellness treatment

True to the guiding principles of omotenashi, the spa has a room equipped with chairs designed to provide calming wellness treatments. The Panasonic Relax chair “Real Pro Hot Stone” helps passengers take a relaxing break while they wait, in a dedicated section of the spa.

Lexus offers similar comforts to passengers in its new LS flagship sedan, in which the front and rear seats provide a range of different massage functions, including shiatsu, designed in collaboration with expert Japanese practitioners.

The chair is a modern daybed which helps travellers relax with an array of warming massage heads. It is electrically adjustable for different lying positions and vibration patterns. It has an elegant design and is finished in a black or ivory leather-look material.

The Relax Chair is sponsored by Panasonic Automotive Europe, a leading supplier of in-vehicle electrical systems to the automotive industry and a strong business partner.

Food and drink service at all times

Hot and cold dishes and light snacks are available at all times, with the menu changing according to the time of day. The choice will regularly include popular Japanese cuisine and special food and drink events will be hosted.

The bar area provides an extensive range of soft drinks, hot beverages, wines, spirits and cocktails. In addition to self-serve facilities, a bartender will also be on hand to pour and mix drinks.

TECHNOLOGY THAT CREATES AMAZING EXPERIENCES

Lexus has a proud history of technology innovation, not least as having introduced the efficiency and environmental benefits of self-charging hybrid power to the luxury car market. There is much more to its technical vision than hybrid, however, as LOUNGE by Lexus illustrates with exhibits and information about ground-breaking projects

These include the fully functioning Lexus Hoverboard, the Lexus Sport Yacht concept, a lightweight sports bike made from advanced carbon fibre materials and the Lexus LFA supercar.

Mark Levinson, international leaders in audio technology, are well-established as an exclusive partner to Lexus in designing bespoke sound systems for its vehicles. The superb quality of Mark Levinson sound reproduction can be enjoyed in a state-of-the-art listening room.

The Lexus LFA – the ultimate Lexus supercar

The Lexus LFA marked a turning point in the history of Lexus, a rare and thoroughbred ultra-high-performance supercar that fully embraced advanced technologies and engineering innovation. Just 500 examples were built, each one hand-finished by Lexus takumi craftsmen.

Lounge guests can discover more about the LFA’s development, including a scale model.

Building the LFA was the greatest challenge Lexus had ever undertaken, a project that was 10 years in the making and which required new manufacturing and engineering solutions to be developed in order to meet its exacting goals.

Power was provided by a completely new V10 engine and a new carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) was developed for the bodywork, giving the car exceptional strength and light weight. New methods for forming this composite material were also developed.

The Lexus F SPORT Bike

The Lexus F SPORT bike displayed in the lounge was created following the completion of the 500 LFA supercars and demonstrates how Lexus advanced technology and design can successfully be applied to other forms of transport.

The bike is made from the same strong and lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic composite material that was developed for use in the LFA’s bodywork. Built by takumi craftsmen, it is fitted with a 22-speed electronic shift control system for fast and easy gear shifts. The geometry of the frame was determined to ensure comfort, with vibration damping also provided. The paint finish is to the same pristine standard as the LFA.

The Lexus Sport Yacht Concept

LOUNGE by Lexus features a scale model of the Lexus Sport Yacht concept, a sleek and powerful, 42-foot ocean-going vessel that can accommodate up to eight people. Winner of a special award at the 2018 Japan International Boat Show, the concept was developed and designed by Lexus and manufactured by American boat-building specialists the Marquis-Carver Yacht Group.

The yacht makes use of Lexus technologies, including CFRP (as used in the manufacture of the LFA supercar) which saves considerable weight compared to conventional fibreglass materials. A stepped hull design reduces drag and power is provided by twin engines based on the 5.0-litre V8 unit found in the Lexus LC and RC F coupes.

Lexus has confirmed that it will put a luxury yacht into production in 2019, a larger, 65-foot model that will build on the advanced nature of the concept while adding more comfort and space for up to 15 guests.

Lexus Hoverboard

As the centrepiece of its Amazing in Motion campaign, Lexus successfully designed and produced a Hoverboard – a form of skateboard that floats silently above the ground and can be ridden by a full-grown adult. This one-off piece of technical wizardry is on public display in the LOUNGE by Lexus.

The project took 18 months of design and technology planning, followed by weeks of testing at a specially built “hoverpark” near Barcelona. The task of riding the hoverboard fell to Ross McGouran, an internationally acclaimed skateboard star. One of Ross’ pro-skateboards is also on show in the lounge.

Within the Lexus Hoverboard’s compact structure there are two reservoirs containing superconducting material, kept at -197˚C by liquid nitrogen. This allows the board to levitate above a track fitted with permanent magnets. Lexus worked with scientists from IFW Dresden and evico GmbH to achieve its ambitious aim, pushing the boundaries of technology, design and innovation to make the impossible possible.

Wireless device charging

Wireless charging units for smartphones have become a popular and useful feature in many Lexus vehicles. The same convenience is offered to Lexus’ lounge guests, with cable-free charging units seamlessly integrated into many of the tables.

Mark Levinson Listening Room: enjoy the pinnacle of audio quality

Founded in 1972, Mark Levinson is synonymous with audio purity and equipment of the highest quality and technical accomplishment. Since 2001, the brand has worked in an exclusive automotive partnership with Lexus, producing sound systems for its vehicles that are custom-designed and engineered for the internal architecture and acoustic quality of each model.

Mark Levinson systems for Lexus are tuned to provide the highest level of accuracy, reliability, and enjoyment. The hallmark of each system is an uncanny ability to reproduce subtleties and nuances that deliver pure musical reproduction, with nothing added or removed from the performance. You don’t just hear the sound, you experience the soul of the music in a 360-degree spatial environment.

The full and rich experience of Mark Levinson sound is provided to LOUNGE by Lexus guests in two areas: one system is installed in the central bar, another has been specifically designed for the Mark Levinson Listening Room.

The system in bar has a stereo connection, while the listening room system is connected to a Lexicon immersive sound processor, for multichannel audio films from the media player.

Three Mark Levinson components are featured in each set-up: an audio player, preamplifier and turntable.

Designed and manufactured in the United States, all Mark Levinson products are handcrafted and tuned, so that each product performs beyond expectations. Each piece is precisely placed for the ultimate sonic purity and visual composition; nothing is extraneous. This makes Mark Levinson products as much a feast for the eyes as for the ears.

The soundproofed listening room is designed to provide the ideal environment in which to appreciate the performance of the Mark Levinson system. The ambience is warm and welcoming with discreet luxury expressed in walnut cabinets with Lexus motif fretwork, black glass wall panel, grey-painted walls and a warm, dark grey rug.

Lexus Skyjet

One of the most arresting features of LOUNGE by Lexus is a half-scale model of Skyjet, a futuristic spacecraft which Lexus helped design for the international blockbuster movie Valerian and the City of 1,000 Planets, directed by Luc Besson.

Lexus collaborated with the film’s creative team to produce a single-seat pursuit craft that would be piloted by Valerian, the movie’s hero, in a fantasy world set 700 years into the future. Its overall shape was influenced by sleek and fast marine creatures such as sharks, dolphins and orca, and the design of modern fighter jets and submersible marine vessels.

The team at Lexus’ ED² design centre in the South of France were able to integrate recognisable Lexus styling cues, including a spindle grille and lights shaped like the triple-LED headlamps on the LC coupe. Referencing zero emission powertrain technology, Skyjet also featured a hydrogen fuel cell capsule.

The heart of the brand’s presence at the Venice Festival will be the Lexus Lounge set up on the Biennale Terrace, where the two flagship models, the LC coupe and the LS sedan, will be displayed. Furthermore, an all-hybrid fleet of 40 vehicles will be provided for VIP and guests transfers during the festival.

The President of the Jury, the actress Annette Bening, will arrive at the festival on board of the brand new LS 500h hybrid.

“We are proud to take part in such a prestigious event, capturing the attention of the world during eleven days”, said Luigi Lucà, Director Lexus Italy. “We share many values with the movie world. Just like actors and directors, we want to improve and refine our art every day, mixing style, elegance and attention to detail to convey unique emotions and create amazing experiences.”

Inspired by the ground-breaking LC luxury coupe and sights & sounds of globally-renowned musical hotspot Ibiza, viewers have the opportunity to become the DJ themselves by accessing a bespoke platform to create their track, based on the industry-leading Novation Launchpad music sequencer.

An avid driving and (of course) music fan, Mark has himself created a track to his own version of the drive, as inspiration for those taking on the challenge, available to view here: https://www.lexus.eu/lexus-today/make-your-mark/behind-the-scenes/

Celebrated for its musical heritage, having played host to some of world’s most innovative music artists, Ibiza was the perfect location to showcase the Lexus ambition to create amazing experiences in the realms of music, art and technology. Renowned for its iconic coastal roads and crystal blue waters, the stunning Ibizan vistas provide the backdrop to highlight the uncompromising design and performance of the LC.

The LC immersive driving experience marks the next phase in the Make Your Mark campaign, which over the next five months will give consumers and fans the chance to get hands on with some exciting content and amazing experiences.

The design of the LC coupe remains remarkably true to that of the LF-LC concept car, making both winners of the EyesOn Design Award. The LC is the figurehead of an evolving vehicle development culture at Lexus, which embraces an unprecedentedly close collaboration between design and engineering teams to create new models.

To score your track to the ultimate LC driving experience, go to: https://www.lexus.eu/lexus-today/make-your-mark/

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
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerianMovie
• 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.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/U2mtILDZRgI

To celebrate the launch of the 2017 Lexus IS sports sedan, Lexus created a bolder, spicier customized version of the original: the Lexus Sriracha IS. By joining forces with the authentic, beloved sauce made by Huy Fong Foods, Lexus turns up the heat with custom auto detailing, foodie finishes and an arsenal of Sriracha within easy reach for emergency situations. The specially modified vehicle will be on display at The Los Angeles Auto Show from Nov. 18–27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“The new Lexus IS is so hot, we decided to make it Sriracha hot, with all the custom details every Sriracha fan will appreciate,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing.

“I feel so humbled to see my Lexus and Sriracha friends’ love for my hot sauce,” said David Tran, CEO and founder of Huy Fong Foods. “The Lexus Sriracha IS is really the perfect mix for a ‘hot’ and ‘spicy car’ – just the way I like it.”

To bring the concept to life, Lexus commissioned the elite crew at West Coast Customs. Lexus also created a light-hearted video for fans to enjoy. “Sriracha In Everything” highlights the vehicle’s custom details and how Sriracha makes everything hotter. It can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/U2mtILDZRgI.

The special features of Sriracha IS:

Official Sriracha IS Paint Job

Lexus experimented with a range of mixtures and methods—including adding Sriracha sauce to the paint itself—to create the Sriracha Red color, complete with flecks of chili-like flakes. The custom paint job was designed to mimic Sriracha sauce inside the bottle and topped with a clear coating.

Sriracha-Injected Steering Wheel

A Sriracha-like liquid was cast in resin, then formed into a Lexus steering wheel, complete with a warning for “Hot Handling.”

Sriracha Temperature Settings

The settings for the seat warmers and AC/heating system have been upgraded to go from cool to Sriracha hot.

Sriracha Driving Mode

Sriracha mode tunes the powertrain for faster gear changes and more dynamic throttle mapping.

Handcrafted Seats

Plush leather seats are hand-embroidered with the Huy Fong rooster logo, the Sriracha IS logo and green accents.

Sriracha IS Badging

Custom badging on the side, rear and door wells identify this model, while illuminated callouts under the passenger and driver’s doors add a level of exclusivity.

Sriracha Green Accents

Touches of green are a signature element of official Huy Fong Foods products. Bottle-cap green details throughout the car include:

• Spindle grille outline
• Hand-painted calipers
• Interior cabin mood lighting
• Chrome side view mirror accents
• Hand-stitching on the seats

Fully Stocked Trunk

The trunk is stocked with 43 bottles of Sriracha for emergency condiment situations.

Key Fob with Remote Emergency Sriracha Activation

The key fob includes an emergency chili button that dispenses the sauce from a nozzle on the fob, so drivers are always prepared.

Sriracha IS Driving Accessories:

Driving Jacket

A hot car deserves a hot driving jacket. For this collaboration, Lexus created two one-of-a-kind jackets that feature hand-embroidered images of the Sriracha IS and custom Sriracha IS patches to commemorate this sizzling venture.

Driving Mitts

Some cars require driving gloves. The handling on the Sriracha IS is so hot, custom oven mitts are necessary.

‘VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS’

OFFICIAL TEASER TRAILER RELEASED TODAY:

HTTP://VALERIANMOVIE.COM

Today, Lexus announced the formation of a creative partnership with film studio EuropaCorp. One of the early highlights of this collaboration will be the highly anticipated 2017 science fiction film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, starring Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan. Lexus collaborated with the Valerian creative team, as they imagined and brought to life the vision for the SKYJET, a single-seat pursuit craft featured in the film.

An epic teaser trailer unveiled online today (http://valerianmovie.com) gives fans a long-awaited first look at footage from the film. Viewers will also get a first glimpse of the SKYJET maneuvering through the intergalactic citadel of Alpha.

The Valerian team created the SKYJET with the ambition of featuring a vehicle grounded in reality but befitting of the Valerian world, set 700 years in the future. The creative team met with Lexus’ Chief Engineer, Takeaki Kato and the Lexus design team, to discuss incorporating believable, imaginative technologies and contemporary design cues into the final iteration of the SKYJET.

The SKYJET design also incorporates an adapted interpretation of Lexus’ signature “spindle” grille, and a similar headlight design to that of the upcoming Lexus LC coupe to be launched in 2017, defined by an athletic and aerodynamic shape.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets features an all-star cast including Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke, Rihanna, and Kris Wu. The project marks Luc Besson’s most ambitious film to date and the largest-budget European motion picture ever produced. The feature film is an adaptation of the French comic series ‘Valérian,’ written by Pierre Christin and illustrated by Jean-Claude Mézières. The film is produced by Virginie Besson-Silla.

Commenting on the partnership, director Luc Besson said, “For this partnership we were looking for a brand that’s pioneering in innovation and technology, who is focused on the future more than the past.”

Leading up to the film’s release in July 2017, Lexus is set to provide fan experiences to bring enthusiasts from around the world closer to the action.

Commenting on the development of the SKYJET, David Nordstrom, Global Branding Department General Manager at Lexus, added: “As fans of films and Luc’s previous work, Lexus is privileged to help bring Luc’s dream to life. We enjoyed the challenge of bringing Lexus' design philosophy and technology innovations to this project. We look forward to developing our partnership with EuropaCorp as we strive to give audiences the most amazing experiences imaginable in the coming years.”

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerianMovie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerianMovie

Instagram: https://instagram.com/valerianmovie/

#Valerian

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.

ABOUT EUROPACORP

EuropaCorp is a global film and television studio founded by visionary director, screenwriter and producer Luc Besson (The Big Blue, La Femme Nikita, Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, The Lady and Lucy). EuropaCorp has produced the phenomenally successful Taken and The Transporter franchises and the global blockbuster Lucy, among other successful films worldwide. The studio’s upcoming film slate includes Shut In, starring Naomi Watts; Miss Sloane, starring Jessica Chastain; the action-thriller Renegades, starring Sullivan Stapleton and JK Simmons.