• 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.”

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.

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.

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/

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.”

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.

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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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.”​

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 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.”

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.

Lexus Europe today announced a creative collaboration with Hollywood actor and producer Jude Law to launch the "The Life RX". The campaign is designed to amplify the brand's spectacular new luxury SUV, the 2016 Lexus RX. It will bring to life a fast paced and exciting lifestyle; one with sophistication and edge in which the driver decides what is possible.

The announcement marks the start of a unique collaboration that will encompass the worlds of luxury, experience and craftsmanship. Jude Law will work with Lexus in a truly integrated fashion, allowing consumers to immerse themselves and be immersed in 'The Life RX' through interactive videography and theatre. He will also star in a TV commercial, shot on the glamorous French Riviera and in the beautiful hills of the Italian Fiuggi region.

The advert, airing from today throughout Europe, depicts a valet who upon being given Law's RX keys, takes a seat in the sharply styled SUV and embarks upon an extraordinary, fast paced and luxurious journey. Filmed from a first person perspective, the audience is catapulted into a fast paced and exciting new world. As our wayward valet returns to the hotel, Law emerges to retrieve his keys and get into his car. He immediately senses something is a little out of the ordinary, and knowingly drives off into the distance leaving the valet who has experienced 'The Life RX' for just a short while behind him.

Speaking about the campaign Jude Law said: "I love driving and the escapism that comes with it. The concept of 'The Life RX' was such an interesting one, as it's true that the right car can give you the keys to an extraordinary experience. The team at Lexus envisioned bringing something to life that was immersive and included everyone on the journey, and this was something I was keen to explore."

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe said: "We are extremely excited to be partnering with a fantastic actor and true gentleman, Jude Law for 'The Life RX' campaign. 'The Life RX' mirrors the fact that the RX brings a different, rewarding product experience based on a bold design, innovative technologies and above all, a premium luxury feel. At Lexus, providing unparalleled progressive luxury experience is at the heart of our brand DNA and we wanted to bring this message to life with an innovative launch campaign and television ad."

Go to https://youtu.be/qF9NTslNGpY to watch 'The Life RX' advert, and to https://youtu.be/jbzF-E5Hohw to watch a behind-the-scenes clip.

The all-new fourth generation Lexus RX made its European debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and is on sale now.

Product information and assets are available on Lexus Europe's newsroom at the following address: http://newsroom.lexus.eu/newsroom/135/213/rx

Lexus has extended its relationship with INRIX to equip its luxury cars with INRIX Weather and INRIX Fuel. The move will give Lexus drivers access to up-to-the-minute weather alerts and the ability to search for the lowest fuel prices nearby.

These real-time services are embedded into the navigation head unit of new vehicles, starting with the all-new Lexus RX to be launched in Europe at the end of 2015.

INRIX Weather gives drivers a 5-day forecast for destinations across Europe. INRIX Fuel allows subscribers to search for nearby fuel stations and view dynamic pricing to find the best deals. The service provides location and real-time pricing information for more than 170,000 fuel stations in 21 European countries. INRIX Fuel is continually monitored and information regularly updated as new fuelling locations come online.

These new features are in addition to INRIX Traffic and INRIX Off-Street Parking already available in Lexus vehicles, which alert drivers in real-time to traffic congestion and incidents on the road as well as navigate them to the nearest available off-street parking. All INRIX-powered services are available to Lexus drivers for free in Europe upon registration of the Lexus Customer Portal.

Robert Tickner, General Manager Product and Marketing Management at Lexus Europe, comments: "For a premium brand like Lexus, the ability to continually improve the driving experience for our customers is of paramount importance. INRIX allows us to deliver real-time data that makes lives easier for drivers from finding parking, foreseeing road conditions to finding the nearest and most cost-effective fuel station. It's about transforming the driving experience to give customers advanced technology that will save them time, money and effort every day."

Andreas Hecht, Executive Vice President, Automotive at INRIX, said: "The extension of our partnership with Lexus is testament to the strength of the innovative and dynamic breakthroughs in technology we provide to most of the world's premium car brands. As our first weather customer in Europe, we're thrilled to be part of the journey in next generation connected car services that will continue to enhance the experience for Lexus drivers across Europe."

#NXontrack - Lexus Europe, today unveiled an innovative film which sees global entrepreneur and musician, will.i.am challenged to create a remix of one of his most iconic tracks, #thatPOWER in a breath-taking music, art and technology spectacular.

Played out on a disused runway lined with more than 350 projected mapped motion and audio sensitive lasers and lights, the front-man battles against speed and rhythm to conduct and navigate a trio of striking Lexus NX's, hitting the laser 'targets' at the correct tempo to synchronise with his smash hit.

The unprecedented live event, shot in one night last week, sees the musician's skills put to the test as he joins three stunt drivers including 2013 Blockbuster, Rush frontman, Niki Faulkner, to take on the colossal 'sound-road', race against rhythm and successfully complete the challenge in the limited hours of darkness available before the sun rise.

Speaking about the video, will.i.am said ''Working with the stunt guys to hit the laser targets in time with the music wasn't easy to get right but the result was awesome. The combination of technology, design and music in this project was out of this world."

A team of sixty-five technicians worked for over seven days to build the rigging for the lights and motion sensitive lasers, designed by world-renowned light artists, Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF), who has previously worked with the likes of Coldplay and U2.

MLF Creative Director, Barnaby Steel, said: "Together with Lexus, we've created a huge musical game with three stunt drivers as the players and will.i.am as the conductor. Music is brought to life when the cars hit beams of light that are motion sensitive at the correct time and rhythm. It's basically like a giant laser harp with cars instead of fingers. The challenge for will.i.am and the drivers was to navigate the light points on tempo. When they fell off beat and triggered notes off tempo, the system would have to restart."

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe, said: "We're projecting that the NX will represent one third of all Lexus sales across Europe this year, so it feels only right that we've created something as bold as this event with will.i.am — something that truly embodies our brand philosophy of Amazing in Motion!"

Launched in September 2014, the Lexus NX marks Lexus' entry into the mid-size premium SUV segment. Since its launch, the car has quickly become one of Lexus' fastest selling vehicles across Europe.

-ENDS-

About Lexus

Launched in 1989, Lexus has become renowned throughout the world for its pursuit of perfection, the outstanding quality and sophisticated high-technology content of its products, and for its unique concept of complete customer service. Further reinforcing the traditional Lexus values of unparalleled build quality, comfort and interior luxury, Lexus is currently rejuvenating its line-up, launching a new wave of emotional and inspirational products featuring bolder product execution, superior driving dynamics and state-of-the-art technologies. Today, Lexus remains the first - and only - premium automotive manufacturer to offer a comprehensive full-hybrid model range comprising the RX 450h, the GS 450h and GS 300h, the LS 600h, the ES 300h, the IS 300h and the CT 200h. In Europe, models featuring Lexus Hybrid Drive account for more than half of all Lexus sales. Lexus sold 53,230 vehicles in Europe in 2014 and aims to increase sales to exceed 60,000 vehicles in 2015.

Capturing the audience's imagination, the TV spot depicts the Lexus NX travelling through a futuristic cityscape — showing hints of its progressive form as it passes underneath striking road signs and through impossibly faceted tunnels. As the journey unfolds, will.i.am appears on angled TV screens in a passing shop window before emerging in the flesh from a faceted club, stopping in his tracks to admire the striking design of the NX as it drives past.

Speaking about the ad, which features an exclusive remix of his track, "Dreamin' About the Future", will.i.am said: "As a musician and an entrepreneur, I want my ideas and my presence to impact the world around me. The team at Lexus applied the same vision to the ad — showcasing how the NX impacts the design of the world around it."

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe said: "We wanted to bring our design philosophy for the Lexus NX to the forefront, transporting consumers to a world entirely built on revolutionary and striking design. It's an attitude that we apply to everything we do at Lexus — from the design of the car, to the innovative technology within. will.i.am perfectly complements the world that we created, fusing our joint passions for progressive design and technology."

As part of the NX Striking Angles campaign, Lexus has created a one off NX, designed exclusively by will.i.am. The highly stylised car will be unveiled in Paris on 24th September, during the annual Paris Fashion Week.

Consumers can expect further announcements as Lexus continues to bring its philosophy of Amazing in Motion to the streets.

The ad and the Making of can be downloaded from the following links:

The Striking New Lexus NX 30' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40K1rOWCXZo

The Striking New Lexus NX 60' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXPtM1gdbY

Making of 'The Striking New Lexus NX' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWW6wEXkumQ

INNOVATOR TO DESIGN LIMITED EDITION LEXUS NXLexus Europe today announced a creative partnership with global entrepreneur, innovator and musician, will.i.am. The Grammy-Award winner will be working with the brand to champion provocative design and technology, as part of its Striking Angles campaign to launch the new Lexus NX.

The announcement initiates the start of a unique collaboration that will encompass the worlds of music, design and technology. As part of the overall campaign, will.i.am is set to design his own limited edition take on the NX, a sharply-styled premium mid-size SUV. He will also star in the brand's latest television commercial, set to be released later this year.

will.i.am said: "Whatever I do I want it to be striking, I want to innovate and revolutionise and my partnership with Lexus on the Striking Angles campaign is no different. Inspired by a shared philosophy in design, we've been able to work together on a multi-faceted campaign that will challenge design conventions and fuel people's imaginations."

A short collaboration film featuring the singer and songwriter has been released to kick-off the partnership. Celebrating the synergy between innovation and technology, the film visually brings to life will.i.am's track, 'Dreaming about the Future', first debuted as part of will.i.am's Pyramidi installation at the Barbican's Digital Revolution exhibition in London. The track, which also features Brazilian musician, Sérgio Mendes, is central to the immersive installation, supported by Lexus, which showcases a mix of digital and analogue music technologies and projection-mapped visuals. The animated graphics, inspired by will.i.am and Lexus' passion for angular and striking design, also feature in the short film.

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe said: "We're really excited to be working with will.i.am. His unrivalled passion for design and innovation coupled with his incredible creativity makes him the perfect partner for our Lexus NX Striking Angles campaign."

Consumers can expect further announcements as Lexus continues to bring its philosophy of Amazing in Motion to the streets.

About Lexus

Launched in 1989, Lexus has become renowned throughout the world for its pursuit of perfection, the outstanding quality and sophisticated high-technology content of its products, and for its unique concept of complete customer service. Further reinforcing the traditional Lexus values of unparalleled build quality, comfort and interior luxury, Lexus is currently rejuvenating its line-up, launching a new wave of emotional and inspirational products featuring bolder product execution, superior driving dynamics and state-of-the-art technologies. Today, Lexus remains the first - and only - premium automotive manufacturer to offer a comprehensive full-hybrid model range comprising the RX 450h, the GS 450h and GS 300h, the LS 600h, the ES 300h, the IS 300h and the CT 200h. In Europe, models featuring Lexus Hybrid Drive account for more than half of all Lexus sales. Lexus sold 43,241 vehicles in Europe in 2013 and aims to increase sales to 50,000 vehicles in 2014. The new NX mid-size crossover, to be launched in the second half of 2014, will represent another significant growth opportunity in the future years.

Today Lexus announces its sponsorship of will.i.am's debut artwork in a gallery space, Pyramidi, designed in collaboration with artist Yuri Suzuki. The artwork will be on show to the public at the Barbican's Digital Revolution exhibition from the 3rd July 2014.

The installation explores the interface between analogue and digital music in a live gallery experience featuring projection-mapped visuals accompanied by a newly commissioned song by will.i.am.

It forms part of a show called Sound and Vision. The show explores how digital has influenced the visualisation of music. Pyramidi is one of the key pieces of work which will be part of a collection from artists such as Chris Milk, Björk, Brian Eno, Radiohead and Squarepusher.

Lexus' support of the new Barbican Digital Revolution exhibition builds on the brand's heritage in technology and innovation. Through partnering with will.i.am on this exciting live gallery experience Lexus have been able to celebrate their on-going commitment to creativity and design.

Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe said:

"Lexus is proud to sponsor the will.i.am installation at Digital Revolution.

Deep rooted in the Lexus ethos stands design, technology and innovation and we believe that will.i.am's unique installation artistically portrays this, reflecting the Lexus mantra of Amazing in Motion.

As with any sponsorship, a sense of shared values and ambitions are essential. will.i.am's installation is a revolutionary experience which, like Lexus, is progressive and pushes the boundaries of creativity."

Note : Images accompanying this press release can be used only in connection with the Digital Revolution at the Barbican and with the following credit line: © Dave Benett/Getty Images #digitalrevolution

Lexus today presented the "STROBE" project — an LED spectacle in which acrobats and stuntmen suspended across Kuala Lumpur's night skyline were lit up in succession to create the illusion of acrobatic motion at impressive speed.

Poised across the rooftops of some of the city's tallest buildings, the 'Lightmen' were dressed in custom-made LED lightsuits that were linked to a purpose-built computer system that controlled each individual LEDs' strobes one by one, tracing a breathtaking display of illuminated figures flying over the city.

Created by CHI & Partners London and directed by Adam Berg[i] of Stink Productions, the campaign will run globally across TV, cinema, print, outdoor, digital and social media.

The spectacle required a team of 40 expert engineers to erect and control large-scale rigging from which the 'Lightmen' were suspended.

The LED suits, which took six weeks to build, were conceived by Hollywood costumer designer Vin Burnham [ii] and world-renowned technical director Adam Wright [iii] — taking design cues from Lexus vehicles, including the iconic spindle grille and the all-new Lexus RC F LED headlights. Each suit contained 1,680 LED lights, all wirelessly controlled to strobe on command using specialist software.

Mark Templin, Executive Vice President at Lexus International, said: "STROBE is the third entry in our 'Amazing in Motion' campaign [iv]. We created this global series of projects to showcase our imagination through innovative design and technology. It builds on the Lexus ambition to connect with the hearts, as well as the minds, of consumers."

Music was provided by Computer Magic, the electronic music solo-project of New York producer and DJ Danielle "Danz" Johnson, who is signed by Kitsuné. Lexus chose the track, 'Running', for the way it effortlessly complements the sequence of the Lightmen, accentuating the flow of movement, while the lyrics support the narrative of the Lightman running through the city at night.

STROBE can be viewed at:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBfeYxTUB0&feature=youtu.be
• Website: amazinginmotion.com/strobe
• YouTube: youtube.com/lexusglobal
• Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBfeYxTUB0&feature=youtu.be

[i] Adam Berg is a world-famous music video and commercials director. For more than a decade Adam has directed award-winning films for some of the world's leading brands including Samsung, Ikea, Jordan and Dulux. In 2009 he was awarded the prestigious Film Grand Prix at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival for Philips 16:9 Carousel.

[ii] Vin Burnham is an international, award-winning costume and creature designer. In her early career she worked for Jim Henson, before going on to design costumes, including the famous "Batsuit" for Batman. She recently designed "The Living Dress" for Lady Gaga's "Monster Ball World Tour" in collaboration with Adam Wright.

[iii] Adam Wright is a world-renowned animatronics and special effects designer working in TV, film and fashion.

[iv] The 'Amazing in Motion' campaign began with STEPS, a project that explored motion through two 11ft figures brought to life by the art of puppeteering. The second project SWARM took existing quadrotor technology out of its typical engineering environment and moved it into real world settings and locations. The STEPS and SWARM projects can be viewed at: amazinginmotion.com

The new Lexus commercial takes advanced, remote-controlled quadrotor helicopter technology out of its typical engineering environment and into real world locations. Set in the city late at night, the result is a playful and engaging story of swarms of quadrotors exploring urban locations and interacting with everyday objects.

Created in collaboration with KMel Robotics, and filmed in Vancouver by award-winning London director Sam Brown, the new 'Swarm' commercial can be viewed at http://www.amazinginmotion.eu.

Taking design cues from Lexus vehicles, including the company's iconic spindle grille, LED headlights and LFA exhausts, the unique 'Swarm' quadrotors were inspired by Lexus' own painstaking design and engineering principles.

From first sketch to advanced CAD modelling, they were conceived and constructed to combine the very highest levels of precision, high-tech circuitry and aerodynamic efficiency with a warmth and personality unique to quadrotor technology.

The technology was developed by KMel Robotics and uses innovative motion capture camera technology, advanced movement algorithms and bespoke, 3D motion mapping software to programme the movement paths of each quadrotor.

Each machine is equipped with reflective markers that respond to infrared light emitted by the cameras. This allows the quadrotor to update information on its own location and intended flight path over 100 times per second, in order to achieve the precision and synchronisation realised in the stunningly complex flight patterns created in the film.

Lexus commissioned award-winning British composer Jonathan Goldstein to create a cartoon-inspired original soundtrack for the commercial, reinforcing the playful exuberance of the carefully choreographed quadrotor swarms.

Lexus 'Amazing in Motion' projects focus on combining advanced technology and design with imagination and creativity to conjure incredible spectacles that charm and delight. Three additional films; 'Crafting Motion', 'Coding Motion' and 'Living Motion' tell the behind-the-scenes story of the quadrotor swarm and the creative minds behind the captivating new commercial.

The three films can be viewed on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/XVqnpOmWjlo , http://youtu.be/15qZ8PtSRms and http://youtu.be/MVeyAJ5YqHY .

Launched on May 1st 2013, 'Steps' was the first TV commercial to be created under the banner of the Lexus global advertising campaign, 'Amazing in Motion'. It featured two spectacular, larger-than-life figures that incorporate numerous materials found in Lexus cars, including bamboo and walnut interior finishes and exterior paint. The figures were brought to life through a combination of superb craftsmanship, advanced 3-D printing technology and the smooth artistry of skilled puppeteers.

"I'm Wanderin'" by Kristina Train -soundtrack to new Lexus TV commercial, 'Steps'- now available for download on iTunes

View 'Steps' TV commercial at: http://www.amazinginmotion.eu

Following its successful use as the soundtrack to the Lexus 'Steps' TV commercial, the song"I'm Wanderin'" by Kristina Train has been released as a single.

'Steps' is the first TV commercial to be created under the banner of a new Lexus global advertising campaign, 'Amazing in Motion', which was launched on May 1st 2013. It features two spectacular, larger-than-life figures that incorporate numerous materials found in Lexus cars, including bamboo and walnut interior finishes and exterior paint.

Exploring the urban landscape, the figures have been brought to life through a combination of superb craftsmanship, advanced 3-D printing technology and the smooth artistry of skilled puppeteers. The new 'Steps' TV commercial can be viewed at: http://www.amazinginmotion.eu

The release of Kristina Train's single, "I'm Wanderin'" is a further vindication of the company's aim, through several initiatives such as the Lexus Design Awards and Lexus Short Films, to nurture and support young artists and performers from diverse creative backgrounds around the world.

Written by Berry Gordy Jr and first recorded by American soul diva Aretha Franklin, "I'm Wanderin'" is a track from Kristina Train's second studio album, 'Dark Black'.

Following the worldwide social media network acclaim prompted by the use of the song in Lexus' 'Steps' commercial, Kristina announced, via her twitter account, her decision to release the single, which is now available for download on iTunes.

About Kristina Train

Kristina was born in New York in 1992 and moved to London in 2011. She began her career playing violin and singing professionally in 1999. She has toured with Herbie Hancock, The Looters, India Arie and Amy Macdonald. She has recorded two studio albums 'Spilt Milk' (2009), and 'Dark Black' (2012) which includes the track "I'm Wanderin'" (Universal Music Ltd). She is currently on tour in the UK.

About Lexus

Launched in 1989, Lexus has become renowned throughout the world for its pursuit of perfection, the outstanding quality and sophisticated high-technology content of its products, and for its unique concept of complete customer service. Further reinforcing the traditional Lexus values of unparalleled build quality, comfort and interior luxury, Lexus is currently rejuvenating its line-up, launching a new wave of emotional and inspirational products featuring bolder product execution, superior driving dynamics and state-of-the-art technologies. Today, Lexus remains the first - and only - premium automotive manufacturer to offer a comprehensive full-hybrid model range comprising the RX 450h, the GS 450h, the LS 600h, the ES 300h, CT 200h and the all-new IS 300h.

In its ongoing pursuit of innovation, Lexus is pushing the boundaries of technology, craftsmanship and design. This dedication to design both in its new products and global brand activities was celebrated with members of the design community at an event called "Design Matters" hosted by global President, Akio Toyoda, in New York City on April 19. American singer and actress, Kristin Chenoweth served as mistress of ceremonies with The Rootsand Questlove providing musical entertainment.

"This is part of the transformation of Lexus," said Mark Templin, executive vice president of Lexus International. "Lexus is expanding as a global company and we need to speak to a broad global audience. There's no better way to do that than through design. Great design transcends cultures and doesn't need any translation."

Much of the focus on design for Lexus comes from the personal commitment of Akio Toyoda itself, grandson of the founder of Toyota. "I am very passionate about cars, and especially design," said Toyoda. "To me, cars need to ignite all your senses, and one of the most important is the emotional connection you get when you see a beautiful car."

This dedication to design is evident in concept vehicles from Lexus, including the award-wining LF-LC hybrid 2+2 coupe concept and the LF-CC concept car. It is also reflected in new production models such as the stunning all-new IS sports sedan.

Beyond its products, Lexus is now further supporting international design through a variety of unique initiatives around the globe:

LEXUS DESIGN AWARD

The LEXUS DESIGN AWARD is a competition to inspire the next generation of designers, by having them demonstrate their creativity and be recognized for their accomplishments. The first 12 winning works of this prestigious award were displayed from April 9 to 14 at Milan Design Week. Among the winners, two designers received the opportunity to create a prototype of their project, with the help of two renowned designers, product designer Sam Hecht and architect Junya Ishigami.

LEXUS DESIGN AMAZING — 2013 MILAN

Lexus also staged an art exhibition at the 2013 Milan Design Week, entitled ''—amazing flow-", done by ground-breaking architect Toyo Ito and up-and-coming designer Akihisa Hirata. This installation was a combination of Lexus design philosophy and the very finest in contemporary art, architecture and design elements. Lexus intends to demonstrate here its vision of the future by surpassing conventional notions of design.

BEYOND BY LEXUS

A new lifestyle magazine, BEYOND BY LEXUS, will feature Lexus vehicle information as well as stories on travel, architecture, art and design from a global and regional perspective. The magazine will be published around the world two times a year and translated into numerous languages. The magazine recently debuted and will be available on the global website from May 1.

LEXUS BRAND CAMPAIGN

On May 1, Lexus will launch a global advertising campaign with the theme "Amazing in Motion." Featured in the campaign are spectacular larger-than-life human figures. High-technology 3-D printing was combined with fine craftsmanship to create the figures. Lexus materials, including bamboo and walnut found in the interiors of Lexus cars, as well as Lexus exterior paint, were used to construct the figures. Thanks to advanced technology and smooth artistry of puppeteers, the figures come to life on a grand scale.

LEXUS SHORT FILMS

Lexus collaborated with The Weinstein Company to support emerging directors from around the globe, commissioning them to bring five wonderful stories to life as short films. The stories are beautifully told and explore the theme that "Life is Amazing." They will debut at various film events around the world and will be featured on the Lexus global website www.lexusshortfilms.com <http://www.lexus-global.com/lexusshortfilms/> later this year. Lexus and The Weinstein Company will hold the world premiere event at the 2013 Festival de Cannes in May.

INTERSECT BY LEXUS and CRAFTED FOR LEXUS

INTERSECT BY LEXUS will be a unique space in select global cities where people can experience Lexus without getting behind a steering wheel. Neither a dealership, nor a traditional retail space, guests will be able to engage with Lexus through design, art, fashion, culture, movies, music and technology.

The space will be developed by Masamichi Katayama, the world-renowned interior designer and founder of the interior design firm Wonderwall. The first INTERSECT BY LEXUS will open in Aoyama, Tokyo, in the summer of 2013, followed by locations in New York City and Dubai.

Within the space, Lexus will display exclusive retail items CRAFTED FOR LEXUS. Lexus commissioned Japanese artists to create unique pieces that are inspired by the brand's philosophy: traditional craftsmanship with timeless beauty and innovative form and function.

More information about Lexus' design initiatives can be found at a global website:

http://lexus-int.com

About Lexus

With the vision of Progressive Luxury, Lexus has been pursuing and presenting values different from those of conventional luxury makes. Lexus has been striving not only to create a more luxurious experience through automobiles, but also, through such technological advancements as the Lexus Hybrid Drive, to contribute to efforts to solve numerous issues that have surfaced in the modern world.

Lexus believes that design for this competition goes beyond mastery of form and is a process in problem solving and an effort to propose solutions to shape a better society and future. Lexus therefore welcomes a wide variety of innovative ideas to overcome challenges.

Lexus logo will appear on Agnieszka's court dress in all the Grand Slam tournaments, the Masters tournament and in selected tournaments rank Premier and Premier Mandatory.

Agnieszka Radwanska will be driving the latest Lexus model - LS flagship limousine, premiered end of 2012.

She closed 2012 at the fourth position in the WTA world rankings, her greatest achievement being the final Slam tournament played on the courts of Wimbledon.

The annual vote conducted by the WTA with fans and international media - Fan Favorite Awards -, casting 65,535 votes in five categories, placed Agnieszka a winner in the following categories: Fan Favorite Singles Player, Fan Favorite Facebook and Fan Favorite Video.

Tennis experts praise Agnieszka for her unique intelligence on the court, her strength of character and she was WTA Fan Favourites Single Player of the Year 2011.

About Agnieszka Radwańska

City of Residence: Krakow, Poland

Date of Birth: March 6, 1989 (Krakow, Poland)

Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)

Weight: 123 lbs. (56 kg)

Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Status: Pro (April 23, 2005)

Website: www.radwanskasisters.com