Lexus is poised to reinvent the LS, its flagship luxury saloon, in a bid to differentiate it from rivals such as the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The Toyota-owned premium brand has released the first preview images of the new LS Concept ahead of its unveiling at the upcoming Tokyo motor show – and it is not a limousine but a six-wheeled MPV in the vein of the Lexus LM.
Speaking on a promotional livestream, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda suggested that the LS’s original billing as a ‘Luxury Sedan’ was no longer as relevant and that the designation would now stand for “Luxury Space” instead.
Toyoda said MPVs are “the new luxury shape of the future”, noting that more interior space is the top demand of buyers of premium cars, so “new packaging is needed”.
A rudimentary interior design buck shown by Toyota branding chief Simon Humphries reveals the LS Concept will have a six-seat interior, with ample leg room for passengers in the second and third rows. People in the rearmost seats will be positioned over the four rear wheels.
Humphries said the six-wheel configuration frees up more space at the rear of the car, because the rear wheels have a smaller diameter than a traditional pair of wheels. Therefore, their arches do not intrude as far into the interior, allowing the floor to remain at the same height as at the second row. “The actual tyre will be smaller and the space inside will be larger,” he said. “Although it’s a relatively simple concept, it has a big effect."
However, the six-wheeled configuration raises several “huge” challenges for Lexus to negotiate, said Toyoda. “There are certain expectations that people have for the Lexus brand – things like quietness and ride comfort,” he said, adding “we don’t know if we can do this yet”.
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How about using a separately articulated and suspended subframe with active steer for the rear wheels? Inboard brakes on one set of wheels only, electic drive / regen braking on the second set. Simple... ha ha
Well, I suppose this is better than blatantly copying Mercedes-Benz's S-Klasse.
Honestly though, a 6 wheeled 'van' is no substitute for a properly designed Limousine.
Unless the front pair of the rear wheels 'steer', there will be horrendous tyre scrub when making a tight turn, and heat build-up in the small tyres on a long Autobahn journey will be an issue.
All this before we cover-off the fact that a Lexus, is no Mercedes-Benz in terms of presence or credibility. You would always look as if you had fallen on hard times.
So by the wheels being smaller do they mean like them tiny little wheels you see on some Trucks or maybe 16inch wheels?
I guess we will just have to wait and see. Hardly smaller than 13inchs. Oh by the way the 4 wheels on the front of that F1 car were wait for it 10 inchs yes 10inchs, crazy right. No wonder it never took off.