The course of the Lexus flagship sedan is about to take a dramatic turn.
Debuting at the Tokyo Motor Show, the LF-FC concept previews the next-generation of Lexus LS with a low-slung coupe profile and a hydrogen fuel-cell powerplant.
Lexus calls it a, “visionary new vehicle that offers a peek into the design and technology direction of the brand’s future flagship sedan.”
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In fact, the Toyota luxury division says the plan for the car is to push boundaries. “Lexus wants to surprise and evoke emotion with its distinctive design and forward-thinking technology. For us, it is more than just a car, and we should exceed conventional imagination. The LF-FC expresses our progressive luxury and high-tech vision of a not so distant future,” said Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International president.
Not only does the LF-FC look entirely new with a long slant-nose front, new mesh grill design and 21-inch carbon fiber wheels, it also comes with an entirely unique powertrain. Rather than a conventional V8 or hybrid, the LF-FC makes use of a fuel cell system that not only powers the rear wheels, but also sends torque to in-wheel electric motors in the front, making the LF-FC all-wheel drive.
More future-forward technologies lie inside the car, with a vehicle interface that’s controlled by hand gestures. Lexus also claims the car is equipped with the latest autonomous driving technologies and is designed for a world absent of traffic accidents.
If the concept is any indication, the new LS will be roughly a 6 inches longer than the current car when it arrives on the market in roughly a year’s time.