Lexus Unveils Flagship Luxury Crossover Concept, LF-1 Limitless

Published January 17, 2018
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The Limitless showcases the direction Lexus intends to take

After a few well placed teasers, Lexus has unveiled its flagship crossover, the LF-1 Limitless, at the NAIAS in Detroit. And it’s as radical as radical gets along with that quintessential Lexus theme of Omotenashi (hospitality) and attention to detail.

The LF-1 has been designed at the CALTY Design Research in Southern California and follows a design theme Lexus calls the Molten Katana. According to the Japanese carmaker, its designers have attempted to give a feeling of liquid metal that changes form as it moves, coupled with the sharpness of the legendary Japanese sword. You can see the RX DNA in the overall shape of the car but everything seems to have been dialled up to eleven. The design itself is a mix of flowing lines and sharp edges. At the front, the signature Lexus spindle grille takes centre stage and is flanked by angular all LED headlamps and turn indicators that spill over to the front bumper creating a striking front fascia. The proportions are still quintessentially crossover, but the Limitless features a long bonnet with an exaggerated dash to axle proportion. The entire cabin sits between the two axles bringing down the centre of gravity and providing a coupe-esque look to the exterior. The rear door handle hidden in the rear quarter glass accentuates the coupe look.

The side of the car features a clean flowing design accentuated by a strong shoulder line that flows just over the wraparound LED taillamps that run along the tailgate and spill over into the rear fender. The roof is made up entirely of glass and the ‘wings’ narrow down to a split spoiler that sits just above the tailgate. The 22-inch wheels further add to its stance.

The cabin of the LF-1 is a conventional 4-seat setup, but everything else seems to have been taken from 2025. The driver gets a beautifully minimalistic instrument cluster and no analogue control surfaces. In fact, most analogue controls have been done away with. Instead, the infotainment system, doors, and windows are all controlled by gestures. The ORVMs have been binned as well, in favour of HD cameras on either side that not only provide an HD feed of where you’ve been but also help in covering the blind spots. The passengers get a roomy cabin with a screen for each one of them. The screen in the front can be operated by the touchscreen controls embedded in the front leather armrest. The rear passengers can operate their screens with a similar setup at the rear. Climate control and other functions like entertainment can also be operated via the touch controls.

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The materials used are of the highest spec. The cabin makes use of metallic accents which stand in stark contrast with the dark leather trim and white perforated leather seats. Lighting plays a key role in cabin feel. When the driver presses the start button, it initiates a lighting sequence in a sort of a welcome gesture. Lexus has also used perforated wood on the door trims that let the miniature LEDs underneath shine through in a variety of colours.

But what really sets the LF-1 apart is the use of technology. The LF-1 comes with a chauffeur mode that allows for a fully hands-free driving experience. It makes use of by-wire steering, braking, acceleration and even lights and turn signals. For driving enthusiastically, all powertrain controls have been placed on the steering wheel which is equipped with paddle shifters. Buttons on the lower section of the steering wheel engage options like park and reverse.

Lexus has also installed a ‘4D’ navigation system on the LF-1 that goes a step further than conventional systems by adding time to the equation. It acts as a concierge of sorts to the occupants and can even suggest rest stops and restaurants depending on road and traffic conditions. Guess what, it can even make hotel reservations if required! Apart from the in-cabin screens, the navigation information can also be viewed on connected smartphones and tablets.

The Limitless employs an adaptive air suspension system which links with the vehicle dynamics integrated management system that takes data from the cameras, the 4D navigation system and the web to adjust damping rates, ride height and overall stiffness according to terrain variation. It can even adapt to the driver’s driving style.

As for the powertrains, Lexus says the options are ‘Limitless’. It can be made to run on petrol, as a hybrid, a PHEV and even as a full-fledged electric vehicle. This is in accordance with Lexus’ goal to make its entire model lineup either fully electric or have electrified options by 2025.

The Limitless is a showcase of the direction Lexus intends to take not only in terms of design but in terms of technology as well. It is unlikely that the LF-1 will see the assembly line though we really think it should. Nonetheless, it will definitely act as a study for designers to take inspiration from for developing future Lexus products.