Bold, brave Lexus concept cars propel the brand into the future and expand our horizons, often through unexpected means and with an energy that makes the seemingly impossible, possible. Mobility inspires us and we remain committed to producing cars that tackle the needs of today while exploring the future of the Lexus brand.
To that end, our Lexus concept cars have turned heads and quickened heartbeats. From the launch of the Lexus Future line in 2003, the range of visually stimulating and technologically aspirational concept cars has grown to encompass vehicles covering almost every market segment. Scroll down to reveal an overview of all these Lexus concept cars, in reverse chronological order.
Lexus concept cars – 2021 Lexus Electrified Sport: the LFA successor
With the essential bold proportions and low ride height of a sports car, the Lexus Electrified Sport symbolises the future of the Lexus brand. Acceleration time (0 to 62mph) is expected to be in the low two-second range and the car will have a cruising range of more than 430 miles. It is possible that a production model may use new solid-state battery technology to achieve authentic high performance.
The Electrified Sport was the standout model among 16 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) revealed by Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation President, in December 2021, as he outlined the company’s far-reaching strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and wowed crowds when it appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2022.
2021 Lexus ROV: ready for adventure
The hydrogen-powered ROV Concept was the result of Lexus’s desire to preserve the pleasures of off-road driving in tomorrow’s low-carbon society. Its 1.0-litre hydrogen engine works like a petrol internal combustion engine, producing a pleasing engine note and responsive torque delivery. The fuel is contained in a high-pressure tank and delivered into the combustion chamber with precise direct injection. Importantly, the new hydrogen engine produces close to zero emissions, with only a negligible amount of engine oil burned during driving.
Taking the Lexus human-centred philosophy as their starting point, the ROV Concept design team wanted to create the kind of vehicle people would expect from a luxury car maker without sacrificing the rugged performance of an ROV. The body provides protection for passengers while incorporating Lexus’s signature spindle grille, robust front wings and generous front suspension travel whilst still bearing all the hallmarks of an off-road vehicle, with exposed suspension, protective cage and chunky off-road tyres.
2021 Lexus LF-Z Electrified: the dawn of a new electric era
The LF-Z Electrified concept signals future initiatives and the start of an era of brand evolution for Lexus, incorporating driving performance, styling and technologies that Lexus plans to realise by 2025. It will further advance the Lexus Driving Signature, bringing together expertise gained in performance car development with new opportunities offered by electrified powertrains to give the driver exceptional responsiveness and a sense of being fully connected with their car.
2020 Lexus LF-30: the vision of future electrification
The LF-30 concept embodies the new Lexus Electrified vision and was revealed at the start of 2020 as a special commemoration of 30 years of the Lexus brand. Its styling displayed the advanced image expected of a battery electric vehicle, yet with artistic qualities that result in a futuristic form. Meanwhile, the LF-30’s interior assertively weaves in autonomous driving and other new technologies that aim to highlight the distinctive Lexus personality and worldview.
Performance is rooted in our tried and trusted hybrid systems but enhanced with the latest EV technologies. Precise regulation of the in-wheel electric motors is said to deliver a fundamental leap in vehicle performance, offering posture control that is not possible in conventional vehicles.
2018 Lexus LF-1 Limitless: the flagship crossover
The LF-1 Limitless, first introduced at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, introduced Lexus enthusiasts to the design study for a new luxury vehicle genre – the flagship crossover.
Combining high performance with unrestrained luxury, it was a showcase for advanced driving technologies, innovation and the latest evolution of Lexus design. Its innovative looks were designed to fuse the organic shapes of liquid metal with the sharp edges associated with a traditional Japanese katana sword.
Inspired by the RX, which pioneered the luxury SUV segment two decades previously, the new concept was designed to cater for customers’ increasingly diverse lifestyles. It explored limitless new possibilities and capabilities and was also engineered to use many different powertrains: fuel cell, self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric.
2017 Lexus LS+: the technological limousine
The Lexus LS+ Concept was equipped with a raft of state-of-the-art technologies and was designed to represent what a future Lexus LS flagship saloon might offer. Displaying advanced yet dignified styling and equipped with automated driving capabilities that are scheduled to come on stream during the early 2020s, it symbolised Lexus’s future vision.
The styling indicated the direction of next-generation LS design, evolving Lexus’s L-finesse design philosophy. The bold development of the signature spindle grille featured a shutter mechanism that improves cooling performance and the vehicle’s overall aerodynamic quality. Other examples of Lexus’s foresight include headlamps and rear lights that partly use lasers for illumination, and electronic side mirrors.
2016 Lexus UX Concept: breaking new ground
Revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the UX Concept highlighted Lexus’s intention to attract an ever-wider group of new, younger, always-connected urban customers – ‘Urbanites’ – to the brand for the first time. It also aimed to capture the interest of premium model customers looking to downsize without compromising on comfort, driving position and space.
The UX Concept was designed to be a new kind of four-seat crossover which contrasted the almost brutal appearance and 4×4 presence of an off-roader with the low ground clearance and coupe-like driving position. This reinforced the promise of dynamic performance that’s embedded in the design’s compact packaging.
2015 Lexus LF-FC: beyond the conventional
The visionary Lexus LF-FC (Lexus Future Flagship Car / Fuel Cell) concept was revealed at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show and offered a compelling peek into the design and technology direction of the brand’s future flagship saloon. The styling embodies L-finesse design philosophy with an elegant yet purposeful exterior design mated to a luxurious, comfortable and futuristic interior.
Innovation features prominently in the LF-FC concept. At its heart is a high-output fuel cell power system that powers all four wheels. Interior technology is highlighted by an advanced human-machine interface centred around a holographic image, while automated driving technologies help provide a safe and efficient driving experience.
2015 Lexus LF-SA: ultra-compact urban 2+2
Designed to illustrate its passion for identifying upcoming design trends, the Lexus LF-SA (Lexus Future Small Adventurer) concept explored a bold and emotional solution to the sub-B segment Lexus currently does not compete in. Reflecting the spirit of weekend adventure in everyday city driving, the LF-SA predicts a future in which Lexus drivers will still be able to enjoy the real-life luxury of driving themselves, while also benefiting from the latest in on-board connectivity, infotainment and safety. The spirit of adventure is even reflected in the colour scheme; the silver exterior finish is a reference to space exploration, and the interior is inspired by the spectacle of a solar eclipse.
2014 Lexus LF-C2: open-air luxury
The Lexus LF-C2, revealed at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, was a grand touring concept with a highly styled and totally exposed 2+2 seating layout. The styling was influenced by the way various surface shapes interact with different types of light. Designers created edges, planes, curvature and a layered paint process that allowed the LF-C2 to exude different characters when seen from different angles and under different lighting conditions.
Inside, the Lexus LF-C2 treated its occupants to a luxurious and spacious cabin. Of particular note is the way it incorporates the exterior with a special centre console treatment that originates from the rear deck and runs down the length of the cabin all the way to the dashboard.
2013 Lexus LF-NX: crossover distinction
The distinctive Lexus LF-NX (Lexus Future Nimble Crossover) concept was revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show and explored the potential for a compact crossover within the Lexus model range. It also featured a new variant of Lexus Hybrid Drive tuned for SUV performance.
More overtly sculptured than any preceding Lexus concept cars, the signature spindle grille dominated the front end, while the muscular arches and silhouette were designed to look both athletic yet typical of the urban crossover breed. Inside, there were bold forms and carved metal surfacing in a new ‘human-oriented’ environment that organised controls into separate operation zones.
2012 Lexus LF-CC: L-finesse evolution
Drawing inspiration and design elements from the Lexus LFA and award-winning LF-LC, the Lexus LF-CC (Lexus Future Compact Coupe) concept was another aerodynamic design powered by an all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder, full hybrid powertrain to deliver the power of a sporting coupe with low emissions. It was revealed at the 2012 Paris International Motor Show, previewing the appearance of the third-generation Lexus IS.
The latest evolution of L-finesse design language featured the signature spindle grille flanked by a super-bright triple LED projector headlamp design. Inside, the split zone dashboard created a focused yet elegant driving environment, with a warm amber leather finish across the seats, door panels and instrument binnacle.
2012 Lexus LF-LC: start of something big
Originally displayed in red for the North American International Motor Show, the Lexus LF-LC (Lexus Future Luxury Coupe) was repurposed for its unveiling in Australia in October 2012. The new opal blue paintwork was inspired by the lustrous colour found in the naturally occurring semi-precious opal stone found in the Outback.
The Lexus LF-LC leverages the technology seen in the LFA by marrying carbon fibre and aluminium alloy materials to achieve a light and driver-responsive body mass. It also featured advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, with a powerful Atkinson cycle combustion engine and high-energy battery pack developing a powerful 438bhp.
Lexus concept cars – 2011 Lexus LF-Gh: future of luxury sports hybrids
The Lexus LF-Gh (Lexus Future Grand-touring hybrid) concept debuted at the 2011 New York International Auto Show and was designed to set new standards within the luxury sports saloon segment.
It aimed to deliver a harmonious blend of form and function by integrating often contradictory elements such as aerodynamics and cooling operations within the overall design, such as within the emboldened spindle grille and slim outlets at the rear. Many of these cues were directly translated into the design of the fourth-generation Lexus GS.
2009 Lexus LF-Ch concept: no-compromise compact luxury
The Lexus LF-Ch (Lexus Future Compact hybrid) concept made its world debut in 2009 at the Frankfurt motor show, reflecting the growing demand for smaller, more environmentally sensitive vehicles that offer no compromise in levels of refinement and driving pleasure.
The concept’s fluid body styling marked another evolution of Lexus L-finesse design philosophy, from the visual harmony between the interior and exterior designs to its leading-edge engineering and technology. Its full hybrid powertrain delivers the performance, low fuel consumption and emissions expected of a premium Lexus hybrid vehicle.
2008 Lexus LF-AR: convertible awe
The Lexus LF-AR (Lexus Future Advance Roadster) concept was unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show as the third and final iteration of the LF-A series before the production model arrived.
Bearing the same strong yet lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium body as the second LF-A coupe, this convertible version was also powered by the high-revving V10 engine, resulting in a vehicle that transformed the pleasure of open-topped motoring into an adrenaline-charged, one-of-a-kind driving experience.
Lexus concept cars – 2007 Lexus LF-Xh: evolutionary design
Based on past experience, there was nothing particularly new about the debut of a Lexus crossover concept with hybrid technology, especially as the second-generation Lexus RX 400h was already in full production. But with the benefit of hindsight, this LF-Xh, or Lexus Future Crossover hybrid, showed clear evidence of the future appearance of the third-generation RX model. Displayed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, it pre-dated the forthcoming RX 450h by almost two years.
2007 Lexus LF-A: supercar disruption
The second Lexus LF-A concept of 2007 featured a more aerodynamic exterior, a near-production specification interior, and F marque emblems. Later that year, indications were made that the engine would be a V10 and that hybrid versions were also being evaluated.
Test mules continued to be spotted being tested on the track, including early models with a large, fixed rear wing. In December 2007, it was reported that the LF-A concept had set an unofficial 7min 24sec lap record around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
2005 Lexus LF-Sh: hidden in plain sight
The LF-Sh appeared at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show shortly after the official debut of Lexus in Japan. More than any other LF-series concept car to date, the Lexus Future Sedan hybrid was production ready in all but a few details. Only items such as the style of the exhaust outlets integrated into the bumper and LED headlamps did not appear in the first versions of the production car. The LF-Sh’s dimensions were even identical to the fourth-generation LS saloon it would go on to become.
Lexus concept cars – 2004 Lexus LF-C: convertible innovations
The Lexus LF-C (Lexus Future Convertible) was unveiled at the 2004 New York Auto Show and featured a retractable hardtop design that offered coupe, convertible, Targa or speedster configurations via a four-position glass roof.
Additional unique features included a one-touch activation button, crystal LED rear lenses, suede bucket seats, 3D instrument panel, drive-by-wire throttle control, and a translucent crystal centre console with blue backlighting. The Lexus LF-C also featured retractable rear-view cameras in place of the door mirrors.
Design themes seen in the Lexus LF-C hinted at design cues that would appear in the forthcoming second-generation IS as well as the possibility of a convertible derivative.
2003 Lexus LF-X: cross-over to the future
The Lexus LF-X (Lexus Future Crossover) concept was similarly revealed at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show and was designed to fill the niche between the RX crossover and full-size GX SUV available in the North American market. Based on the Lexus GS 430 platform, it was equipped with a 300bhp V8 engine and offered three rows of seats.
A thrilling glimpse at the future of automotive design, the cockpit held more in common with a sleek, high-tech jet than any crossover on the market. The instrument panel was designed to be customisable for size, position and colour, while rear entertainment screens could be deployed from the centre console.
Lexus concept cars – 2003 Lexus LF-S: bringing the future home
The first Lexus Future concept car was revealed at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show and signalled the intention to launch Lexus in its home market.
Unique features of the Lexus LF-S (Lexus Future Sedan) concept included side-mounted cameras instead of mirrors, an airstream-style windscreen cleaning system, a transparent panoramic roof with security illumination, and keyless entry. Design cues such as the slingshot cabin profile and rear boot lid styling appeared in the third-generation Lexus GS.
The Lexus LF-S was powered by a high-output hybrid V8 system with all-wheel drive, marking the conceptual debut of a Lexus vehicle with hybrid technology.
When can we expect a new LC model. ?
Hello Nick, thanks for your question.
We currently have no information on this. Please keep an eye on our blog and social media channels for the latest product updates.
Thanks.
We should see an updated LC (24MY) by April this year.