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The original Lexus model may be destined for the chopping block after more than 35 years in favour of a new hybrid, super-luxury SUV, a report has claimed.
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The original Lexus – the full-size LS limousine – may be succeeded by a seven-seat hybrid SUV after fewer than 1500 examples of the sedan were sold its home market last year, according to a new overseas report.
Japanese publication Mag-X claims Lexus is "considering" development of a new luxury SUV with three rows of seats, aimed at VIP and chauffeur-driven buyers in Japan and the Middle East.
It will reportedly be pitched as a replacement for the LS sedan, and despite its shape, "it may not be classified as an SUV".
Just 11 examples of the current Lexus LS – introduced in 2017 – were reported as sold in Australia last year, alongside 2163 in the US, compared to 43 and 8809 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans respectively.
Mag-X reports "the basic concept" of the new Lexus SUV "is still in the planning stage," including whether it would adopt the LS name.
But it says it will be powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine aided by two electric motors – which in turn, it speculates, would see the SUVe use the same TNGA-K underpinnings as the smaller Lexus NX and RX SUVs.
If correct, it would see Lexus' largest and likely most expensive car-derived SUV share its DNA with the humble Toyota Camry – and have half the cylinders of the original LS.
While it suggests TNGA-K is the most likely option, it speculates Lexus could instead use the 'lightweight' rear-wheel-drive platform under Toyota's next-generation sports cars, or the TNGA-L chassis underpinning the existing LS and LC.
Lexus was once working on a full-size, car-derived SUV on the rear-wheel-drive TNGA-L platform, based on the LF-1 Limitless concept of 2018.
It's said to have been intended as a 'sports' model aimed at the Porsche Cayenne, and may have used a new twin-turbo V8 engine, but the project was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lexus already offers a full-size SUV in the LX (below), but it is based on the body-on-frame architecture of the Toyota LandCruiser.
The 2.4-litre, dual-motor hybrid system is used in the Lexus LM500h people mover, where it develops 272kW, and claims fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
Mag-X reports a plug-in hybrid version may be offered.
The publication (translated) claims the new flagship model will focus on "chauffeur demand and is expected to be used as a means of transportation for important people," including a bulletproof version for the Japanese Prime Minister.
Middle East sales are reportedly also planned, where extra-large SUVs are popular.
A release date for the new SUV is not stated, though if it is in an early stage of development, it may be at least two or three years away.
The current Lexus LS will be more than a decade old by that point, and Mag-X reports "within Toyota plans have been raised to give up on the three-box sedan" as it is "not expected to increase sales".
The sedan's future has long been under a cloud, given its sales decline, and that it has received few updates – a recent tech upgrade aside – since a facelift in 2021.
A good indicator of the company's future-model plans, Lexus traditionally files trademarks bound for its next-generation models about two years before launch – but there has been no sign of any LS submissions.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
