What Is It?
Lexus LF-Sh
What's Special About It?
Though Toyota people are painfully deliberate about not confirming anything at this point, it is pretty obvious we are looking at the next-generation Lexus LS. The announcement materials refer to "premium car evolution" and "the Lexus flagship," and ask rhetorically, "What will tomorrow bring?"
How blatant can you get?
Mechanically, the concept LF-Sh proposes a hybrid V8 powertrain and all-wheel drive, features which could certainly make it into the LS program even though the standard and most popular offering will be a conventional V8 (of maybe 4.6 liters) with rear drive. We expect a car of about the same size and weight as the current LS 430. The concept LF-Sh sits on a wheelbase just under 117 inches, compared to 115.2 for today's production LS.
The lines are much more graceful and modern, compared to the current LS 430's formal proportions. Still, the family resemblance is clear, tying together the LS flavor with contours seen on its recently redesigned GS and IS siblings. The droop-snoot nose introduced on the SC coupe is redrawn for this sedan application, and there is extensive, subtle use of transitions from convex to concave surfaces.
There is also a lot of pointy chrome trim. Look at the front and rear "turns" of the glass-area surrounds, and the corners of the grille. The shapes form common points, something Lexus Development Center chief "Dezi" Nagoya referred to as the "signature arrowhead." Suggestions also show up in the door handles, lower-door trim strips and most other instances of brightwork.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The 18-inch chromies and short-sidewall tires are not likely to be next-gen LS fitments, but other than that, the LF-Sh looks like a very clear crystal-ball view of the next Lexus flagship sedan. And we like what we see. — Kevin Smith
Lexus LF-Sh
What's Special About It?
Though Toyota people are painfully deliberate about not confirming anything at this point, it is pretty obvious we are looking at the next-generation Lexus LS. The announcement materials refer to "premium car evolution" and "the Lexus flagship," and ask rhetorically, "What will tomorrow bring?"
How blatant can you get?
Mechanically, the concept LF-Sh proposes a hybrid V8 powertrain and all-wheel drive, features which could certainly make it into the LS program even though the standard and most popular offering will be a conventional V8 (of maybe 4.6 liters) with rear drive. We expect a car of about the same size and weight as the current LS 430. The concept LF-Sh sits on a wheelbase just under 117 inches, compared to 115.2 for today's production LS.
The lines are much more graceful and modern, compared to the current LS 430's formal proportions. Still, the family resemblance is clear, tying together the LS flavor with contours seen on its recently redesigned GS and IS siblings. The droop-snoot nose introduced on the SC coupe is redrawn for this sedan application, and there is extensive, subtle use of transitions from convex to concave surfaces.
There is also a lot of pointy chrome trim. Look at the front and rear "turns" of the glass-area surrounds, and the corners of the grille. The shapes form common points, something Lexus Development Center chief "Dezi" Nagoya referred to as the "signature arrowhead." Suggestions also show up in the door handles, lower-door trim strips and most other instances of brightwork.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The 18-inch chromies and short-sidewall tires are not likely to be next-gen LS fitments, but other than that, the LF-Sh looks like a very clear crystal-ball view of the next Lexus flagship sedan. And we like what we see. — Kevin Smith
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