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Lexus LF-FC concept is a preview of the next LS [w/video]

As far as flagship luxury sedans go, the Lexus LS is one of the oldest on the market. But the upscale Japanese automaker is out to fix that in short order. And to give us a taste of what's to come, it's presenting the concept you see here at the Tokyo Motor Show today. Called the LF-FC, the show car clearly points the way forward for the next-generation LS. The design adopts the latest take on the brand's "L-finesse" styling language, with a large, spindle-shaped front grille leading to sharp creases cutting their way across the entire surface. Lexus refers to the roofline as approaching that of a four-door coupe, though it clearly places more of an emphasis on rear-seat space. Power comes from a conceptual hydrogen fuel cell whose components have been scattered throughout the vehicle to optimize weight distribution. The fuel cell drives the rear wheels and sends power to hub motors in the front wheels as well for all-wheel-drive capability. Those 21-inch rims are made of carbon fiber, with aluminum spokes, to minimize unsprung weight. Naturally, Lexus has equipped the concept with all the latest electronic aids to track the flow of traffic and even drive autonomously through it. Of course a vehicle like this is designed around the driver and occupants. The white and brown interior space features four individual bucket seats, because really, who wants to dream of riding in the middle? Interior appointments look suitably tasteful, all done in satin-finish wood and metal with white and brown leather, and would look at home on the next generation of first-class aircraft cabins. Lexus has equipped the concept with gesture control that incorporates a floating holographic image to show users where to place their hands to operate the audio and ventilation systems touchlessly. In typical concept style, the LF-FC sits wider and squatter than the production sedans at which it takes aim. More telling, however, is the overall length: at 208.7 inches, it's a few thumbs longer than even the extended version of the current Lexus LS, and a touch longer than the current long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, and Maserati Quattroporte. We're looking forward to seeing the production version in the form of the next LS in due course to see how it measures up against the competition, and not just in terms of size. Related Video: Lexus LF-FC Flagship Concept Revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show TOKYO (Oct.

2018 Lexus LS First Drive | Luxury, performance and the puzzling parts

When one imagines the enormous executive sedan that might be driven by a wealthy lawyer or banker (or their chauffeur), the mind naturally goes to the Mercedes S-Class or the BMW 7-Series. Venerable, enormous and expensive. But for those wanting to keep their driveway a little more understated, we also have the Lexus LS. Sure, it's not as ostentatious as the big saloons from Munich and Stuttgart, but it has a dignified elegance all its own. For nearly three decades, the LS has been a discrete and dependable Japanese luxury sedan. The new 2018 LS, perhaps thankfully, is a bit less discrete. We saw the new-look LS when it was introduced earlier this year in Detroit. Now we know how it drives. We put the 2018 LS through its paces on the traffic-clogged streets of San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge to the twisty B-roads around Marin County and the legendary Skywalker Ranch, where we stopped for lunch. Unfortunately, all in attendance were sworn to secrecy about the details of Skywalker Ranch, but we're free to tell you all about the LS. Here's our one-sentence summary, which can be used to describe many cars to bear the Lexus badge: It's excellent in many respects, odd in a few, and incredibly, massively frustrating in one very important area. Lexus has a brand new 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, a first for a premium passenger car. It produces 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, up from 386 hp and 367 lb-ft from the outgoing naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8. Lexus engineers are extremely proud of the fuel efficiency of the new engine, which required some clever technical innovations (a longer bore stroke and increased valve angle) as well as tech borrowed from Formula One, including a "laser clad valve seat" that allows for a more direct flow of air into the combustion chamber and a high "tumble ratio." In other words, Lexus figured out how to get more bang out of each gasoline-powered buck. Fuel economy numbers are 19 city, 29 highway, and 23 combined for the RWD version and 18/27/21 for AWD, with the highway numbers particularly helped along by the 10-speed gearbox. It's a torque converter unit, but Lexus promises shift times that rival its dual-clutch-wielding competitors. The LS is no slouch, either. In RWD trim, the nearly 5,000-pound car hustles from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, according to Lexus' reckoning.

255-hp Toyota GR86 and other big news leaks in dealer presentation

Last month, Motor1 said it received information on Toyota and Lexus product plans for the next few years from an inside source who attended a dealer presentation. To protect the source, Motor1 didn't publish any slides or proof from that presentation. A snippet of what happened behind closed doors has found its way online, Allcarnews posting one of the slides yesterday, as well as its own recap of the Japanese automaker's plans that mirrors the Motor1 report. If all of this is true, not only is there a ton of product in the works, but Toyota and Lexus lineups will get more interesting while answering the requests of several enthusiast groups. We'll start with the 86, then go by model year after that. The next-gen coupe developed with Subaru should sit on Toyota's TNGA platform and get a rebrand to wear the GR86 name, for Toyota's Gazoo Racing division. The real hallelulah happens under the hood, where a turbocharged four-cylinder is expected to produce 255 hp, a 50-hp jump over the present model. Look for an upgraded interior, too. The debut is slated for summer 2021, possibly July.    This year: The fall season should introduce a new crossover and a new Sienna with hybrid powertrains only. The current minivan has been on sale since 2010, getting a minor refresh in front in 2018. The crossover will be a five-seat midsizer that brings back the Venza name, this model already rumored here and abroad. It, too, will only get hybrid powertrains. Both planned as 2021-model-year products, it's possible their motivations will be based on the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in both the RAV4 and Highlander hybrids. And a refreshed Camry might come later this year as a 2021MY sedan.  2021: Next year will be a busy one. ... On the Toyota side, and as TFL has reported, the all-new Tundra that's first to sit on the TNGA-F truck platform will show in December 2021 as a 2022MY pickup. Rumor has the top model powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid with around 455 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque, perhaps distinguished by the i-Force Max name that Toyota recently applied to trademark. A few months before that, Toyota will roll out a Corolla-based crossover maybe called the Corolla Cross, and potentially built in the U.S. at the Alabama facility being constructed with Mazda. And remember, a Toyota exec teased a small hot hatch for this market as well, "an answer" to the GR Yaris sold in Europe, which Car and Driver figures will be based on the Corolla.