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Lexus thinks small with ultra-compact LF-SA concept

Lexus used the Geneva Motor Show to premiere its concept for a forward-thinking 2+2 urban vehicle, the LF-SA. The concept is small – Lexus says it's an "ultra-compact sub-B-segment" vehicle – and it is designed for maneuverability and agility on congested city streets. It also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first Lexus, the LS400. The LF-SA has prominent wheel arches, the signature Lexus spindle grille and L-shaped headlights. Lexus calls the appearance "a Time in Design styling approach, in which perceptions of the vehicle change when it is viewed from different angles." It was penned in Toyota's European design studio. It's all capped with a striking paint color, called "Silver Stellar," that the automaker claims is meant to evoke space exploration. The inside has room for two, but it is biased toward the driver. The pedals and steering wheel are adjustable, and the passenger seat is slide adjustable to allow access to the rear. Perhaps the coolest feature is the infotainment system's hologram-style display. The LF-SA leaked last week, and the live shots from Geneva prove it's worth another look. Related Video: Lexus LF-SA World debut at the 2015 Geneva motor show European debut for the Lexus GS F and LF-C2 roadster concept The new Lexus LF-SA concept makes its world debut today at the 2015 Geneva motor show. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the very first Lexus, the LS400 saloon. To celebrate this milestone, Lexus challenged ED2, its European design studio, to create a concept of an ultra-compact (sub-B-segment) urban 2+2 model. The LF-SA Concept explores unexpected territory for the brand in a powerful, emotional execution that illustrates Lexus's passion for up-coming design trends. The LF-SA Concept is also a driver-focused vehicle, reflecting Lexus's vision that in a future world where technology and virtual experiences are expected to hold more sway, the real driving experience could become the ultimate luxury. Taking that insight as inspiration, the new concept presents an audacious interpretation of Lexus's L-finesse design philosophy, while never losing sight of the requirement for driving pleasure – a quality that will always be a defining element of Lexus's progressive luxury.

Lexus' December to Remember reshaped by the pandemic

After spending the summer convincing consumers to take socially distanced breaks from grim reality, advertisers are now returning to the pandemic as the central focus in holiday shopping campaigns launching this month. U.S. companies from carmakers to retailers are under pressure to make the shopping season a success after retail sales crashed 21% earlier this year as millions of Americans lost jobs and cut their budgets. They face the challenge of convincing consumers to open their wallets for the holidays even as the coronavirus pandemic rages anew across the United States and Europe. As new campaigns roll out, brands feel it is their responsibility to inspire optimism for the coming year, but also empathize with “the hurt that people have,” said Jason Schragger, chief creative officer at ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi. Carmaker LexusÂ’ iconic “December to Remember” campaign, which features cars wrapped in giant red bows on picturesque snowy driveways, will focus on the different role that driveways have played this year, as people sought ways to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones despite stay-at-home orders. New TV commercials launching on Monday feature family and friends doing a drive-by graduation party in their Lexus vehicles as a student in a cap and gown waves from her driveway. In another, a man greets his children and grandkids from a distance as they drive by, waving a homemade “Happy Birthday, Grandpa” sign. "We wanted to make sure we weren't showing large gatherings of people," said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of marketing at Lexus, owned by Toyota. "But it's nice to have a live interaction, and that can happen when you're safe in the car and waving from the driveway." Staying connected during the pandemic is the message behind ads for the department store MacyÂ’s, whose window displays and Santaland attraction have been hallmarks of the holidays since the late 19th century. At a time when flying home or hosting big family gatherings can be dangerous, Macy's is focusing on how finding and giving the perfect gift plays an even bigger role in connecting with people you can not see in person this year, according to Macy's chief customer officer Rich Lennox. A similar theme underpins Etsy's commercial, in which a woman who longs to see her grandson opens a gift of a handmade doll that matches a picture he had drawn.

New Lexus small CUV may have been behind moving ES production to Kentucky

Lexus may have had another big reason - in addition to the financial incentives potentially worth up to $146.5 million that Kentucky offered - to move ES production to its Georgetown, KY plant. The ES has always been built in Japan, and a report at TheDetroitBureau.com claims that the Kyushu facility will be tooling up to build a new model thought to be a compact hybrid crossover expected to go on sale next year. While ES300h production would remain in Japan, shedding 50,000 units of traditional ES production would free capacity for what many think will be an important model in the Lexus lineup.
The new CUV will come in below the RX and be built on the platform of the RAV4. Speculation is that there will be an NX200t and an NX300h, the former possibly getting the 2.0-liter turbo Toyota engine due in 2014 - matching the predicted timeline for the CUV and supposedly also meant for an RX200t - and latter getting the same 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain in the ES300h. We'll see a preview of the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 fighter at this year's Tokyo Motor Show; the production version should be unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.