Lexus has been making strides in making its cars more powerful and more exciting, both physically and visually. Ironically, some of its styling ideas come from a space nestled in the tranquility of Tokyo’s greenery and cherry trees.
The Lexus Tokyo Design Laboratory is largely away from the urban sprawl of the city and gives its 24 employees (12 of them are designers) a chance to experience nature as they work. While birds chirp within earshot, they draw and use software and create scale and full-size models to eventually generate concepts such the Toyota FCV Plus and Lexus LF-FC Concept. Both are put into motion by hydrogen-powered electric powertrains, the “FC” in the Lexus’ name meaning “fuel cell.”
Those two letters might as well also translate to “Future Car” because the LF-FC gives us a glimpse of some of the lines of the next-generation LS. Let’s hope it’s engaging to drive, but has an interior that provides the serenity in which the LF-FC was conceived – a quality which is essential in all big luxury cars, especially the Lexus LS.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
