Lexus is known for quiet luxury and reliability, but the brand has also produced some genuinely bizarre ideas over the years.
Intro
Most people associate Lexus with comfortable sedans, smooth V8s, and dealerships that probably offer better snacks than your local airport lounge. But underneath the polished image, Lexus has occasionally gotten surprisingly strange.
Over the years, the company has experimented with wild concepts, unusual technology, and side projects nobody expected from a luxury automaker. Some were serious engineering exercises. Others felt like someone in a boardroom said, “What if we just did something ridiculous?”
Here are some of the weirdest things Lexus has ever built.
A Cardboard IS Sedan
In 2015, Lexus revealed a fully drivable cardboard version of the Lexus IS. Yes, actual cardboard. The project used precision-cut sheets assembled into a surprisingly detailed structure, complete with opening doors and interior pieces. An electric motor allowed the car to move under its own power, although nobody was confusing it for a track weapon. It was partly a design exercise and partly a publicity stunt, but it proved one important thing: Lexus engineers apparently have too much free time sometimes.
A Real Hoverboard
The “hoverboard” became one of the internet’s favorite fake future inventions for years, then Lexus decided to actually build one. The Lexus Hoverboard used magnetic levitation and superconductors cooled by liquid nitrogen. It could genuinely float and move, although only over specially designed tracks with embedded magnets. Lexus Hoverboard was incredibly impractical, absurdly expensive to develop, and limited to highly controlled conditions. Which somehow made it even cooler.
Watch here.
The Slide Hoverboard Park
Building a hoverboard apparently was not weird enough. To demonstrate the technology, Lexus created an entire custom skatepark called the “Slide” project in Spain. The track incorporated magnetic surfaces that allowed the hoverboard to function. The setup looked like something from a sci-fi movie, except it existed mostly so professional riders could float around for a promotional video. It remains one of the most elaborate marketing projects the brand has ever attempted.
The Spindle Grille Era
Not a single car, but honestly deserving of a place on this list. When Lexus introduced its enormous spindle grille design language in the 2010s, reactions ranged from admiration to complete confusion. Some models looked aggressive and futuristic. Others looked like they were actively inhaling smaller vehicles. Over time, the grille became one of the brand’s defining visual signatures. But during its early years, it felt like Lexus designers had collectively decided subtlety was overrated.
The Lexus Sport Yacht
Luxury automakers making boats is unusual enough. Lexus building a sleek, high-performance yacht was even stranger. The Lexus Sport Yacht debuted as a concept before evolving into the LY 650 production yacht. It featured dramatic styling inspired by Lexus sports cars, extensive luxury materials, and twin high-output marine engines. It answered a question very few people were asking: “What if an LC 500 became a boat?”
The Lexus UX With Tattoos
Lexus once unveiled a specially customized Lexus UX covered in hand-applied tattoo artwork. Instead of paint, the body featured intricate designs inspired by traditional Japanese tattoo techniques. LED lighting underneath sections of the artwork added even more visual drama. The result looked less like a crossover and more like a rolling cyberpunk art installation.
The Ice Tire Experiment
Lexus engineers once created functioning tires made almost entirely from ice. Using frozen tread patterns mounted onto specially prepared wheels, the company fitted them to a Lexus NX for a winter-themed promotional project. The tires technically worked, although they obviously were not intended for long-term use unless your daily commute happened inside a freezer.
The Lexus LIT IS
The Lexus IS has been turned into many things over the years, but one of the strangest was the “LIT IS” project. Lexus covered the entire car in programmable LED panels containing tens of thousands of lights. The exterior could display animations, patterns, and visual effects in real time. At night, it looked like a nightclub accidentally became sentient.
Watch here.
