Lexus Gets All Bradley Cooper With Its LF-1 Limitless Crossover
Lexus has hit Detroit with a new concept vehicle that points to the direction that the brand will be aiming towards in the coming future. Although this Limitless crossover vehicle has nothing to do with the Bradley Cooper flick of the same name, its powertrain options do seem as limitless as Cooper did on screen.
Calty at it again
Lexus is back at it again with another vehicle that is geared to satiate the ever-growing desires of the public for multiuse people movers. The new LF-1 concept was debuted at the North American International Auto Show and began as just a model springing forth from Toyota's Calty Design Research in Southern California. The vehicle is a sleek, sporty model that holds a range of features that are tailored to suit the individual needs of the potential owner's drivetrain needs and then some. The vehicle is poised to be a "flagship crossover" that will be king of the crop sitting above the RX lineup.
Like a hot knife through butter
Calty Design used a design approach Lexus calls "molten katana" that points to a silhouette that appears to be the red-hot Japanese sword in automotive form. The spindle grille is now a three-dimensional design that goes beyond just sitting flush with the car. Another change to the grille is that instead of the outside being chrome it is now LED lighting. The door handles on the concept appear to be like the ones used by Tesla that reveal a Lexus logo in the negative space. Door mirrors are absent with the rear view of the vehicle being delivered via screens around the instrument cluster.
A personal assistant just for you
The LF-1 is all about technology and moving forward in every aspect, from the design to the features to the powertrain. The vehicle is designed to potentially house either a fuel cell, plug-in hybrid, gas or all-electric powertrain as Lexus looks at the LF-1 to be the harbinger of change in the lineup by 2025. That date points to all Lexus vehicle lines being electrified in some fashion and the production version of the crossover could be a myriad of propulsion systems. Aiding in the driving experience will be a hands-free driver assist that Lexus calls "Chauffer mode." This mode will offer up information like suggested fuel pit stops and hotel accommodations, and can even make dining reservations all on the fly. Personal smart assistants are spreading further across the automotive world and becoming more common year by year.
New tech everywhere
The interior of the vehicle has perforated door trim that allows lighting through a Rolls Royce-esque star-filled sky. The majority of the analog switches have been replaced by haptic-enabled controls that are grouped around the driver and fitted into the steering wheel. All of the powertrain controls have been fitted in the steering column or in the menu wheel.
Self-driving features will be some autonomous driving that includes self-parking and drive-by wire steering, braking, signaling and then some. The car will also feature "four-dimensional navigation system," with the fourth dimension being time. With time in mind, the system will read traffic information, anticipating any stops that may be on the way.
Looking forward to what the brand produces
There is also a gesture based system that looks to cut down on driver distraction and making it easier to interact with the car's features. With a push of the start, button drivers will be treated to a very cool LED light show. For now, this crossover is poised to be Limitless in what it could bring to the brand and how it can serve consumers.
Here's to the future.
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