A luxury suite on wheels, a comfortable mobile lounge, a mobile business space or a comfortable luxury minivan for traveling. Everything serves to describe the new Lexus vehicle. Indeed, the new LM is a large minivan that arrives with the aspiration of competing with the best representative sedans in the world. Therefore, Lexus ventures into a new segment, beyond the usual and successful SUV vehicles it produces.
The LM had already been shown statically a few months ago, and has now begun to circulate on European roads in Poland, the site of its world premiere.
We are talking about a luxurious vehicle for transporting people that measures 5.12 meters in length, no less. But also 2.29 meters wide, with the mirrors, and 1.94 meters high. Therefore, a vehicle that will be difficult to park.
It is manufactured in the Japanese plant of the Toyota group brand in Tahara. And it will be marketed in Asia and Europe, but not in the United States, where there are already other larger models that cover this segment. The needs of the North American market are always different from the rest.
On the same platform as the RX or NX, an excellent base since it is designed for passenger cars, the LM nevertheless exhibits a tall and square appearance. It looks like something out of a Manga comic, with an imposing front part.
Lexus explains that the design has revolved around the idea of ??“dignified elegance”, with a singular and assertive presence on the road. The grille’s double arrowhead shape has been compressed to give rise to a large lower section below a thin opening. Also noteworthy is the large glass surface and the low beltline to offer truly spectacular interior luminosity.
Unlike other vehicles of this style, such as the Mercedes V-Class or the Volkswagen Multivan, Lexus does not contemplate making commercial or delivery-focused versions. Therefore, the LM is, conceptually, a luxury tourism intended for the transportation of people.
To clearly define what Lexus intended in the cabin of the LM, studies were carried out with private aircraft manufacturers and exclusive clients. One of the conclusions was that clients perceive the highest level of luxury when the environment makes them feel completely relaxed, both physically and mentally. A quality that, surprisingly, is valued even more than access to advanced technologies and functions.
To do this, Lexus has applied the Japanese concept of hospitality called “Omotenashi”, which consists of making people feel as welcome and cared for as if they were guests in our home. For example, just one button is enough to regulate the climate control, lighting and seats in the cabin according to the user’s personal preferences.
The Japanese manufacturer, therefore, has made an important commitment to luxury, without concessions. Every interior detail receives maximum attention and has been carefully studied.
Lexus offers a seven-seat version of the LM (125,000 euros) and a four-seat version (150,000 euros) with major interior differences.
The seven-seater version, more focused on the family, has a 750-liter trunk capacity that can be expanded by folding the third-row seats. This operation cannot be carried out in the four-seater version, since the comfortable bucket seats with all types of adjustments (including massage) do not allow it.
In the four-seat version, a screen separates the space between the driver’s cabin and the rear passenger compartment. Passengers can enjoy a 48-inch screen and a dimmable glass window for greater privacy.
In this area there is a custom Mark Levinson 3D sound system with 23 speakers, as well as Lexus’ climate assistant that uses thermal sensors to control and regulate heating and ventilation. All, together with the wide and ergonomic electronically adjustable seats.
The seven-seat configuration, for its part, gives priority to the center row of seats, with more space and better accessibility to certain functions.
The exclusive four-seater version includes glove compartments for bags or executive briefcases, USB ports, electric controls for the windows and curtains on the side and roof doors, a refrigerator that even fits a bottle of champagne with two cold levels , retractable titanium tables, mirrors or soft-touch padded rugs.
And, sitting in business class, we can raise and lower a window to give orders to the driver or make the glass translucent by pressing a key. A technology that Lexus already uses in the panoramic roofs of other models.
The Japanese company specialized in image and sound Panasonic has collaborated on the interior technology. Thus, the individual seats have a screen to manage the entire multimedia system: it is in the central armrest and is removable.
Passengers have a 48-inch screen that can function as a television to watch any movie or series or to organize a work meeting via video conference.
The LM is available for our market with a single 2.5-liter hybrid engine, a mechanism that is also used in the Lexus NX and the RX 350h. This electrified system has a total power of 250 HP, which allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.
And it has the ECO label from the DGT and the advantages that this entails. The official approved consumption is 7.4 liters, very correct considering the weight and volume of the vehicle.
As standard, Lexus’ E-Four electronic all-wheel drive is included for greater stability when cornering. It also contributes to the comfort on board.
The driving position, as befits a vehicle of these characteristics, is elevated. The driver has four driving modes: Normal (default), Eco, Sport and Rear Comfort.
Panasonic, in addition to collaborating on the multimedia system, is responsible for purifying the cabin environment thanks to Nanoex technology.
Lexus explains that in Europe they plan to sell about 800 units a year, 150 in Spain. The first units arrive this month of October. Half of the buyers are individuals and the rest are fleets and companies.
