Lexus has revealed its new flagship luxury mover at the 2023 Shanghai Motor Show. Instead of an SUV, Lexus's latest addition takes the form of a proper MPV. The LM aims to offer a new market segment for luxurious, chauffeur-driven people carriers. It provides the ultimate luxury of a limousine in the format of a spacious people carrier.
The LM sits alongside the LS saloon and LC coupe/convertible at the top of the Lexus range. The car is available in two forms, one being a fairly standard-looking seven-seater and the other, an ultra-smart four-seater with fully reclining captain's chairs in the back and more legroom. The four-seater comes complete with a 48-inch HD television, a fridge, fold-out tables, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system and a dimmable partition between the driver and passengers.
Lexus's LM also features Climate Concierge which uses infrared sensors to scan the temperature of the rear seat passengers and adjusts the air conditioning automatically. The car includes five selectable Climate Concierge modes: Relax, Dream, Focus, Energise, and My Original. The LM is equipped with ‘nanoe-X’ technology that adds microscopic water particles to the airflow which can inhibit viruses, bacteria, and allergens while also having a moisturizing effect on human skin and hair.
Lexus conducted research with private jet manufacturers and hyper-affluent consumers while developing the LM. The original 1990s LS saloon was the inspiration. The LM is a dedicated passenger vehicle in its own right, not a repurposed van.
The LM 350h that will be available later this year uses a 183KW hybrid setup that pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and four-wheel drive. It also includes adaptive suspension, aluminum body panels to reduce weight, 17-inch cast or 19-inch forged alloys, and active noise cancellation in the cabin to isolate the occupants.