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WHO says nobody at Toyota has a sense of humour, as the bizarre retro-themed disguise on the all-new, fifth-generation, XF50-series Lexus LS proves.
Spotted undergoing hot-weather testing near Death Valley in California, the heavily camouflaged full-sized luxury sedan features very old-school round headlights and what appears to be 1950s-style fins out back, tacked on what otherwise seems to be a way sleeker and more contemporary car than the existing version.
And that’s great news, since it means that the Toyota luxury flagship might finally banish the boxy blandness of the current decade-old XF40 design. However don’t expect the concept’s exaggerated 5.3-metre length and outlandish Blade Runner-esque interior to translate to production.
Perhaps the biggest change to the next LS besides the design is what will lurk underneath. Using Lexus’ all-new GA-L (Global Architecture-Luxury) platform previewed at this year’s Detroit Show in the upcoming LC 500 super luxury coupe, the big sedan is believed to be in line for an array of powertrain options.
There is also suggestion of the LC 500h coupe’s 3.5-litre V6 petrol/electric hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery pack and a rear-mounted four-speed auto transaxle could make its way in the touted LS 500h.
But the really exciting news is the speculation that the existing top-line LS 600h petrol-electric hybrid might give way to a hydrogen fuel-cell set-up, as per the 2015 LF-FC concept car, and similar to the pioneering Toyota Mirai.
However, with cheap fuel prices and no meaningful governmental incentive or infrastructural network to help support alternative fuels, don’t expect to see that in Australia any time soon.
Pricing? The current LS, essentially the same car launched 10 years ago in Australia (though substantially facelifted for 2010), retails from about $190,000 to $240,000, putting it in the same class as the aforementioned Germans, as well as the Jaguar XJ and Maserati Quattroporte.
A decade in the making, the LS prototype might be dressed for laughs, but Lexus is obviously very serious indeed about shaking the establishment once again…
Have spy pics of your own? We’d love to see them. Just email them to wheels@bauertrader.com.au
