Lexus wants to build a car with six wheels – and it’s no joke

The LS is dead, long live the LS

The classic LS sedan, once Lexus’ main rival to the Mercedes S-Class, is on its last legs. It has already been scrapped in Europe, and in Japan it is sold only to a handful of loyal fans. But instead of making a successor that will once again compete with the Germans, Lexus decides to change course completely.

Lexus wants to reinvent their flagship model as something they themselves call “Luxury Space.” You can take that quite literally, because this six-wheeler looks more like a floating lounge suite than a car. So from now on, the LS no longer stands for Luxury Sedan, but for Luxury Space.

Six wheels full of luxury

That extra set of rear wheels is no gimmick. Lexus says the design creates more interior space for the rear passengers, who sit in two rows of adjustable lounge chairs. This is because the small wheels take up less space than a set of large wheels. Pretty logical, actually.

Lounge

The interior is best described as a private lounge on wheels, complete with bamboo screens, ambient lighting and a giant sliding door that makes boarding dead easy. The driver – yes, there is still a human driver – sits up front with a yoke steering wheel, as in the Lexus RZ.

Not just any study model

According to Lexus, this is no absurd design joke. The LS Concept is part of a broader relaunch: in addition to this six-wheeled “ultra-lux van,” the brand is also unveiling an LS Coupe and an LS Micro. The brand thus aims to create an entire LS family – each model a different interpretation of what luxury means in 2030. Whether the six-wheeled Lexus will actually go into production? Lexus says it will – or at the very least, “we are seriously considering it.”

Also see: This cool road trip costs less than € 80 – AutoRAI TV