Lexus will tackle Mercedes’ V-Class luxurious vans in Europe with the LM minivan, which is geared toward high-end chauffeurs.
The second-generation LM was revealed on the Shanghai auto present this week.
The European model – the primary time the LM shall be offered within the area — will go on sale in autumn with a hybrid-only drivetrain, Lexus stated.
“It’s a high-level luxurious house, primarily geared toward chauffeurs,” Lexus CEO Takashi Watanabe informed Automotive Information Europe on the sidelines of the occasion. Lexus doesn’t envisage promoting the automotive to its conventional buyer base, Watanabe added.
Lexus’ important competitors would be the Mercedes Viano midsize van. The LM relies on the identical platform because the RX giant SUV, which supplies an edge over the van-based Mercedes, a spokesperson stated.
The V-Class vans can be found in three lengths, from 4,895 to five,370 mm lengthy. The LM is 5,125 mm lengthy, Lexus says.
Lexus says the brand new mannequin will increase torsional rigidity by 50 p.c in comparison with the outgoing mannequin, lowering vibration and growing experience consolation.
The Lexus LM minivan was first launched in 2020, concentrating on chauffeur prospects in Asia.
“The minivan idea has been established in Japan however since then wants have additionally been raised in different areas akin to Europe,” Watanabe stated, explaining why the LM shall be offered in Europe for the primary time.
The brand new LM is obtainable in four-, six- and seven-seat configurations, with the four-seat model providing rear passengers extra space than a conventional limousine. On this configuration a partition separates the entrance and rear seats, with the higher part a retractable glass window with dimming operate. Beneath that sits 48-inch display screen, whereas a fridge and storage areas are positioned decrease down.
Rear passengers management capabilities akin to electrical seating, audio and ambient lighting through two removable touch-screen controllers.
The automotive’s entrance finish evolves the idea of the ‘spindle physique’ grille used throughout the Lexus vary. The automotive’s exterior shade is now used inside the grille, making it an integral a part of the physique, Lexus stated in a launch.
European prospects shall be provided the LM in 350 spec, which makes use of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to Toyota’s full-hybrid system. A extra highly effective 500 mannequin offered elsewhere makes use of a 2.4-liter turbocharged full-hybrid drivetrain.
The LM shall be offered in additional than 60 international locations, Lexus stated, with gross sales beginning in China.