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Lexus Hedge End hosts one of the only brand walls in the UK which displays objects that provide a story of the values that the brand is built on.
Each story is linked to the Brand Pyramid oh which objects sit within the values of Superior Quality & Omotenashi, Takumi Craftmanship, Brave Design, Imaginative Technology and Exhilarating Performance.
Omotenashi - a concept that defines the spirit of Japanese hospitality - has its origins in the Japanese tea ceremony. For over five centuries, this ritual of the preparation of Japanese green tea has included three fundamental principles of Omotenashi: Anticipating needs, attention to detail and expressing gratitude. A tea ceremony can involve weeks of planning: Invitations are written and sent; the guest prepares their soul for the event and the host chooses the implements to be used during the ceremony.
On the day of the ceremony itself, everything is designed around the guest. The host’s posture is carefully considered - even whilst the tea implements are gracefully cleaned - and no unnecessary movements or words are permitted. Much more than an invitation to drink, the Japanese tea ceremony is spiritual experience that demonstrates respect through etiquette and grace, both integral facets of Japanese culture.
Omotenashi is a Japanese concept of hospitality. It’s about anticipating a guest’s needs before they do, and it’s a guiding principle for us at Lexus. We hope that you will experience Omotenashi whenever you visit our retail premises.
But we also apply Omotenashi through the choice of materials and the innovative technologies that we introduce in our vehicles. These provide a refined ambience to suit your personality – just like the ceramic and wood scent diffuser in the Brand Gallery Wall.
Take the Lexus LBX. Before you even step into the drivers’ seat, the temperature is set via your smartphone. And once in the cabin, the air is pure: Climate Concierge with nanoe™ X technology helps inhibit harmful substances whilst providing deodorised and moisturised air to care for your skin.
Customisable lighting creates an ambience to suit your mood. Settle back and choose one of 14 distinctive preset themes – they’re designed to express the emotions provoked by beautiful natural phenomena. And if you prefer to direct your own lighting, you’ve got it. With 50 colours to choose from.
Takumi are masters of cutting-edge techniques and technologies - often playing a leading role in their creation. But many of their most remarkable skills precede the digital age.
The Takumi’s heightened sense of touch is
legendary. Wearing pristine white gloves,
they use their acute sensitivity to feel for tiny
imperfections invisible to the untrained human
eye. In doing so, Takumi guarantee the superior
quality that you can expect from Lexus.
Lexus Takumi master craftsmen – or Takumi – are rigorously assessed for their dexterity and attention to detail. One of the qualifying test to become a seamstress Takumi is to fold an origami cat. The catch? Aspiring Takumi must complete the challenge within 90 seconds using only their non-dominant hand.
Only once passing this test are they considered dexterous enough to stitch the fabric of a Lexus dashboard.
Japanese craft traditions inspired our designers in the creation of our cars. These are evident in many areas of the interior, from the shape of the cabin to the textured detail of the dashboard trim. The stitching of the smooth leather upholstery on the Lexus UX, is inspired by sashiko, a traditional Japanese quilting technique that dates back more than 1,200 years.
Its strength, with up to ten stitches per inch, has
long made sashiko popular in the making of judo
and kendo martial arts uniforms, and protective
cotton coats worn by early Japanese fire-fighters.
A crucial part of Lexus vehicle prototyping is life-sized modelling. Master craftsmen - Takumi - create an armature from welded metal and polystyrene. Only then does clay modelling begin. A thin layer of warmed clay is smoothed over the armature. Once cool, it is painstakingly shaped and shaved by hand.
The Takumi check each contour from every angle, constantly refining until perfect. The result? An accurate life-sized Lexus. Although the model has no moving parts, the production vehicles it influences become art in motion.
Bonsai requires effort and ingenuity to grow and train a miniature tree. The tree retains the majesty and proportions of a fully-grown specimen, but remains small enough to be container-grown. It is the art of perfection at a small scale.
With the Lexus LBX, we set out to redefine what a compact car can be. As chief engineer Kunihiko Endo says, “Aiming to overturn the preconception that ‘small is inferior’, we have created an electrified luxury car that’s sublimely natural to drive with a design that’s both elegant and cool.”
The LBX may be the most compact Lexus crossover to date, but its extended wheelbase and low centre of gravity provide a ride quality normally associated with larger luxury models. And - as with all Lexus - you’ll find bold styling, a refined and engaging drive, and class-defying luxury. Proof that perfection is available in any size.
Many of the colours in the Lexus palette are the result of technical innovation. We take inspiration from nature, working with the principles of refraction to achieve tones that appear deeper, more lustrous and constantly change with the available light.
SUNLIGHT GREEN
Sunlight Green evokes the beautiful image of sunlight refracting through the ocean, with the colour changing from green to blue. This dual tonality gives the vehicle a varying dramatic appearance when viewed in different environments, such as in the morning and evening sunlight, or under the fluorescent lighting of multi-level parking facilities.
ICE ECRU
Ice Ecru is a new beige colour with the appearance of snow bathed in warm sunlight. In light this colour provides the clean yet warm impression naturally associated with beige, whilst in shadow Ice Ecru adopts a bluish hue, simultaneously sharp and adventurous.
The F Aluminium door trim was inspired by Hadori — a traditional polishing technique that elevates katana swords into singular works of art. Lexus designers studied Hadori patterns from between the 14th and 16th centuries then asked skilled artisans to craft the prototype by hand for replication by machine. But the machine-made trim lacked the richness of the prototype.
In determining the reason, the polishing was examined under a microscope. There, invisible to the human eye, were randomly created lines that could not be replicated with a machine. It was these lines that were giving the overall design its powerful impact. These random lines had been instinctively added by the artisans who created the prototype, based on their many years of experience and keen understanding of katana aesthetics. Although refinement is an important quality in craftsmanship, a product is incomplete without the addition of more human and instinctive elements that are not based on mathematical calculation alone.
Glass has rarely been used as an interior door-trim finish, so Kiriko cut-glass gives the Lexus LS instant distinctiveness. It is another example of Lexus incorporating traditional Japanese craft techniques to provide an amazing driving experience. Kiriko glasswork artisans from Japan designed the original pattern template. This was then reproduced using advanced glass production technology that scans and digitises every facet.
Finally, the glass was treated using advanced
reinforcement technology to ensure the panel
is strong and safe enough for a car interior despite
its delicate appearance.
Our vehicles are available in an array of colours. Among them is Blazing Carnelian, inspired by the sandstone of Antelope canyon in the US and the shifting red hues visible in the carnelian gemstone.
To realise this colour, Lexus developed a new multi-layer painting process combining a red base coat with an overlay of reflective mica. Blazing Carnelian shifts from a deep reddish orange when under cloudy skies, to a glittering metallic gold when bathed in sunlight
For the launch of the Lexus ES, Lexus created a film scripted by artificial intelligence (AI). The AI was ‘trained’ with data: Award-winning luxury advertisements, emotional intelligence and data about human intuition were sourced and input.
The result is a story of a Lexus Takumi master craftsman who releases the new Lexus ES into the world, only for it to be threatened with destruction. At the crucial moment, the car’s intuitive emergency braking system is triggered to save the day.
Lexus commissioned Oscar-winner Kevin Macdonald to direct the film (entitled One Day in September) - a demonstration of how humans and machines can work together in perfect harmony to create amazing experiences.
In the human body, the spine keeps the head stable. It allows the pelvis and chest to rotate in opposite directions while keeping the head in place, even in motion. Lexus recreates this flexible movement with its Kinetic Seat Concept. The seat cushion and back rest are designed to move in relation to occupant weight and external force.
Simply sitting in the seat helps stabilise head movement caused by the motion of the vehicle, keeping the occupant’s field of vision steady and making driving easier and more comfortable. The upholstery features a pioneering material that mimics the strength and flexibility of spider silk, yet is derived from microbial protein.
Flexible enough to closely fit the shape of the occupant’s body, it results in a slimmer, weight-saving design with superior comfort and shock-absorbing properties. The seats in our production models are inspired by this new technology, further enhancing the driver experience and the feeling of cabin spaciousness.
Speed has always been an important consideration for Lexus. From the record-breaking lap times of the iconic Lexus LFA to providing controlled acceleration for daily driving – every second counts. Today it is the responsiveness of driver support systems where speed provides maximum benefit. In this race, too, Lexus is leading the way.
Our remote parking functionality – premiered on the all-new Lexus NX - takes just 10 seconds from sleep to operation - far faster than our contemporaries. Controlled from your smartphone, remote parking enables safe exit from tight spaces - even when you are not in the drivers’ seat . And as research suggests that up to 30% of vehicle accidents occur in parking lots, remote parking not only saves time but also mitigates risk - getting you safely on your journey in no time at all
Lexus has always been at the forefront of drive-train technology. After all, we invented the hybrid engine. So, it’s no surprise that Lexus leads the way in electrified vehicles.
But it’s how we use this power that sets us apart. Our self-charging hybrids use regenerative braking to charge an on-board battery for electric power at urban speeds – keeping emissions to zero at point of use. Our plug-in hybrids offer a longer range of electric-only driving combined with a combustion engine for really long journeys.
Our all-electric vehicles combine a dynamic driving experience with zero exhaust emissions and charging solutions to fit around your lifestyle. So you see, Lexus is truly electrified.
Tazuna derives from a Japanese word describing the reins that provide a seamless connection between horse and rider. The Lexus Tazuna cockpit, first seen in the Lexus LF-Z concept, similarly inspires confidence and a sense of connection with the vehicle.
COMFORTABLE, CONNECTED AND IN CONTROL
Lexus researched the shoulder-to-fingertip distance of people around the world to define a layout that provides excellent control without disturbing the driver’s posture. Lexus designers and Takumi artisans worked together to develop a driver-oriented space where controls and displays are positioned - and perform – intuitively.
Information is prioritised to ensure that the driver receives everything they need to be informed, never enough to confuse. Programmable buttons control the most frequently used functions with minimal eye, hand, and head movement. The aim? To enable the driver to use everything without explanation and without hesitation. The calm cabin interior helps the driver to feel both cocooned from the outside yet connected with it.
The Gömböc (pronounced ’goemboets’) is a unique object. However you place the Gömböc, it will always right itself – despite its weight being evenly distributed. Although this may seem simple, the Gömböc is physical proof of a mathematical theory that an object can have one stable and one unstable point of equilibria.
Its production is only possible through advanced manufacturing techniques with precise tolerances of less than 0.01mm. At Lexus, we’re not content simply applying technology in its existing form. We use it to spark our imaginations. Take the RZ. Our first car to be developed on a dedicated BEV platform, the RZ has its battery mounted under the vehicle floor, contributing to a low centre of gravity.
This increases stability and ride comfort: applying imaginative technology to improve the driver experience. As Chief Engineer Takashi Watanabe puts it: “The RZ has been developed with the aim of creating a uniquely Lexus BEV that feels secure to ride in, is pleasing to the touch, and is exhilarating to drive.”
City driving can be a challenge. But at Lexus, we do all we can to ensure a stress-free and safe experience, applying pioneering technology to support the driver.
Take the Lexus LBX. Its compact size means the LBX has great handling. But for easier driving in confined spaces, the Panoramic View Monitor creates a virtual 3D image of the car to help with detailed manoeuvring. The 3rd generation Lexus Safety System+ provides driver support, constantly monitoring the road ahead, alerting you of danger and taking action where required.
Even when you reach your destination, other road users are cared for: Safe Exit Assist prevents doors from opening when cyclists or pedestrians are approaching from behind. And if parking is not your thing, a Remote Parking system provides manoeuvrability in really tight spaces
Developed by a team of over 50 designers and engineers across three continents, the Lexus Sport Yacht concept offers the same luxurious experience as a Lexus car. It combines high-performance with intelligent details.
A specialist carbon material first developed for the Lexus LFA supercar has been used throughout, making the yacht’s exterior particularly lightweight. This combined with two V8 engines adapted from those used in the Lexus LC, increase speed and performance.
This raw power is complemented by new technology including a 24 inch touch panel through which the captain may access all instrumentation. The Lexus Sport Yacht concept has been designed to provide an uncomplicated, thrilling experience. It is easy to manoeuvre, even through challenging waters.
Lexus announced its arrival in the UK in 1989 with its first, hugely memorable television advertisement. Fifteen champagne glasses were stacked in a pyramid on the bonnet of an LS 400 as it accelerated on a dynamometer.
As the speedometer soared past 55mph, champagne was poured into the top glass, cascading elegantly into the fourteen glasses below. Not only did the pyramid remain undisturbed as the speed rose to 145mph but not one drop of champagne was spilled.
Until that point, few people knew of the quality and world-leading technology that went into building the Lexus LS 400. This intriguing advert soon altered perceptions. The strapline explained that Lexus was dedicated to ‘ the relentless pursuit of perfection’ and this was a graphic illustration of what that meant.
Over 30 years have passed since the launch of the LS 400 and while the Lexus range has grown considerably, design and technological breakthroughs continue to occur with reliable frequency.
Have you ever wondered why golf balls have a dimpled surface? Research has shown that if you took two identical golf balls, one with and one without dimples, and you were to strike them with the same impact force, the ball with dimples would travel twice as far as that without.
LESS DRAG, BETTER AERODYNAMICS.
As air moves across a flat surface, it creates a boundary layer of slower moving air. When the surface is dimpled, it will mix with the surrounding air to retain more kinetic energy. ‘Friction drag’ is slightly increased, but ‘pressure drag’ is dramatically reduced. So why don’t we cover the whole surface of the car with dimples?
Well, the exterior body of our cars is already designed with such aerodynamic profiles that it would not make a difference. But for some areas of the vehicle, this can make a difference. The engine undercover design of the all-new Lexus NX has a dimpled surface, like a golf ball. As a result, airflow follows the contour more precisely, reducing noise and drag and improving straight-line stability in high-speed driving
