It's been nearly 17 years since the first LS made its debut at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit. One of two cars designed to launch the Lexus badge, it received a mixed reception from its industry rivals, few of them able to imagine a truly successful Japanese luxury car.
Nearly two decades later, Lexus has become the best-selling luxury brand in the United States, and as it finally launches the nameplate in the Japanese home market, parent Toyota Motor Co. is making it clear it wants to become a global leader, as well.
So when the automaker pulled the wraps off its LF-Sh concept vehicle in Tokyo last week, few were ready to dismiss the thinly-disguised prototype of what will soon become the third-generation LS sedan. Standing around the Lexus display, one could see a stream of senior industry officials, including the likes of BMW Chairman and CEO Helmut Panke, come to compare and examine the latest Lexus offering.
The so-called "Flagship Sedan Concept Car" is one of the first Lexus models to bear the cues from the new "L-Finesse" design theme. It clearly shares some of the touches that first appeared on the brand's newly updated entry model, the IS sedan. The LF-Sh is more muscular in appearance than the old LS, and there's no question Toyota intended to make it less derivative, less dependent on styling themes pioneered in Europe. But Panke couldn't help but notice the Japanese car's distinct "Bangle butt," the high rear deck lid first used on BMW's controversial 7-Series.
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