William Maley

In the luxury flagship sedan hierarchy, the Lexus LS is currently the oldest. But Lexus is planning a replacement in the near future. To give us an idea of what's to come, Lexus has revealed the LF-fC concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. You will instantly recognize the LF-fC as a Lexus thanks to the 'L-finesse' design language with such items as a large, spindle grille, massive vents in the front bumpers, and creases along the bottom edges. Interestingly, the LF-FC has an overall length of 208.4 inches. That's four inches longer than the current long-wheelbase LS and a touch longer than the current long-wheel base models from Germany and Great Britain. The interior is focused on providing comfort for passengers with four bucket seats wrapped in white leather. There is a gesture control system that uses a holographic image to show uses where to place their hands to control various aspects of the infotainment system. For power, the LF-FC uses hydrogen fuel cell to power the rear wheels, and sends power to electric hub motors in the front to provide all-wheel drive. "Lexus wants to surprise and evoke emotion with its distinctive design and forward-thinking technology. For us, it is more than just a car, and we should exceed conventional imagination. The LF-FC expresses our progressive luxury and high-tech vision of a not so distant future," said Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President. Source: Lexus Press Release is on Page 2 Lexus LF-FC Flagship Concept Revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show TOKYO (Oct. 28, 2015) — Taking center stage in the Lexus booth at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Lexus revealed the LF-FC flagship concept, a visionary new vehicle that offers a peek into the design and technology direction of the brand’s future flagship sedan. “Lexus wants to surprise and evoke emotion with its distinctive design and forward-thinking technology. For us, it is more than just a car, and we should exceed conventional imagination. The LF-FC expresses our progressive luxury and high-tech vision of a not so distant future,” said Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President. The LF-FC features a fresh new styling theme that embodies Lexus’ “L-finesse” design philosophy. From every angle, the sedan is aggressively elegant, exuding the spirit of a grand touring vehicle. An evolved version of Lexus’ signature grille with a new mesh design dominates the front, while floating “L-shaped” daytime running lights (DRL) extrude flawlessly from the front fenders. The rear is highlighted by striking new taillights that adopt the same floating theme as the DRL. When seen from its profile, the LF-FC’s true character is revealed. The roofline flows from front to rear in the manner of a “4-door coupe,” suggesting that this vehicle isn’t just meant for straight highways, but to also be enjoyed on twisty roads. The sporty 21-inch aluminum wheels with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) rims, add an extra dose of flair to what is already a dynamically styled machine. The spacious interior of the LF-FC has been designed to wrap its occupants in a comfortable yet futuristic environment, while providing the driver with a highly-functional cockpit. The cabin has been designed in two sections, top and bottom. The top conveys a sense of openness, allowing the driver to concentrate on the road ahead without feeling constrained. When seen at eye level, the front seats seem to be floating. The rear seats have been designed for those who enjoy being driven, offering a reclining feature and plenty of head and knee space. High-quality aniline leather on the seats, doors and dashboard enhances the level of luxury of the interior. Highlighting the new technology inside the LF-FC is an advanced human machine interface that can be operated by simple hand gestures, without the need to touch a panel or controls. A small holographic image on the center console indicates where the system can interpret your hand gestures to control the audio system and ventilation. At the heart of the LF-FC is a high output fuel cell power system that energizes the rear wheels, and also sends power to two in-wheel motors in the front, making the LF-FC all-wheel-drive. This innovative drive system allows precise torque distribution control between the front and rear wheels, giving the full-size sedan exceptional dynamic handling and superior road stability. The strategic placement of the fuel-cell stack at the rear of the vehicle, power control unit at the front and T-formation configured hydrogen fuel tanks result in front and rear weight distribution optimal for a sporty sedan. Using automated driving technologies, with elevated traffic environment recognition, prediction, and judgment function, the LF-FC provides a safe and efficient driving experience for its occupants and supports the vision of a world without traffic accidents.

Late next year, Subaru will be introducing a new Impreza as a 2017 model. Now details about the new model are still limited, but we have some clues as to what it might look like thanks to the Impreza concept revealed the Tokyo Motor Show. Subaru says the Impreza concept not only gives a preview into what the next-generation model will look like, but also "Subaru's future models as a whole." To our eyes, it looks like Subaru is taking the current design language and adding a bit more sculpting. That said, we are a bit concerned that the production model will somehow not look anywhere near the concept. Case in point was the WRX concept from a couple of years back. We'll have to wait and see if Subaru breaks this trend or continues it. Source: Subaru Press Release is on Page 2 Subaru “Impreza 5-Door Concept” Makes World Debut at Tokyo Motor Show 2015 Tokyo, October 28, 2015 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today unveiled the “Impreza 5-Door Concept” at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015. The Impreza 5-Door Concept is a design concept car previewing the next-generation Impreza which is to be the first one of Subaru’s next-generation strategic vehicles envisioned in FHI’s Mid-Term Management Vision “Prominence 2020″ announced in May 2014. While positioned as an entry model in the Subaru lineup, its compact body features a blend of bold expressions of Subaru’s Dynamic & Solid design elements and a quality feel beyond its class – hinting at the design direction not only of the new Impreza but of Subaru’s future models as a whole. Main Features of Impreza 5-Door Concept The front, sides, and rear are seamlessly joined in the Dynamic & Solid surface structure, creating a three-dimensional and solid body that is a feature of Subaru styling. The dynamism is enhanced by well-placed character lines on the 5-door style compact body shape. The design expression of “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind”, the value that Subaru provides to its customers, is fully pursued within the limits of the C-segment body size. In the area of functionality essential to a Subaru car, excellent aerodynamic performance is achieved while blending this functionality into the styling. The sense of quality is raised by the choice of high-luminance silver, having the genuine luster of metal, as exterior color. FrontThe Subaru look is seen in the Wide & Low stance with its sporty impression, and in the unified three-dimensional structure extending from the hexagonal grille that symbolizes the Subaru identity to the hawk-eye headlights. The front face plays the role of starting point from which the front flows via the sides to the rear, with each part uniting into a solid form. Sides The rich inflection of the character line extending from the front fender to the door panels and rear shoulder, and the line rising energetically toward the rear from the lower door panel, give dynamism to the solid body surface. The powerfully extended fender flares express the reliability of Subaru All-Wheel Drive. RearThe rear combination lights sharing the same motif as the headlights, as well as the powerful shoulders over the rear fenders thrusting all the way toward the rear combination lights, express a Wide & Low stance similar to the front. The tightened cabin silhouette enhances the sporty impression of the nimble 5-door style. Main Specifications Body size (overall length × width × height): 4,400 × 1,880 × 1,440 mmWheelbase: 2,670 mm Tire size: 235/40 R19Seating capacity: 5 persons