Lexus Seriously Wants To Replace LS With This Absurd Six-Wheel Minivan

- The LS Concept is a new take on Lexus’ flagship with a minivan bodystyle.
- It features six wheels, a fully electric setup, and a spacious three-row interior.
- Akio Toyoda confirmed the team is serious about developing it for production.
Just a few weeks ago, Lexus declared the end of its long-serving LS sedan. Yet, as Mark Twain might have dryly noted, reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. The brand has revived the nameplate not with another stately four-door, but with something far stranger.
The long-running luxury sedan gives way to something altogether different, a six-wheeled electric minivan with three rows of seats and a distinctly experimental air. The once-conventional LS badge now fronts a concept that feels futuristic, if slightly absurd.
Six Wheels and a Statement
Yet that’s not even the wildest part. After all, it is a concept. What’s really unexpected is that the company plans to evolve it into a production vehicle, though plenty of development still lies ahead before that becomes reality.
The official teaser is titled “Discover” and signals a new era for Lexus. It shows the profile of the LS Concept, wearing a set of large front wheels and two smaller pairs at the rear.
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The concept adopts a single-box minivan silhouette with tiny overhangs and a generous wheelbase. Overall, it looks bigger than the LM, which is based on the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire.
Besides its unusual wheel arrangement, highlights include vertical LED headlights and taillights that stretch into the sides, along with an illuminated roof fin. A wide sliding door opens to reveal a roomy cabin with soft lighting and a six-seat, three-row configuration.
Not Just A Concept Car
While a six-wheeled minivan sounds too wild for production, Chairman Akio Toyoda insists this is more than a design exercise. In a message from two years ago, he challenged the team to reinvent the Lexus flagship:
“If you think of the LS as a BEV chauffeur car, wouldn’t it become a new pillar of Lexus, with a new package that no one has ever thought of? Lexus doesn’t copy anyone else, so that’s the motto, so please start thinking about it...The LM is an evolution of the Alphard, after all, but… Will it evolve further from the LM, or… a completely new form.“
From Luxury Sedan to Luxury Space
The LS nameplate was originally conceived as an acronym for “Luxury Sedan”, but Toyoda now translates it to “Luxury Space”, opening the door for a three-row BEV interpretation. The aim is to create a chauffeured experience that still feels airy and open, even with six occupants on board.
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When asked whether the concept will reach production, Toyoda initially hedged: “No, I’m not sure if they can do that yet.” Later, though, he added, “It is still a long way off but everyone is serious about it. So I’m sure it will definitely come true.”
The team’s current challenges involve achieving the trademark quietness and ride comfort expected from a Lexus, while also making the vehicle practical for the road. When asked if six wheels meant a 6WD system, Toyota’s head of design simply replied, “Maybe.”
Toyoda also wants the brand to “demolish the spindle grille for a while,” saying it has “no potential for development.” Designers are now exploring ways to “assimilate the spindle throughout the entire body” instead, signaling a new design philosophy for the marque.
The Lexus LS Concept will be fully unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. What remains uncertain is whether the team can turn it into a viable replacement for the aging LS sedan. The current LS is expected to end production next year, with Lexus confirming its departure from the US market.
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Yet even if Lexus manages to bring the six-wheeled concept to life, its real-world prospects will vary by region. Luxurious minivans have a strong foothold in Asian markets such as China and Japan, but North America is a different story altogether. There’s also the question of where this new concept leaves the LM, Lexus’ existing premium minivan, which already caters to a similar clientele.
Interestingly, the only other six-wheeled vehicle Toyota has built is the Lunar Cruiser which is designed to be driven on the moon. Toyoda himself once joked, “I’m starting to think that maybe I want to ride it on Earth.”