Lexus, as we’ve previously touched upon, will be showcasing a new concept vehicle at the upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show.
This new show floor special, called the UX, is a sleek and quite angularly unique crossover with some distinctive coupe-like aesthetic leanings that was hinted at having a futuristic interior that would set the template for Lexus’ production cars to come.
The brand’s initial teaser didn’t, however, back that assertion up with visual proof, electing instead to only supply the world with a rear exterior shot. Now, though, we do have that peek into their revolutionary interior concept.
It’s rather standard fare for the typical ‘car of the future’, but dig a bit deeper and you’ll find that despite its strange but forward-thinking look, there is a lot there that can be feasibly transition into a mass produced car.
Lexus is keen on emphasising the HMI aspect of the cabin, an acronym that stands for Human Machine Interface. The concept uses 5 displays to display information which results in a near void of buttons. They're actually meant to display items in 3D - sort of a holographic effect - for all the good that might do.
“Our brief was to create a new genre of compact crossover; a vehicle that could create something unique from a customer’s point of view—an innovative, three-dimensional, fully immersive user experience,” said Stephan Rasmussen, designer at Lexus’ European Design Centre.
The holographic interface model does have some serious real-world flaws, and few people would actually welcome an all-new interaction model unless it’s a clear step forward. Right now, that is the only element that we’re not quite sure about.
Everything else, though, from the streamlined, almost organic shapes that flow together to integrate the dash and digital displays, to the panoramic wraparound windscreen, futuristic steering wheel, and stylish contours - they all point to a very interesting destination for Lexus cabin experience.
The previous car from Lexus to combine many ‘concept like’ features was the LFA supercar, and it’s design and layout trickled to nearly every model in the Japanese carmaker’s portfolio. The UX Concept has the potential to be equally (if internally) disruptive.
For more on Lexus vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
