We pray we never see it on our shores.
Japanese marque Lexus has decided that, to complete its range of luxurious and bold saloons & SUVs, they needed a bus. For reasons known only to themselves, they went into the Toyota model range and picked out the Toyota Alphard as a donor car (which is already a very luxurious proposition), and proceeded to go mental with the styling inside and out.
The result of their efforts is the new Lexus LM, which offers businesspeople and condom-detractors a posh new way to transport either far too many people, or far too few. We say this because this van is available as a 7-seater (in a 2+2+3 configuration) or as a 4-seater, with palatial accommodation in the rear.
Since the photos provided by Lexus focus on the 4-seater, we will too. The rear seats sit sort of between where the third- and fourth-row seats would be, and so there’s a ton of legroom and seat adjustment. The seats can recline to a surprising degree, complemented by ‘deployable’ calf rests, resulting in a proper business-class experience in the back of the van. They also feature ventilation, heating, and massaging for maximum comfort and “couch-like comfort.”
A screen sits between the two rear seats and provides control to the audio system, the 26-inch television (more on that later), the seats, and the climate control. There’s a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system here, as well as a 14L fridge that can fit two bottles of champagne or wine. In the 4-seater, the partition between the front and rear seats feature a large screen that supports BluRay playback, as well as connection to smartphones and tablets.
Motivation for the LM comes as either an atmospheric 3.5-litre V6 or a hybridised 2.5-litre four-cylinder, with power going to either the front wheels or to all four. The hybrid model will make use of a CVT automatic while the V6 gets a proper 8-speed automatic.
The Lexus LM will be available in China and “select Asian markets” only, so don’t get your hopes up if you want one of these things in Australia. Good riddance we say, because if you want seating for four you’re spoilt with a huge variety of limousines, and if you need seating for 6, you could at least retain a shred of dignity in a large SUV.
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