Lexus UX Concept hints at future crossover design [News]

Lexus UX Concept

Lexus is looking to create a unique user experience with its UX concept compact crossover car that it’s touting as designed from the “inside out.”

Lexus unveiled the new crossover during the Paris Auto Show recently, giving viewers a first glimpse at the new vehicle, which was designed by ED2, Lexus’ design center in the South of France.

“The ‘inside-out’ concept came from a lot of discussions within the team,” said Alexandre Gommier, interior designer at ED2, in a news release. “We wanted to show the human-centric aspect of the concept in a visually as well as philosophically strong way. A strong symbiosis between the exterior and interior was felt to be important by all the designers involved. To create the anticipation from the exterior, which could then have a visual link and expand into the interior, was a key goal.”

Lexus UX Concept

Some of the user experience features that Lexus said it’s added includes cockpit ergonomics, its new kinetic seat concept and 3-D human-machine interface technology.

“Our brief was to create a new genre of compact crossover; a vehicle that could progress the user experience and create something unique from a customer’s point of view,” said Stephan Rasmussen, exterior designer with ED2, in a news release. “Inspiration came from many sources, but the main source of inspiration comes from the key phrases representing the character of the car: ‘robust yet agile’ and ‘inside-out styling concept’. This comes from one of the Lexus fundamentals, the ‘Yet’ philosophy. We were looking for inspiration representing the synergy of contrasting values, in architecture, fashion design or nature, with a view to fusing lightness, structural, artistic and emotional values.”

Lexus indicated that the new vehicle is a new version of the four-seater crossover that contrasts the look of an off-road four-by-four with a low ground clearance with a coupe-like driving position.

The vehicle also is being touted by Lexus as looking more futuristic with the “inside-out” design features. One of the designs features the Japanese automaker points out is with the top view of the vehicle, which has an X-shaped movement in the architecture from the cabin outward. Lexus also called out other features including the fenders, wheel arches, roof bars, grille, door cameras and see-through A pillars.

Lexus also said the inside reflects the new “inside-out” styling with the way the cabin is designed to optimize user experience. For example, the front and rear passenger will have a different experience with Lexus designing the backseat area brighter.

Lexus UX Concept

The new crossover will be targeted to two groups of consumers, Lexus indicated: younger buyers who are looking for a higher end crossover that’s stylish and offers and “engaging driving experience,” and higher end consumers looking for a quality vehicle that offers a lot of amenities.

Check out this TFLcar video of one of Lexus’ current crossovers, the NX300h, taking on the Infiniti QX30: