Hold the phone: Lexus is “serious” about making a six-wheeled minivan

“There are things people expect from Lexus,” said chairman and former Toyota big boss Akio Toyoda, “like quietness, a comfortable ride, and the ability to ride on any road.

“Only after achieving these things can a six-wheeled vehicle be completed. Everyone is serious about this, so I’m sure they will make it a reality,” he added.

[Record scratch] Wait, what now? Is that Lexus saying it’s ‘serious’ about making a six-wheeled minivan? It certainly fits the new narrative, because Big Things have happened at the world’s biggest car company.

Century – that brilliant saloon – has now been spun off as its very own luxury brand that sits at the top of the Toyota tree, casting Lexus aside and allowing it a little more freedom to do “challenging” things. Which is why Toyoda-san proposed this new LS concept.

He imagined it as “not a sedan, not an SUV, but a new form of minivan with premium three-row seats and a new form of luxury car for the future”. Also, and of paramount importance, he also made sure the car looked “cool when getting in and out”. This has long been an issue of the entire automotive industry, and we’re glad Toyoda-san is laser-focused on making it better.

“We decided to go back to the origins of the LS and think about what kind of car the future chauffeur-driven Lexus flagship should be, without being limited to a sedan,” he said.

TopGear.com humbly suggests the chauffeur of the future would very much like a six-wheeled Lexus minivan powered by, hmm, let’s see now, perhaps a 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V10? If only Lexus had some blueprints of such an engine lying around. Trust us, it's a thing people expect from Lexus...