Lexus Teases Wild Six-Wheeled MPV Concept As LS Successor

The Lexus LS nameplate is set to see itself reinvented as a six-wheeled MPV. A new concept previewing this radical shift will bow during the Japan Mobility Show (Tokyo Motor Show) this month.

Japanese automaking giants Toyota is gearing up for this year’s Japan Mobility Show (Tokyo Motor Show) that takes place end of this month with a trio of ‘radical’ and ‘wild’ concepts. Besides the Toyota Century Concept Coupe and new Toyota Corolla Concept comes this six-wheeled MPV concept for its Lexus luxury brand.

This concept is dividing opinions worldwide not so much for its six-wheeled layout, but for from the fact that the L-marque is poised to reinvent its LS flagship with this new luxo-MPV form. As a refresher, the marque’s LS nameplate has long stood in sedan or saloon form over five generations.

Latest 2026MY refresh of the fifth-gen Lexus LS for Japan released just recently.

The latest of which bowed in 2017 and just recently underwent a second mild refresh. We’ll also stress that the Lexus brand’s beginnings lies in the first-gen LS, which arrived as a more accessibly-priced challenger against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series flagships.

Back to this wild concept which was revealed via a promotional livestream, company chairman Akio Toyoda reportedly expressed that the LS’s original billing as a ‘Luxury Sedan’ was no longer as relevant and that the designation would now stand for “Luxury Space” instead.

Toyoda went as far as stressing that MPVs are “the new luxury shape of the future”, even noting that more interior space is the top demand of buyers of premium cars, thus “new packaging is needed”.

Toyota and Lexus execs even detailed a rudimentary interior design showing the Concept LS boasting a cabin with six-seats across three rows with ample legroom for second- and third-row passengers. 

Additionally, a rudimentary interior design buck shown in the same stream reveals the LS Concept will have a cabin housing six seats across three rows boasting ample leg room for second and third row passengers.

From which, we can also see that passengers seated in rearmost seats will be positioned over the four rear wheels. Though this may appear to be a relatively simple concept, it has an enormous effect overall.

Both Toyota and Lexus execs highlights that the six-wheeled configuration brings plenty of space-saving benefits thanks to the adoption of smaller wheel diameters.

Both Toyota and Lexus execs speaking in this stream reportedly argued that the six-wheeled configuration frees up more space at the rear thanks to smaller wheel diameters versus traditional pair of wheels.

From which, they also added that the arches do not intrude too far into the interior, and in turn allows the floor to remain at the same height as the second row. “The actual tyre will be smaller and the space inside will be larger,” one exec was quoted.

Chairman Toyoda did admit there will be several huge challenges and the uncertainty if the L-marque can execute this, though a concept prototype will materialise at least.

Despite much of the benefits and merits, chairman Toyoda did also acknowledged that this six-wheeled layout does pose several “huge” challenges for L-marque to negotiate.

“There are certain expectations that people have for the Lexus brand – things like quietness and ride comfort,” said Toyoda before further adding “we don’t know if we can do this yet”.

Notably, the new LS Concept will preview a new design direction for the Lexus brand where it will drop its signature 'Spindle Grille' design as ordered by Chairman Toyoda.

Critically, the LS Concept will stand also stand as a preview showcase of the Lexus brand’s future design language. Chairman Toyoda even said he had pitched to the brand to drop its signature ‘spindle grille’ design, citing that there’s “no longer any room for development” of it.

Instead, Toyoda said signature will be “assimilated to the entire body.” How this will pan out will be interesting, so rest assured this will be one concept worth following up on when the Japan Mobility Show 2025 Press Day opens on 29 and 30 Oct 2025.