Lexus Has Reimagined Its First-Ever Sedan in the Most Unexpected Way (It’s Not a Crossover)

Just a few weeks after Toyota announced the final expression of the Lexus LS, the automaker drops a new concept that takes the nameplate in a completely different direction.

Rear view of a silver Lexus LS 500 showing the taillight and model badge.

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By Gray Van Dyke

Published October 13, 2025

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Toyota recently announced that it would be giving its longest-running Lexus model (the LS) a final sendoff for 2026 in the form of the LS 500 Heritage Edition.

Limited to just 250 examples in total and equipped with refined upgrades inside and out, it made for a classy tribute to a sedan that introduced the brand to the world for the first time some 36 years ago.

Silver Lexus sedan driving on a tree-lined street with motion blur in the background, highlighting the car's sleek design and black front grille. — The Lexus LS sedan will be axed after the 2026 model year.

Interestingly, however, it seems that Toyota doesn’t intend to let its former flagship rest for long. The Japanese automaker has already unveiled a new Lexus concept bearing the LS nameplate, although it’s quite the departure from the vehicle that we know today.

A six-wheeled chaffeur

Last week, a new Fuji Speedway billboard, along with some overt hints on X, suggested that Toyota would finally unveil its flagship sports car as part of today’s livestream event.

Dark futuristic van with illuminated wheels and headlights in a low-light setting. — The future of personal luxury looks like something out of *Blade Runner* or *Cyberpunk*.

While that reveal is now expected for January, the Japanese automaker didn’t disappoint. In addition to a preview that is expected to be the next Corolla, Toyota also dropped the wild, six-wheeled Lexus LS minivan you see before you.

Now, being a concept vehicle, this LS can obviously afford to take some liberties that a production car cannot (i.e., its six wheels). However, this isn’t just a design exercise — according to a report by CarScoops, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has expressed that it’s being explored in earnest and that such a six-wheeled vehicle could eventually make it to the market.

While that day may be a little ways off, the concept nevertheless serves as a means to redefine the LS nameplate. Though one would have understandably assumed that the ‘S’ in the moniker would signify ‘Sedan,’ it turns out that it actually means ‘Space.’ At least — that’s what it will mean in the context of the new concept.

In other words, Toyota views the LS as more of an idea than a particular vehicle style, and this iteration is what the brand feels represents personal luxury going forward. As such, beyond boasting an unconventional six-wheeled layout, it’d also be an EV.

White modern minivan with tinted windows and sunroof parked on concrete near a black building. — The Lexus LM proves that there is a market for luxurious minivans, even if it isn’t in the United States.

Lexus already has a van like it

As unlikely as it seems that Toyota would launch a six-wheeled luxury minivan under its Lexus banner, there is precedent for this kind of concept — and it’s already in production.

Interior view of a vehicle with black leather seats and a wide digital screen displaying a snowy mountain landscape. — The rear of the Lexus LM is a nice place to be — especially with that 48-inch widescreen display.

It’s called the LM, and Lexus currently sells the ultra-refined people mover in Japan and Europe as a sort of private jet on wheels for well-heeled big wigs and important execs.

In the vehicle’s four-seat configuration, it features a partition separating the front and rear, a 48-inch widescreen display, as well as creature comforts like a mini fridge and adjustable window blinds. As part of its luxury accommodations, it even provides passengers with independent seating featuring heated armrests and a heated ottoman, both of which are automatically adjusted through the cabin’s climate-control IR Matrix Sensor.

Two black leather Lexus rear seats with armrests and control buttons inside a vehicle. — Individual seats allow for heated armrests and ottomans.

While the LM’s various hybrid powertrains offer adequate stopgaps for the time being, Toyota will undoubtedly want to update the vehicle as it continues to divert resources to expanding its electrification efforts. For this reason, a concept like the LS could make for a natural next step (even if the six-wheeled design may still be a few generations away).

White Lexus LM 500h minivan driving on a road with modern buildings in the background. — In its four-seater configuration, the LM is basically a private jet on wheels.

Full reveal to come

For now, Toyota has only shared the one image and teaser video of its Lexus LS van concept. However, the automaker will be making a full reveal at the Japan Mobility Show in the coming weeks. If you’d like to learn more in the meantime, you can check out the dedicated Toyota and Lexus websites.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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