Lexus LS Micro concept: "This is not a car"

Last Autumn, at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Lexus revealed a vision of future luxury mobility that was quite different than one might expect from Toyota’s luxury division.

Simon Humphries, chief branding officer and senior general manager of design and head of design, introduced the Lexus presentation like this: “From Toyota to Century. Each of our brands has a clear promise to our customers. With Century in the exclusive ultra- luxury space,

Lexus now has the freedom to strengthen its promise to customers at the heart of the luxury marketplace. And that promise is to DISCOVER.”

To illustrate the point, Lexus introduced an entire exhibit of concept vehicles (and one house and asocial hub for owners and vehicles) that pointed the way to a future where individual solutions to mobility complement and even help define a luxury lifestyle. On the stand were two coupes, one van-like personal limousine, a catamaran, A Joby flying “car”, and one vehicle with a design that garnered outsized attention despite its diminutive size.

That tiny vehicle was the Lexus LS Micro Concept, a single person autonomous vehicle that represents a last-mile (or last ten miles) solution to luxury travel.

Interior Motives reviewed the design of the LS Micro Concept with some members of the design team, who gave us insight into its design. Our first question, and one on minds of many who reviewed the LS Micro was, “Is this a car?”

Ian Cartabiano, president of Toyota’s Calty Design Research in California, answered, “This is not a car. And indeed, at the beginning of the brief, we decided that there should be no car-like styling, no automotive design cues. Traditional automotive references were pushed aside, because when you take the car and shrink it down, it becomes “cute”. When we put the automotive design aside, both the interior and exterior became architectural-focused. It’s all about architecture and in particular, urban architecture. It’s about fitting the most space and comfort in a vehicle, even in a tiny package. I wouldn’t call it a car, I would call it an “Experience Vehicle”. 

Even a casual review of the LS Micro interior brings to mind a business class “pod” on a long- haul airliner. The limited space, the seat, the amenities – was it an influence on the design of the LS Micro? Ben Chang, chief designer of interiors, Calty Design Research, noted, “Yes, we studied these seats and their use in a limited space, where all you have is the width of your shoulders and, your height. We would have to create a space in a very efficient package where you could to be relaxed. But the LS Micro is not about replicating the airline seat, but bringing that spirit into a more architectural space that speaks of modern Japanese architecture.”

Chang continued, “ We didn’t want to waste any space in the interior and made several mock-ups. The first mock-ups were smaller, but American and European team members asked for a bit more width. This additional width allowed for an option of a wheelchair in place of the seat, creating a luxury space for a disabled person.”

There was a concern about a claustrophobia in such a compact space, but Lexus’ design team worked to alleviate these concerns. The canopy is glass all around and overhead, allowing for views out and, very importantly in the city, up, where the view of the buildings and sky is so important. There is plenty of space ahead of you. Nothing is pressed against your face. An augmented reality screen is place at the windscreen, drawing the eye forward.

Also, the directional aspect of the bamboo cladding on the interior draws the eye beyond the seat, which itself is backed by a vertical-slat bamboo “waterfall”, again emphasising verticality and drawing the eye up and out to the view, especially when in a reclined position.

Ambient lighting and some directional lighting helps open up the space and, again, works with the bamboo to draw the eye deep into the space and also up and out into the view, expanding the feeling of space and comfort.

Stepping back to review the overall design, Sellene Lee, chief CMF designer at Calty Design Research, noted, “We envisioned the exterior as a jewellery box – even the way the canopy opens is reminiscent of a jewellery box. It was a way of celebrating this new mobility solution, as well as the LS concept. We wanted to make this vehicle a beautifully crafted piece of art on the road.

Cartabiano continued, “One of the principal keywords for the Lexus Micro concept was “industrial jewellery” and we wanted an exterior that reflected an urban context, an architectural statement that is hard but beautiful. We can’t overstate the influence modern Japanese architecture had on this concept. But for the interior, Simon wanted a warm and inviting space. The contrast of the reflective, sci-fi exterior and the warm interior is an amazing combination.”

Sellene Lee also gave Interior Motives insights into the interior that responded to Humphries’ brief.

“For the interior we focused on creating a more private and comforting environment aligned with the LS concept of “personal sanctuary”. With regards to CMF, the approach can be summed up with two keywords, “re-discovered bamboo” and “re-energised Takumi”

“With respect to bamboo, Lexus has been exploring the material possibilities of bamboo in diverse applications to see its versatility. We’ve employed bamboo in wood-like applications (bamboo is technically a grass), along with bamboo leather, bamboo composite plastics and bamboo textiles. Here in the LS Micro, we have used bamboo leather on the seat and side shelves, and bamboo in a wood strip application at the walls, the vertical “waterfall” behind the seat, and in the front storage pocket.”

Lee also outlined the second principal keyword: “re-energised Takumi”. Takumi refers to the Japanese notion of artisanship and craft. The “re-energised Takumi” on display here refers to the traditional Japanese art of cut glass, kiriko, which inspired the bespoke joystick, the vase, and the flask. Each represents a Japanese traditional craft brought into a modern luxury context. These elements are handblown, cut glass.

Chang also noted, “The joystick is not just a control device, it is something you can remove and take with you as a piece of jewellery- again, referencing the jewellery theme- something you can wear. It is all part of an overall control system that involves voice, and gestures, but is a piece of jewellery as well.”

The LS Micro concept fits into new class of mobility vehicles that is still emerging, and what they will be called is a matter still in question. To classify these vehicles important conversations need to be had about the nature of individual mobility and its place in the overall transportation picture. With its presentation at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Lexus has shown that it is ready to take bold and prominent place in the debate, even with its proposal for a tiny personal vehicle.

Returning to Simon Humphries, at his introduction in Tokyo, he sums up the Lexus approach to mobility and to the true luxury of tomorrow- even if it is found in a tiny, but elegant package:

“Space is freedom, and space is privacy. Two commodities that are simply priceless. In a frenetic world, what greater luxury is there than that?” 

 Factbox:

Vehicle: Lexus LS Micro Concept

Vehicle Type: Single Passenger Autonomous “Experience Vehicle”

Introduced: October 2025, Tokyo, Japan Mobility Show

Design Team:

Simon Humphries – chief branding officer, senior general manager of design, head of design & brand creation office

Ian Cartabiano - President, Calty Design Research, Inc.

Ben Chang - Chief designer (Interiors), Calty Design Research, Inc.

Sellene Lee - Chief designer (CMF), Calty Design Research, Inc.

Dimensions: Unavailable