2021 IS Wax Edition Gets a Record Player in the Glove Box

Wax Edition

Lexus recently partnered up with Grammy-winning musicians Madlib and Kaytranada to create a one-off Lexus IS Wax Edition. The special project was undertaken in collaboration with Pitchfork and SCPS. And the final result is a custom-painted Lexus IS with a vinyl record player in the glove box, connected, of course, to the 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system in the vehicle.

Record Players in Cars

Nowadays, music and high-quality sound systems are synonymous with automobiles and driving. We don't often think about a time when blasting your favorite tunes while commuting to work wasn't a possibility. The earliest attempts at incorporating music players into vehicles were made back in 1956 when Chrysler introduced its own in-car record player.

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A Throwback

It was a nice idea, but not very successful in practice. It was a relatively expensive option, and it required special vinyl records. It wasn't met with a whole lot of demand, so the technology was retired shortly thereafter until cassette players became a thing. Lexus decided to turn back the clock with this fun project and give some shine to the high-quality sound of the Mark Levinson system.

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Creating a Unique Project

The work began on a silver Lexus IS by refinishing the exterior in matte black. The folks at SCPS, who work with Hollywood studios to build items and props, were also given the task of fabricating the turntable for the record player. As is shown in the video documenting the project, SCPS engineered a record player that doesn't skip, even while the car is in motion.

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Challenge Worth Pursuing

The system uses 3D-printed parts as well as carbon fiber and aluminum elements. It uses rotating motor to help stabilize the turntable and counterbalance any jolts to the player that could be caused by sudden movements of the vehicle. "Creating an in-car turntable that works flawlessly with the vehicle in motion was a challenge worth pursuing," Lexus remarked in a press release.

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Brand Exercise

Teaming up with Pitchfork, a music review website, Lexus produced a two-part video series that chronicles the project. The unique project also serves as a brand exercise for Lexus, helping to establish it as more of a lifestyle than just an automotive manufacturer. It's something the company has put a lot of emphasis on over the past several years and continues to do so with projects such as this.

>>Join the conversation about the IS Wax Edition right here in Club Lexus.

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