Lexus, Toyota Look to Future With Fresh Concepts

Previewing the Future

In recent years, it's become increasingly clear that automakers are focused on a future that looks quite different from the present. One rife with vehicles powered by electricity and things like hydrogen, not gasoline. As part of their effort to preview this brave new future, Toyota brought out a host of existing and concept vehicles for an event they called the Kenshiki Forum 2020. And Tech Radar was there to capture the whole thing on film. 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

Pocket Rocket

The event took place in Amsterdam, inside of an old industrial building. But inside, things were quite vibrant. Toyota Gazoo Racing brought out its exciting new GR Yaris, a lightweight all-wheel-drive 250+ hp turbo pocket rocket. At the same time, Toyota announced that the new Yaris utilizes a new compact B-segment SUV based on its Global Architecture (GA-B) platform. 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Functional Prototype

Perhaps the star of the show, however, was the Lexus LF-30. We've seen this design study before, but it doesn't look any less stunning here. And interestingly enough, the Kenshiki Forum was the first time Lexus designer Ian Cartabiano saw the car actually move. Which proves that it isn't just some piece of non-functional eye candy. 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Futuristic Design

"I really feel passionate about this car," Cartabiano told Tech Radar. "Three words define this car from the very start: brave, artistic, futuristic. To create this car, we used a new design process internally. Of course, we still do hand sketching, but for this car we used VR sketching, we used 3D polygon modeling and we did a lot of rapid prototype printing, like sketches." 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Lovable Form

Cartabiano was also happy to discuss some of the more intricate details on the LF-30. "It's very sci-fi," he admitted. "That's the first time that we actually were able to get spokes into the tire sidewall, so it's not fake. It really goes into the tire and the tire treads themselves were designed by Goodyear to guide air into the in-wheel turbines. So they're actually functional. I really love looking down the front shoulder of this car at the surface rotating and moving and going under the wing element where there's an actual opening for air to pass through. I love this shape. I love this form." 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Freshly Restyled

The LF-30 was joined by a not-so-far-in-the-distant-future concept, the 2nd-gen hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai. The freshly restyled sedan boasts 30% more capacity than the outgoing model, along with a more solid base thanks to Toyota's new modular TNGA platform. 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Bright Future

Altogether, the 2020 Kenshiki Forum gave Toyota and Lexus fans a nice up-close look at both the near and distant future. And if you don't mind the idea of alternative power, that future most certainly looks bright and beautiful. 

Photos: Rob Clymo for Tech Radar

>>Join the conversation about these concepts right here in the ClubLexus forum.

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