Daily Slideshow: The Amazing Evolution of Lexus' Spindle Grille
Designing and constructing a car grille might not seem like that big a deal. But when it comes to Lexus, it's an incredibly complicated and fascinating process!
Perfecting Evolution
It's pretty safe to say that throughout the course of automotive history, perhaps no other grille has proven more controversial (or at the least, conversation evoking) than Lexus' spindle grille. And after years of subtle changes, we can probably all agree that its latest iteration, on the all-new 2018 LS, is its finest to date. But like everything else that Lexus does, constructing these grilles isn't a simple or easy process. In fact, it's a pretty interesting and complicated one!
From Concept to Reality
Like every other component on every Lexus vehicle, each spindle grille is built by master craftspeople. And it was those folks, on the front lines, who helped realize Lexus designer's vision of having a single piece of interlocking L-shaped pieces making up the entire grille. The process of creating this new, complex design took months of work to turn into reality.
Fine Tuning
Like every design, the idea for the new Lexus spindle grille started with a designer's pen and paper. From there it was rendered with computer software. All of which is pretty standard stuff in the automotive world. But it took nothing less than final approval from Yasuhiro Nakashima himself and a little personal fine tuning before the final mold took shape. And exactly how Nakashima used his highly skilled hands to do this is pretty fascinating.
Machine Beating Accuracy
Using a set of hand-made bamboo tools, Nakashima tweaks the design of the initial mold. According to Lexus, the master craftsman is even more accurate than a computer-driven mill, as he's able to make changes to the grille all the way down to 0.1 millimeters. After perfecting the design, Nakashima polishes every inch of the spindle grille to make it shine even brighter.
A Million Stories to Tell
Most automotive manufacturers would obviously be pleased with variances slightly greater than 0.1 millimeters. But the fact that Lexus put so much effort into something seemingly so mundane speaks to the level of detail they put into every facet of cars like the LS. And they do so in a car priced well below its competitors, which is truly unique. Plus, when you buy one, you've got loads of interesting stories to tell about how much work went into such basic, oft-overlooked components!
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