Angel Sergeev is a seasoned automotive journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the automotive industry. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, he began his writing career in 2010 while pursuing a degree in Transportation Engineering.
His early work included contributions to the local edition of F1 Racing magazine (now GP Racing magazine) and roles at various automotive websites and magazines.
In 2013, Angel joined Motor1.com (formerly WorldCarFans), where he dedicated over a decade to delivering daily news and feature articles. His expertise spans a wide range of topics, including electric vehicles, classic cars, and industry topics. Angel’s commitment to automotive journalism is further demonstrated by his membership in the Bulgarian Car of the Year jury since 2013.
Lexus just pulled the wraps off the LS Coupe Concept at the Japan Mobility Show, and guess what – it’s not a coupe at all. It looks like an SUV, wears a coupe name, and throws in party tricks you don’t see on showroom floors. Think rear-hinged rear doors, a slide-out cargo deck, and a cabin that screams future flagship. The message is loud: the LS badge is shifting from one sedan to a whole range of high-style machines, which might even include a weird-looking minivan.
The body sits high and sleek with a fast roofline, but instead of a liftgate, the rear opens like a trunk. A panel drops down, then the cargo floor glides outward to meet you. It’s a neat, show-stand flex that hints at Lexus thinking beyond the usual SUV playbook. Those back doors? They’re rear-hinged, so the opening is wide and dramatic – think super-premium family hauler vibes without the family-car stigma.
Powertrain details don’t exist yet, but the clues are obvious. The floor is flat, the proportions are EV-friendly, and the whole design leans electric. Lexus isn’t naming motors or batteries, but the brand’s own show materials frame the LS Coupe as part of its “Discover” vision – mixing LS-grade comfort with LC-like attitude and SUV practicality, a three-way blend aimed at drivers who want it all. Expect four seats, an elevated seating position, and the kind of quiet, instant shove EV fans love.
The interior goes full concept-car theater. Up front sits a twin-layer instrument stack with wide screens and a yoke where a wheel used to be. The driver’s chair pops in a contrasting blue tone, while the other seats keep it light and creamy. In the back, two individual thrones face giant vertical touch displays. Bamboo accents and a glass roof push the zen lounge feel, but there’s also a quirky detail: almost no physical buttons. Lexus clearly wants software to run the show.
Design nerds will catch the lighting signatures pulled tight at both ends and a vertical third brake light split by small fans – another “why not?” moment that sets the mood. The exterior linework mirrors some of the edgy surfacing shown on the other LS concepts, and that’s the bigger story here: Lexus is building a universe around this badge. Alongside the Coupe, the brand rolled out the six-wheel LS minivan (yes, six) and an LS Micro runabout, all under a “Discover” umbrella that stretches the flagship beyond a single body style.
Why should you even care? Because this tells you where Lexus wants to play. The LC coupe proved the brand can do soul and sound, not just silence and softness. If the LS Coupe makes the jump to production – even in toned-down form – it could become the long-legged GT Lexus never quite had in SUV territory: big torque, grand-tour range, four-seat comfort, and a stance that still turns heads at valet. The trunk-deck gimmick may change, but the intent is clear – make practicality look cool.
The traditional LS sedan is on borrowed time. Lexus has signaled the end is near after special-edition send-offs, and the six-wheel van concept didn’t show up by accident. Company leaders have said they’re serious about exploring that direction. Put it together and the LS line looks ready to morph from “Luxury Sedan” into “Luxury Something” – coupe-ish SUV, mega-van, and more. That’s a big pivot for a nameplate born in 1989.
Source: Lexus
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