Lexus Prepares To Take Charge Of Segment With Swoopy 2018 LS Flagship

The correct concept is the LF-FC. Lexus has the LF-FC listed as on of their future vehicles. This prototype looks shaped very faithfully to the concept just as the LF-LC was translated faithfully into the LC. If Lexus does that, BMW and Audi could be vulnerable as the 7 Series and the A8 are not compelling reasons not to buy an S Class. If the zoomy styling of the LF-FC hit production, Lexus could have a game changer on its hands.

Agree completely. Even though I'm not a fan of any Japanese cars, this could really shake up the segment. Clearly Cadillac SHOULD have done the Ciel and El Miraj. If this LS is what it appears to be it will seriously stand out.

GM is ridiculous. They did the Avenir which should have been the new Lacrosse, but what they pooped out is the new Lacrosse that is totally devoid of any styling direction. They showed the Elmiraj and instead of building the Elmiraj and calling it that, we get the all-new CT6 that looks like and is named like the CTS. Hell, if they had called the CT6 Elmiraj instead people might still be talking about it.

Lexus is about to show Cadillac how it's done.

Sorry Matt - but Lexus is still a second tier premium - it does not actually compete with BMW and Mercedes around the world - it actually competes with Volvo, Audi, and Buick largely here in the USA. It would be swatted like a fly by the S-class IF it were actual competition anyway. ANd it is clear that Lexus - with its continued Cow-Catcher front styling - is actually competing with the AMC Pacer and the Pontiac Aztek(as far as showing GM how its done!) as the best selling UGLY car - because the old folks who buy Lexus can't actually see the car they drive!.

Cadillac has a real reason why it is so bad - it even has a name - DeNysschen. Lexus has no such excuse. Having had the CT6 for several months now - though - I can say that at the price it is offered - it is and easy choice over the current Lexus LS - far more room inside for less money. It rides and handles much better too. One problem is that the CT6 has the new naming convention but that makes it appear to compete with the CTS - which it does not. Cadillac needs to change ALL of the names so that this does not happen.

Sorry TomM, the world has changed since 1950.

Well, I, for one, appreciate Lexus for taking a balls-out approach when it comes to styling, whether it works for not.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will this resonate with buyers unlike Lexus' current lineup of sedans (the ES excepted)? Or, with its potentially compromised front headroom and front windscreen sightlines, will it find the same number of buyers as the CLS, 6 Gran Coupe, and A7? Even the Tesla Model S' front windscreen isn't as drastic as this. Personally, I feel claustrophobic just looking at the approx. 7 inches of viewable windshield in front of the driver. The same holds true for the LC500, which is even more drastic.

Lexus seems to have laid the windshields of the RX and NX at a more extreme angle than other crossovers and it hasn't hurt sales. But those are crossovers that now have the sightlines of a traditional sedan, which isn't jeopardizing.

It looks like a 1999 Dodge Intrepid, not a luxury car.

Lexus has been staying true to their concepts in their latest models. Lets hope they do the same for the LS replacement.

This is going to be an awesome car. It has to be.