Lexus unveils LF-1 Limitless concept at Detroit motor show. Trust Me, You Have Not Seen Anything Like It.

Japanese maker hints at swoopy, coupe-shaped SUV to take on BMW’s X6 and Mercedes’ GLE coupe.

Lexus has flagged it will follow BMW and Mercedes-Benz into the coupe SUV market by unveiling the LF-1 Limitless concept in Detroit.

The brand has dubbed the concept a “flagship crossover”, which suggests it will line up against BMW’s X6 and Mercedes’ GLE coupe at the top of the Lexus SUV range.

The concept also flags a retreat from the heavily sculpted styling of previous Lexuses, although the huge “spindle” grille is maintained.

Details are scant, with Lexus saying the LF-1 concept “could be powered by fuel cells, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, petrol or even all-electric”.

Any near-term production model in Australia is likely to be offered as a hybrid or petrol model though.

Lexus International president Yoshihiro Sawa says the concept was created at Lexus’s styling studio in California and fuses the organic shapes of molten metal with the sharp edges of a sword.

“This new crossover concept captures a future that involves a high level of dynamic capability and utility matched by a more exciting, emotional design that we hope challenges expectations in the category,” he says

The rear-drive crossover has a huge expanse of glass that runs almost the entire length of the

car, while many of the knobs and buttons have been replaced by motion-activated controls and a minimalist dash.

In the back there are two bucket seats and individual display screens for adjusting the climate control or entertainment functions.

The interior highlights are the same colour as the exterior but with a satin finish, while the ambient lighting puts on a show when the owner unlocks the car. There are tiny perforations in the wooden door trims that allow miniature LEDs to light the cabin.

There is a nod to a possible autonomous driving future with a Chauffeur mode allowing hands-free driving, while the steering, braking, acceleration, lights and signals are all drive-by-wire.

A concierge function is included in the satnav to “anticipate the needs of the driver and passengers “based on the progress, traffic and road conditions” of the trip.

It will gather information from the trip to suggest possible fuel stops and rest breaks, even booking restaurants and making hotel reservations.

Route information can be displayed on the rear-seat entertainment screens so the kids know exactly when they are going to get there, or they can be uploaded to smartphones and tablets in the car.

There’s now word on timings for a production model, but it would appear highly likely that the model will slot in between the RX and the LandCruiser-based LX some time in the near future.