The ongoing Tokyo motor show saw the unveil of the Lexus LS+ concept, which features a bevy of new autonomous tech that will make its way to a flagship sedan in 2020.
The advanced autonomous tech, called Highway Teammate, will realise when the car leaves or joins a highway in the US and Japan, while offering automatic lane-keeping, merging and overtaking, automatically keeping a safe distance from other vehicles and using information from other cars to pre-warn the driver of any potential problems on the road.
While some the tech may seem similar to that offered by other carmakers, Lexus president Yoshihiro Sawa said that the technology would break new ground, adding: “This will allow Lexus to deliver cars that can be driven even more safely and comfortably.”
He also claimed that the technology will only offer suggestions and that the driver will take always take the final call on what to do in any situation. Sawa described the Highway Teammate system as a step towards the manufacturer’s aim of achieving Level 4 autonomous driving on all types of roads, including being used in urban areas by the early 2020s.
The concept showcased at Tokyo also possess a new data system that allows Lexus to send over-the-air updates for the model, similar to Tesla’s tech. The system also transmits live data from the roads to the car so that the AI tech can predict road conditions.
The design of the LS+’s spindle grille is different and includes an active aero system that closes the gaps in the grille to improve aerodynamics and optimise engine cooling. The laser-lit headlights, first seen on the Audi R8 and BMW i8 also feature on the concept.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
