The Lexus LM 350h is the latest bet from the Japanese brand, which can be said to arrive in the national market at a time when minivans have practically disappeared in the automotive sector.
However, Lexus knows that this is not a normal minivan, and that is what we could see at the national presentation of the new model of the Japanese brand that took place in Porto and showed that the LM is a luxury model that currently has no rivals in the national market.
At the base of this new bet from the Japanese brand is the GA-K platform that Lexus uses in models like the RX SUV or the NX, and in this case it is applied to a minivan with more than 5.1 meters in length, 1.89 m in width and 1.94 m in height, and a wheelbase of 3 meters, and it is equipped with a “full hybrid” engine that uses a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with four cylinders and Atkinson cycle with 190 hp and a torque of 239 Nm, which combines with two electric motors, one attached to the gasoline engine, with 182 hp and 270 Nm, and another installed on the rear axle with 54 hp of power and a maximum torque of 121 Nm that allows for four-wheel drive.
Thus, the combined maximum power is 250 hp, which allows for an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 190 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 7.1 – 7.4 liters per 100 km.
When opening the doors of the Lexus LM 350h, it is easy to see that we enter a world of luxury and great comfort, starting with the front seats, where the driver has access to an instrument panel, steering wheel, console, and central touch screen similar to what we find in the RX SUV, and therefore the driver can benefit from resources that help him stay fully informed, including a digital rearview mirror that shows unobstructed images from the rear, in real time. A digital panoramic view screen that uses cameras around the vehicle to provide a 360-degree view of the immediate surrounding area, or a panoramic view, to contribute to the accuracy of maneuvers in tight spaces.
However, this is a model that aims to provide supreme comfort for its passengers, and the large sliding electric doors that provide access to the rear seats transport us to a world of comfort and technology.
Designed for businesses, this luxurious Lexus minivan comes in two configurations, with 4 and 7 seats, the latter being the one we had the opportunity to get to know and travel inside, without driving. It features two seats in the middle where passengers travel in comfortable armchairs, reminiscent of executive class seats on an airplane, which can be fully reclined using a smartphone-like control located on the armrest and provides access to the main comfort functions.
In addition, these seats are equipped with heating for the head and armrests, as well as various types of massages. In both versions, the armrests at the ends of the seats have a foldable table that allows the use of a laptop during the trip.
There is plenty of space in this second row, which is separated from the front row by a divider, which in the case of the four-seat version, can be darkened, as well as the side windows. In addition, there is also a 48” screen for watching movies and has internet connection.
In the seven-seat version, the screen is much smaller, at 14″, and there is also a Mark Levinson 3D Surround sound system with 21 speakers, 24 in the case of the four-seat version, as well as a 64-color interior lighting system, with 14 pre-set options, blinds on the door and roof windows, which are electrically operated, and the possibility of choosing one of five specific environments, Relax, Dream, Focus, Energize and My Original, to better relax inside this luxury minivan.
The last row of seats easily accommodates three passengers, although two can travel more comfortably, as it is not equipped with the amenities of the middle seats. However, this third row of seats can be longitudinally moved and folded to the sides to allow for more space in the trunk, which has a capacity of 752 liters in the 4-seat version and 110 liters in the 7-seat variant.
For greater passenger comfort, Lexus has invested in an air conditioning system equipped with “nanoeX” technology, which, according to the brand, keeps the air quality clean and healthy inside the cabin, but also and mainly in the sound insulation of the cabin, as the aim of the Japanese brand is to create a first-class interior: comfortable like a living room, with all the convenience of a mobile office, where passengers can enjoy complete relaxation.
The onboard comfort is further enhanced by a new suspension, designed to make the driving experience more comfortable, and which benefits from an electronic interconnection system of the front and rear shock absorbers that allows, when the front ones overcome an obstacle, the rear ones to benefit from this information to provide greater comfort inside the Lexus minivan.
Aesthetically, the exterior design is marked by a bold front end that introduces a new Lexus identity with the “break” of the well-known spindle grille. The shape has been compressed to create a lower grille under a narrow opening below the front edge of the hood, connected to the headlights. The fluid lines of the LM are accentuated by darkened front and rear pillars, while the sense of spaciousness is achieved through the large glazed area all around. In profile, the forged alloy wheels of 17 or 19 inches stand out.
As for prices, Lexus has already announced that the LM 350 will be available starting from €143,850 for the 7-seater version, while the 4-seater variant, the most luxurious one, will have a price of €170,500, and the first deliveries are scheduled for the end of the year. Despite the price, the Japanese brand has already revealed that 600 units of the new luxury minivan have been ordered in Europe.
