This is the first time Lexus has brought an MPV to India; was previously shown at Auto Expo in first-gen guise.
Lexus has debut the second-generation LM MPV in India which is essentially a sister model to the Toyota Vellfire. The company has also commenced bookings from today, and when it goes on sale in the coming months, it will be Lexus’ flagship offering in India. This is the first time Lexus has brought the LM – where LM stands for Luxury Mover – to India as in its first-generation guise, it was exclusive to just the Chinese market.
- Lexus LM is available in 4- and 7-seater layouts
- Is powered by a petrol-hybrid powertrain
- Bookings open at Lexus Experience Centres and Meraki showrooms
New Lexus LM: platform and styling
The second-gen Lexus LM is based on Toyota’s GA-K modular platform which it shares with the Toyota Vellfire, and several other models in the Toyota-Lexus range. Up front, it gets the latest iteration of Lexus’ oversized grille, sleek LED headlamps and very stylish horizontal housings for the fog lamps finished in satin silver. In profile, there’s a large glasshouse with a subtle kink at the B-pillar, and small creases throughout the length help reduce the slab-sided look. As opposed to the front, the rear has a rather minimal look with a curved LED light bar being the only highlight.
Talking of dimensions, it measures 5,130mm in length, 1,890mm in width and 1,945mm in height. It comes with sliding doors on each side and sits on a set of 17-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels.
New Lexus LM MPV: more luxurious than Vellfire
Lexus will be offered the LM in both 4- and 7-seater configuration in India. In its 4-seater configuration, the new LM gets a prominent partition between the driver and passenger area, and features airline-style recliner seats, a 48-inch widescreen TV, a premium, 23-speaker surround-sound audio system and pillow-style headrests.
Passengers also get fold-out tables, several USB ports, wireless phone chargers, reading lights and vanity mirrors, a fridge, rear gloveboxes and an umbrella holder. Lexus also offers a dimmable glass panel that can be raised or lowered for privacy.
The new LM also gets a new voice control system that Lexus says is the first in the world to cater specifically to rear passengers, while an overhead console controls the doors, storage compartments and cabin temperature. Rear passengers also get a separate smartphone-style control panel to adjust the climate, seat functions, interior lighting, window blinds and audio settings.
Sound deadening and insulation has been key for Lexus with the second-gen LM as it gets a specially designed headliner. The MPV also gets noise-reducing wheels and tyres, and active noise control that cuts sounds detected through a microphone while driving. Drivers benefit from a digital rear-view mirror, a panoramic-view monitor, a digital infotainment system and digital dials.
New Lexus LM MPV: powertrain
Internationally, the LM (350h) is powered by a 2.5-litre, inline, four-cylinder self-charging hybrid electric powertrain that’s coupled with an electric all-wheel drive system. The powertrain has maximum combined output of 250hp and 239Nm of peak torque. There will also be a more powerful LM500h that will join the global line-up at a later stage. It will come powered by a 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder turbo hybrid powertrain. Although Lexus hasn’t specified which powertrain the LM will be get in India, it will likely be 350h version which is the same as the Vellfire.
In the luxury MPV segment, the upcoming Lexus LM and the Toyota Vellfire are the only two models sitting in a niche of their own. For reference, the Vellfire is priced between Rs 1.20 crore – Rs 1.30 crore (ex-showroom), so expect the LM to be priced more than that.
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