Ancient Japanese Techniques Inspire 2018 Lexus LS 500

There’s no literal translation for omotenashi… going above-and-beyond to please is the gist of it. And that’s the concept behind the 2018 Lexus LS 500. Another word, takumi, meaning artisan, is behind the luxury sedan’s interior, which incorporates several ancient Japanese techniques. Inspired by origami, a Kyoto fabric master hand-pleated the recycled polyester for the inner panels of the doors, and their handles are surrounded by cut glass. “We’re blending craftsmanship and technology to turn a manufactured product into a work of art,” Lexus chief designer Koichi Suga says. The elaborate detailing extends to the exterior, where the resin grille’s mesh pattern incorporates 7,000 individual surfaces.