As far as Toyota vehicles go, the Alphard is arguably one of the most luxurious offerings the brand has ever produced. It is so opulent, in fact, that many wonder why it doesn’t bear the Lexus badge. Well, wonder no more as Toyota’s luxury division now has its own luxury people mover, the LM.
Unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show, the LM or Luxury Mover is more than just a rebadged Alphard (or Velfire in some markets) The upscale marque has put in its own L-finesse touch via its signature spindle grille up front, a distinct set of LED headlamps and daytime running ights, chrome accents on select body panels and surfaces, and a paint job that has a bit more luster than usual.
Step inside and this is where the differences really start to be apparent. One can order the luxury MPV in either six- or seven-seater configuration. The 6-seater is the more premium of the two what with its four-seat configuration in the rear. This places two pairs of high-back thrones in the rear section that allows for the utmost in legroom and seating comfort. Either way, privacy glass and a large 26-inch display allows occupants to take in all their multimedia content via pairing with their mobile device or DVD and Blu-Ray formats. Needless to say, only the finest leather and veneers line the swanky cabin.
The new Lexus LM will be powered by either a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 (LM350) or a hybrid propulsion, the LM350h with a 2.5-liter Atkinon’s cycle gasoline motor mated to an electric mill. These powerplants drive either the front or all four wheels.
The new Lexus LM is aimed at the fast-growing chauffered set in China and the Asian region. Expect to see it arrive in dealerships within the year.
