And autonomous LS isn’t far away
DESPITE only giving us our first taste behind the wheel of the new Lexus LS in Japan last week (left), Lexus is already previewing its autonomous future with a concept version of the flagship car.
The LS+ Concept was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, and hints at the firm’s forthcoming Ai-derived autonomous driving tech, due in 2020.
One of the AI’S features is Highway Teammate, which senses when the car is joining or leaving a motorway, allowing it to merge or overtake without input from the driver. It can communicate with other vehicles, too, pre-empting hazards ahead. Software can be downloaded over the air as well, installing tech without ever having to visit a dealer.
The technology pushes the brand closer to its goal of Level 4 autonomy, and should appear within the next few years. Lexus is also working on a version of Highway Teammate for urban areas.