Lexus LM here in December from $160K

LEXUS is set to offer its LM (Luxury Mover) seven-seat people mover in Australia from December priced from $160,888 plus on-road costs.

The three-variant, petrol and petrol-electric hybrid range will offer what the Japanese luxury brand says are levels of comfort and amenity usually associated with first- and business class airplane travel, as well as the option of two- and all-wheel drive chassis configurations.

Initially, the LM will be sold in seven-seat format and in hybridised Sport Luxury trim with the ultra-luxurious four-seat turbocharged petrol variant available from early in 2024.

From December, the seven-seat LM350h Sports Luxury will offer Lexus buyers two- and all-wheel drive options, priced from $160,888 and $165,888 +ORC respectively. Power comes from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and series parallel hybrid system producing 184kW and 270Nm.

Next year, the range will be added to by the four-seat LM500h Ultra Luxury variant powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with hybridised power offering “more than 200kW’ and driving all four wheels. It will be priced from $220,888 +ORC.

Lexus says the centrepiece of the LM500h is its rear cabin which is dominated by two “VIP throne seats” and rear-seat Climate Concierge system for “holistic control of the cabin environment”.

With a glass window between the front and rear sections of the cabin, rear seat passengers may enjoy a “personal and private oasis of relaxation and quietness”, Lexus says, enjoying a world-first 48-inch windscreen and 23-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, or a cool drink from the inbuilt mini chiller.

“With the LM our designers have taken omotenashi thoughtfulness and Takumi craftsmanship to unprecedented levels,” said Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas.

“There is no Lexus like it, and almost certainly no other vehicle like it. It is the ultimate expression of Lexus ‘making luxury personal’.

“It is a great Lexus to drive but an even better Lexus to be driven in. It will be hard to surpass the LM for the ultimate chauffeur-driven experience.”

Continuing its support of the Spring Racing Carnival, Lexus will offer Melbourne Cup guests the opportunity to experience the LM with what it says is an impressive fleet of chauffeur driven LMs heading to and from the Flemington track from November 4 to 11.

Mr Pappas said Lexus dealers throughout Australia had been inundated with customer enquiry ever since the second-generation LM was revealed at 2023 Auto Shanghai in April, and subsequently confirmed for Australia as part of a global rollout to more than 60 countries.

“The reality is that demand will initially exceed supply for this vehicle by a significant margin, so we therefore need to manage customer expectations,” he concluded.

2023 Lexus LM pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.