LS+ Concept adds AI autonomy, sharpened style to Lexus' flagship

Lexus pulled the wraps off of the LS+ Concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Wait, didn't they just launch the new generation of the flagship this year?!

 The LS+ previews the next evolution of the automaker's L-Finesse design language, which somehow manages to get more pointy and angular with every iteration.

Up front, the aggressive spindle shape escapes the confines of the grille and now envelopes the angular LED headlamps.

Out back, the spindle shape is echoed with a tail light design and sheet metal creases that pinch inward.

The concept also features a range of enhancements around artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. 

An onboard "AI Agent" learns the driver's preferences and can be interacted with via voice commands.

The Agent can also monitor the driver's alertness state and mood. A grumpy driver can be cheered up or a tired driver may be coaxed into taking a break or handing over control to the autonomous drive systems. 

The LS+ also previews Lexus' Highway Teammate autonomous drive system, which the automaker claims will be available by the year 2020. 

Highway Teammate can also be voice commanded. For example, when approaching a slower moving vehicle, the driver could just say "Pass that car" and the LS+ should do just that.

Other details include new LED headlamps and graphics and active aerodynamics and cooling hidden the the diamond pattern grille. 

In addition to the Highway Teammate feature, Lexus plans to make its Data Communications Module -- which makes car-to-car and car-to-grid communication possible -- a standard feature by 2020.  

Shortly thereafter, in the early 2020s, Lexus will also add an Urban Teammate surface street autonomous driving feature to its bag of tricks.