On Friday 6 October 2023, the new Lexus LM was launched at the Lexus Boutique at 33 Leng Kee Road. Also newly introduced was the Lexus VIP Lounge.

Ng Khee Siong, Interim Managing Director of Inchcape Singapore, said, “From the very onset, the Inchcape Singapore team has been wholeheartedly dedicated to creating exceptional experiences for all our valued customers.”

“This is in line with Lexus’ core principle of ‘Pushing Boundaries’, as we collectively redefine standards. The all-new Lexus LM represents the pinnacle of ride comfort, and we are delighted to introduce unparalleled Comfort, Control and Confidence to our prestige customers in Singapore. This is also paired with the Lexus VIP Lounge, a private suite exclusively designed to elevate our customer experience at our showroom.”

Gracing the event was Lexus International LM Chief Engineer Mr. Takami Yokoo, who flew in from Japan for this launch. “The all-new Lexus LM was conceived with the concept of a mobile space where individuals can truly be themselves in comfort,” Mr. Takami Yokoo said. Under the guidance of Mr. Yokoo, the Lexus LM was tailored to create a deluxe interior that is as relaxing as a living room with all the convenience of a productive mobile office – exemplifying the brand’s pursuit of Making Luxury Personal. This high-end private oasis of relaxation brings forth the next evolution in luxury transport, reflecting Lexus’ commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.

In keeping with the Lexus Omotenashi hospitality philosophy of welcoming and caring for guests as one would in their own home, Lexus Singapore unveiled the first-ever Lexus VIP Lounge. Designed as an exclusive space to accommodate privileged customers during previews and deliveries, the Lexus VIP Lounge offers a touch of personalised service, and access to the suite will be exclusively by invitation and appointment only.

Built upon Toyota’s GA-K platform and powered by a 2.5-litre hybrid engine that puts out a combined 247hp and 239Nm of torque, the LM 350h has been tuned for quietness and comfort of its occupants. To counter road noise around the tyres, the engine and its related mounts underwent precise tuning to reduce vibrations while acoustic glass was used to help reduce high-frequency wind noise.

In a first for Lexus, the LM features an “AVS Suspension with Frequency-Sensitive Piston Valve” and “Rear Comfort” drive mode. The former combines an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) actuator and a frequency-sensitive piston valve in the shock absorber to provide excellent ride quality regardless of speed, achieved by meticulously dampening and reducing vibration over a wide range of frequencies.

The latter enables an emphasis on rear-seat comfort through the dampening force characteristics of the AVS, while integrated control of the accelerator pedal and brake is said to reduce occupants’ posture changes during acceleration and deceleration. We’ll know more when we drive the LM.

The middle row features two captain’s chairs for supreme comfort and VIP-ness. For example, “Rear Climate Concierge” is a one-stop integrated control that ensures the luxurious cabin environment is precisely controlled for elements such as air-conditioning, sunshades, ambient illumination and seat position.

The chairs themselves feature two types of shock-absorbing materials for gentle support from standstill to motion.

A 14-inch ceiling mounted high-definition rear screen, in combination with the bespoke Mark Levinson Reference 3D Surround Sound System with 21 speakers allow rear seat occupants to indulge in their favourite tunes or movies while on the move.

Furthermore, a panoramic roof with dual individual panoramic glass located just above the rear seats lends airiness to the cabin.

Passengers can control either of the roof windows or both effortlessly via switches on the front or rear overhead console and the rear multi-operation panel.

The Lexus LM 350h is priced from $510,800 without COE (accurate at the time of article). For more information, contact Lexus Singapore.

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

Kia has officially launched the EV9, the new flagship EV SUV that is poised to arrive in Singapore in the second half of 2023. This is the second Kia EV model that utilises the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), following in the footsteps of the EV6.

The first thing you’ll immediately notice is just how big the EV9 actually is. Spanning 5.01m long, 1.98m wide and 1.76m tall, with a wheelbase of 3.1m, it is the largest SUV that Kia has ever produced, even beating the likes of the Telluride and sister company Hyundai’s Palisade.

Futuristic Looks 

The overall design of the all-new Kia EV9 is similar to the original EV9 concept car that debuted at the 2021 Los Angeles Motor Show, with squared-off proportions and utilitarian looks.

Black fender panels, a unique front LED cluster, and sleek 21-inch alloys accentuate the futuristic-centric looks. Should you want to appear even more tech-savvy, there is also an option for digital side mirror cameras instead of the ‘old’ side mirrors.

Cavernous Interior

The large boxy size of the Kia EV9 bestows occupants with a commodious interior, with a variety of seating configurations offering seating for either 6 or 7 passengers.

A trio of digital screens dominates the driver’s immediate view, consisting of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a tiny 5-inch segment display. Kia knows that we prefer physical buttons for key features, hence there are type-touch buttons included that control settings like start/stop and the HVAC systems.

Speed and Power

Kia will offer the EV9 with a few launch variants. These include:

• Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Standard Range
• RWD Long Range
• All Wheel Drive (AWD) Long Range

Even in its Standard Range guise, the EV9 will tout a sizable 76.1kWh battery, powering an electric motor that punches out 214 bhp and 350 Nm of torque. The Long Range variant takes this capacity up to a ludicrous 99.8kWh, but it drops the power to 200 bhp whilst still maintaining 350Nm of torque.

Spring for the AWD model, and the dual motor setup pumps out a respectable 380 bhp and 600 Nm of torque, Interestingly, prospective customers can opt for a Boost feature that can be purchased as an optional downloadable upgrade from the Kia Connect Store (yay add-ons…). This bumps the torque up to a whopping 700 Nm, dropping the car’s century sprint time from 6.0 seconds to 5.3 seconds. 

Kia is confident that the EV9, in its Long Range variant, is capable of achieving up to 541 km of range on a single charge. The car also accepts 800V fast charging, allowing it to gain about 239 km of range in just 15 minutes.

Similar to the EV6, the EV9 will also feature Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, allowing the car to power external outlets if needed.

The Autonomy Continues

Kia is aiming to introduce its Highway Driving Pilot system on the EV9 in the future, which will enable the equivalent of Level 3 autonomous driving.

The system will utilise fifteen independent sensors that scan and detect objects with 360 degrees of coverage. The car can then detect and react to the road and other users to prevent potential collisions.

When will it arrive?

The EV9 will be going on sale in the Korean market starting from the third quarter of this year, with other markets to follow shortly afterwards.

Pricing details have not been announced at the time of the presentation.

Want to read more from Kia? Check out our Kia EV6 review!