The Lexus LF-1 Limitless crossover concept that debuted at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show is being put into production. It will be the 2022 LQ. This will be the Lexus flagship-its ne-plus-ultra crossover. It will also benchmark the crossover segment. That is what Lexus does. Lexus leads segments in style, features, quality, and price. You can pay more for a BMW X7 or Mercedes GLS. But you won’t get more than you will with a Lexus LQ and it’s not out for another year or so.

The Lexus 2022 LQ crossover will feature the “molten katana” design language

One reason for the LF-1 Limitless concept was to introduce the Lexus “molten katana” design language it plans on adapting to other production models. It’s heavy on sculpturing but without seeming arbitrary. Especially in the copper/gold finish it really highlighted the playful surfaces of the LF-1 Limitless. 

Underneath all of that sculptured sheetmetal is the TNGA-L platform that also underpins the LS sedan. It’s Toyota’s luxury platform that features both rear- and all-wheel-drive. Right now the LS sedan boasts a number of powertrains that we can assume will be part of the LQ package. These are a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 packing 416 hp and the 3.5-liter hybrid V6 combined with two electric motors cranking out 354 hp.

An F Sport LQ will be the neck snapper with the 600 hp V8

While both V6 engines will be proficient in launching the LQ there is a good chance the more potent twin-turbo V8 will also be in the mix. It could be available as an F Sport option with at least 600 hp. 

Toyota seems to want to crowd the upper reaches of the luxury SUV market with the LQ, but also with the LX which would fall somewhere under the LQ, and the LS a tad below the LX. Does it see something others don’t? Is it reaching beyond Mercedes and BMW territory? How will Lexus distinguish between the three? 

With the Toyota Land Cruiser having to be slotted somewhere below the LS we wonder if there are just one too many Lexus SUVs in our sights. Might the LS be slotted between the LQ and Land Cruiser thus eliminating the LX? It has gotten a bit dated, especially next to the striking LF-1 crossover and could be headed to the grand brand graveyard. 

Where does an LQ, LX, LS, and Toyota Land Cruiser all fit into Toyota’s SUV lineup?

All three; the LS, LX, and LQ are speculated to be priced in the $80,000 range with the high-end LQ right at $100,000. But it would feature the above-mentioned F Sport options. It starts to look like they’ll all cannibalize each other without at least one going by the wayside. 

The LQ won’t be out for over a year with plans for it to debut in 2021 as a 2022 model. At least those were Lexus’ plans before the pandemic. So, it remains to be seen how Lexus juggles its lines of SUVs, what’s certain is that the LQ will likely lead the segment once it is released. If the LF-1 Limitless is an indication of where it’s going 2021 can’t get here fast enough.