Is the LF-1 Limitless Concept heading for production as a range-topping Lexus LQ?

It looks like the Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept – a luxury crossover concept – is heading for production as the Lexus LQ, after Lexus registered the ‘LQ’ trademark in the US.

Ahead of the Detroit Motor Show at the start of the year, Lexus were busy teasing the LF-1 Limitless Concept which we thought might preview a replacement for the big Toyota Landcruiser-based Lexus LX (which we don’t get in the UK). 

But when the LF-1 Limitless Concept actually arrived it was hard to see it as a replacement for the Lexus LX, and it looked to be more in the mould of the new Audi Q8; a big luxury coupe crossover. And it looks like it’s heading for production.

The ‘Lexus LQ’ moniker has now been trademarked by Lexus, and it fits the bill as the name for a production version of the LF-1 with its range-topping ‘L’ moniker – just like the LC, LS and LX – and a new ‘Q’, which is perhaps designed to convey a planned Coupe Crossover range.

Oddly, the LF-1 Concept was a rear-wheel drive crossover, but as Lexus say it can cope with any form of powertrain – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and petrol – it would seem likely any production LQ would be available with 4WD.

Of course, the fact that Lexus has registered the LQ trademark doesn’t mean it’s actually going to attach it to a production car, but the pieces of this puzzle do seem to fit very well, and the rumour is the Lexus LQ will debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show at the start of the year.