Lexus just introduced a luxury minivan, but it's probably off limits to Americans
- Lexus introduced the brand's first minivan on Tuesday at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show.
- The Lexus LM will soon be available for sale in China and is designed to only be a posh family van, but it can also be optioned as a luxurious executive limo.
- It's unlikely that Toyota, Lexus's parent company, will ever offer the LM for sale in the US.
- The Lexus LM will be offered with either a traditional V6 engine or a four-cylinder hybrid.
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On Tuesday, Lexus unveiled its first minivan at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show. Dubbed the Lexus LM, the luxury minivan will soon be available for sale in China and a few other select markets in Asia.
Toyota, Lexus's parent company, is unlikely to ever bring the LM stateside as its US minivan strategy is focused on the Kentucky-built Sienna.
The LM will be available in both four and seven-seat configurations. The seven-seat LM will feature second-row captain's chairs with a third-row bench, perfect for use as a plush family hauler. The four-seat LM is more suited for executive limousine duties.
In four-seat limo guise, the LM will come available with reclining captain's chairs, a 26-inch entertainment screen, a 19-speaker sound system, noise reducing glass, and an in-car refrigerator.
The LM is based on Toyota's Japanese market Alphard passenger van. However, the prominent spindle grille and chrome-accented body make this van unmistakably Lexus.
Power for the LM 350 will come a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 while the LM300h will be powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle engine paired with a hybrid drive system.
The LM will be offered with both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.
The 2019 Shanghai Auto Show will be open to the public from April 8 to April 25.