Toyota may show a hydrogen-fuelled Lexus concept at the Tokyo Motor Show
Lexus has announced its intention to show a new concept car this month at the Tokyo Motor Show, which it says will show "Lexus' future vision of progressive luxury." The brand is withholding details until the car's unveiling on October 28, however, rumours are persisting that it could be a preview of a luxury fuel cell car, likely based on the brand's flagship LS.

TOKYO -- Lexus promises to show a new concept car this month at the Tokyo Motor Show, which it says will show "Lexus' future vision of progressive luxury." But the brand is withholding details until the car's unveiling Oct. 28.

One possibility: a preview of a luxury fuel cell car, likely based on the brand's flagship LS.

The Toyota brand will show its own hydrogen fuel cell concept car, the FCV Plus, at the Tokyo show. That car envisions a possible successor to the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which went on sale last year in Japan and this year in the U.S.

Toyota makes no secret about wanting to deploy its fuel cell drivetrains beyond the four-seat Mirai sedan. Doing so would help spur demand for more fueling stations and help bring down the cost of producing the pricy components.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury brand plans to launch a fuel cell LS around 2018, Japan's Best Car magazine reported this summer. A rendering of the car depicts a basic LS silhouette with the Mirai's rear-wheel side flares and gaping air intakes on either side of the grille.

Toyota also plans a hydrogen fuel cell version of its Japan-market Toyota Crown premium sedan and may even deploy the drivetrain in its next-generation, Japan-market Estima van, Best Car reported.

In Tokyo, Lexus also will show the GS F, the high-performance edition of the GS that debuted in January at the Detroit auto show.

Media days for the Tokyo Motor Show are Oct. 28-29; the show opens to the public Oct. 30.