The renowned spindle grille is changing after ten years of serving as the signature design element of each new Lexus model. The characteristic form is changing into a new “spindle body” in line with a new era of electrified vehicles, as shown on the impending new generation Lexus RX SUV and the all-electric RZ.
The spindle grille has become a recognizable Lexus design element since its debut on the LF-Gh concept car in 2011, which inspired the fourth generation GS luxury sedan that was released the following year. Since then, it has undergone ongoing modification with various mesh patterns, sizes, and finishes to fit the personality of each succeeding Lexus model.
Then-Head of Lexus Kiyotake Ise stated at the time of the grille’s introduction: “You should be able to recognize a car as a Lexus right away… For instance, our spindle grille was created for instant visual recognition. It may appear violent at first, but that is on purpose. It also exudes aggressiveness with sophistication and elegance.
The original grille idea is now the foundation for a more radical use of the spindle shape which becomes an essential component of the entire car design. In the Lexus Next Chapter Design for the all-new RX, the grille is reinterpreted as a continuous unit that flows into the bodywork. This “spindle body” approach is a part of this design. The Lexus insignia is positioned in the middle of the spindle’s high pinch-point, while the bottom half still has a mesh design and the higher section incorporates the lower border of the bonnet.

A similar idea has been applied to the soon-to-debut RZ 450e. Because this automobile is battery-electric and requires less cooling than a car with an internal combustion engine, the lack of a grille gives the designers more freedom. However, the spindle shape’s distinctive appearance is preserved by a central front panel painted to match the car’s body color. Black contrast finishes applied to the adjacent frontal sections, the low bonnet line, and the more overtly shaped fronts of the front wings enhance the statement’s impact. Both models have a spindle that creates lines that continue rearward from the front of the car through the bonnet and headlight units to provide a strong and recognized frontal look, reflecting the original concept’s brand-defining ambitions.