Self-Driving Lexus Tech at CES® 2018

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES®) has descended on Las Vegas this month, with tech companies showing off their latest and greatest inventions in an attempt to shape the future. The automotive industry is no stranger to CES, and if we’re talking futuristic vehicle technology, you know we’re going to check in on the world of automated driving. This year, the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is showcasing Platform 3.0, its next-generation automated driving research vehicle. This new platform is built on a Lexus LS 600hL. After all, if you’re designing the vehicle of the future, why not work with a car that’s always been ahead of the pack?

One of the most innovative aspects of Platform 3.0 is how the automated driving tech has been integrated into the design of the vehicle. Gone are the rotating sensor arrays protruding from the roof. In their place, a new rooftop weather- and temperature-proof panel has been slotted into available space in the sunroof compartment. To craft this forward-thinking sensor array, TRI teamed with CALTY Design Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. and engineers at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development (TMNA R&D). These advanced sensors can “see” 200 meters ahead in a complete 360-degree perimeter from the vehicle.

“Automotive designers’ roles have been pivoting toward thinking deeper and greater on how to design and apply automated driving technology for drivers and passengers,” said Scott Roller, Senior Lead Designer at CALTY Design Research. “It’s exciting to integrate the components in harmony with the car’s design.”

One of the most important goals of this new technology is to design it in such a way that it’s easy to reproduce at large scale for an entire vehicle fleet. But the job isn’t done yet. There have been two generations of test models in less than a year, and TRI expects additional developments to follow rapidly. So for the time being, production of Platform 3.0 vehicles will stay at a low volume, with production beginning this spring at Prototype Development Center at TMNA R&D headquarters in York Township, Michigan using stock Lexus LS models.

To see the futuristic technology already at work on the road, head into Keyes Cars to check out our selection of 2018 Lexus vehicles. To help seize your car of the future, consider trading one from your past. Visit our website to value your trade here at our dealership near Los Angeles, CA.