Some cars sidle into your sphere of attention. Perhaps a mention here on Facebook, a photograph there on the internet and a glimpse at an event. Others storm up to you, grab you by the shoulders, kick you in the shins and positively scream in your face. Job Design’s Lexus LS460L was definitely of the latter kind.
After walking round the halls of SEMA for four days, I was pretty convinced I’d seen everything there was to see. But while leaving with Larry, we rounded a corner and bam! – my eyeballs had been assaulted.
The car wasn’t a local either – Job Design are a Japanese company specialising in VIP design. The Lexus had been shipped all the way over for SEMA, but due to some mix-up, it had unfortunately spent more time sitting at customs than it had in the show halls of the Vegas Convention Center, and arrived just on the last day. And with it popping up in Dino’s Tokyo Auto Salon coverage as well, we thought we’d bring you a closer look at what could be one of the most ‘out there’ VIP cars around.
To say it’s not your usual sleek bippu style would perhaps be a bit of an understatement. It’s an attention-grabber, a show off and a reminder that styles never stay the same. The consistent use of red, black and white throughout the entire car is a bold statement but certainly ensures that it can’t be missed!
Inside, the luxury look is very much still in place, albeit with the Job Design twist. Entirely retrimmed in suede and leather, the trio of colours again feature large. The black stripe running down the centre of the car’s bodywork is even recreated on the roof lining. It’s these small details that work to tie the car together, turning what could probably have been a ridiculous mess into something that, while undeniably bold, also works surprisingly well together.
But if anything’s going to catch your eye, it’ll be those wheels. The Work Equip e05s are a massive 22×10.5 at the front and 22×12 at the rear – custom-made for Job Design by Work. And if you’ve got all that dish just hanging around, you might as well make use of it, right? Adding your company name seems like as good a use as any…
Once the wheels have grabbed your attention, they’re further ensnared by the custom-engraved brake discs and those HUGE 16-pot CSD calipers. The wheels are tucked far into the arches courtesy of an air-ride set-up and those massively widened arches, complete with vents at the rear. Over the top? Yes. Larger than life? Undoubtedly. But what you can’t deny is that it’s a great demo car. After all, there’s not much chance of anyone missing it…
Secretly though, I’m wondering if there’s another motive for the Lexus. I reckon it would make a bloody good Transformer – don’t you think? Michael Bay? Are you hearing me…?
Suzy Wallace
Instagram: speedhunters_suzy
suzy@speedhunters.com