Lexus LY 650 superyacht headed to Australia

The Lexus LY 650 is the latest addition to the Japanese brand known for its premium cars that push the boundaries of design and technology. However, this one is not for the roads.

Instead, the latest Lexus is a 65-foot (20-metre) superyacht, and the fourth product in car maker Toyota’s luxury line-up to wear the “L” badge alongside the conservative-under-the-skin LS sedan, stunning LC coupe and the off-road capable LX SUV line-up.

The LY 650 is the first marine product to come out of Toyota’s marine division wearing the Lexus badge, and is loosely based on the 2017 Lexus Sport Yacht Concept, a smaller 12.8-metre design study featuring twin 328kW 5.0-litre V8 sterndrive engines adapted from road cars.

However, this version of the yacht will feature twin Volvo Penta IPS 1200 or 1350 pod systems featuring counter-rotating propellers.

Due for a global debut in early 2019, and slated for an Australian showcase expected to take place in late 2019, the LY 650 will be built, sold and serviced for Lexus by US-based Marquis-Larson Boat Group – the same boat builder that made the composite carbon-fibre skinned concept yacht.

However, where the Lexus Sport Concept Yacht (pictured, below) featured an open cockpit and accommodation for up to eight guests, the production version will feature an open flybridge, a wide 19-foot (5.8-metre) beam that gives a more conservative edge to the concept boat’s stylish side cut, and accommodation for up to six people in three separate staterooms.

Even so, Lexus says the LY 650 “has a distinguished style found in its strong, pronounced bow, curved deck accents and accentuated aft hips. Viewed from the profile, the elegant rise and fall of the yacht's distinctly Lexus roofline flows into rising, broad hips of the rear section”.

Similar to the concept, the Lexus LY 650 is expected to use Volvo Penta’s joystick control system to help with low-speed maneuvers such as docking.

Lexus said the decision to produce the yacht “was fuelled by Lexus executive vice-president Shigeki Tomoyama's desire to ‘present a dream-like vision of the luxury lifestyle; one where the Lexus yacht expands the potential of Lexus mobility to the ocean’ ”.

It said the LY 650 would promote Lexus as a “top-tier brand dedicated to offering a full range of expertly crafted halo models – and not just inside the automotive sphere”.

PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Lexus LY 650
Length overall: 19.96m
Beam: 5.72m
Engines: Volvo Penta IPS1200/Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350
Fuel: 3785L
Water: 852L
Holding tank: 643L
Staterooms: 3
Heads: 3
Sleeps: 6