Lexus LF-Gh concept (2011) teaser pictures

Lexus has released the first teaser pictures of its LF-Gh hybrid concept, which will debut at the 2011 New York motor show on 20 April.

We know. It's a case of 'damned if we do, damned if we don't' when manufacturers drip-feed us tiny details of their vehicles. 

Putting aside any understandable irritation at teaser tactics, the LF-Gh will be our first look at the latest iteration of 'L-Finesse', the current Lexus styling language first introduced at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show on the LF-S concept saloon. The LF-S morphed into the 2006 production Lexus GS. From the teaser pics it's clear that harder edges are the order of the day, along with some stylised L-shapes in the LED running lights and rear light cluster. 

When Lexus was launched in 1989, Mercedes-Benz was the brand that most observers saw as the inspiration for Lexus styling. From the looks of that gaping maw of a front grille, it's the four-ring circus of Ingolstadt that may have caught the Lexus design team's eye this time around, though the edgy look has also been trialled on Lexus's own LFA supercar.

Very little beyond the powertrain type. The alphabet soup name translates into English as 'Lexus Future Grand Touring hybrid.' It foretells the next Lexus GS executive saloon, due for replacement later this year. The current GS450h hybrid offers 179g/km CO2 and 36.7mpg, but the taller, heavier, four-wheel drive RX450h manages 145g/km and 44.8 mpg; expect the rear-drive GS to comfortably better the SUV's figures when it arrives in UK showrooms in 2012.

By Mark Hamilton