Lexus explores luxury on water with a serene, autonomous catamaran designed for quiet, zero-emission cruising.
Lexus used the Japan Mobility Show 2025 to signal a bold shift in direction. Under the theme “Discover”, the company presented a suite of concepts across land, sea and air, each exploring a different interpretation of future mobility. Among them, the Lexus Catamaran Concept stood out as a calm, sculptural expression of what luxury on water could look like in the years ahead.
The catamaran is not a production-ready craft. Instead, it serves as a design statement that reflects Lexus’s ambition to create private luxury spaces built around serenity, privacy and slow travel. The minimalist lines echo the brand’s road vehicles, yet the designers have reshaped those ideas for a marine setting. The twin-hull form provides a wide and steady platform that feels open and balanced. Indoor and outdoor spaces connect with a seamless flow.
Inside, Lexus draws heavily on its takumi craftsmanship traditions. Enclosed suites sit within each hull, giving travellers private rooms for extended stays without reliance on crew support. Materials, lighting and sound insulation receive careful attention. The intention is to create a quiet, meditative environment that Lexus describes as a “sanctuary on water”. The concept shows how the brand’s design language can translate beyond the automotive world.
Lexus leadership says the new concepts mark an important moment for the brand. With global electrification accelerating, the company believes the time is right to explore fresh forms of luxury that combine sustainable technology with refined design.
Autonomous sailing made simple
One of the most striking elements of the Lexus Catamaran Concept is its focus on autonomous cruising. Lexus imagines the vessel operating with an automatic ship navigation system able to plot routes, track conditions and adjust its course with minimal human input. The aim is to reduce or even remove the need for a full crew while still offering an effortless way to explore remote waters.
This direction mirrors the brand’s work in automotive artificial intelligence and driver assistance. Just as Lexus road vehicles manage complex environments with quiet precision, the catamaran concept applies the same thinking at sea. The result is a vision of boating that values simplicity, safety and gentle control.
For travellers, this level of autonomy changes the nature of time spent on board. Rather than sharing their attention between helm duties and relaxation, guests can focus fully on the experience of cruising. The catamaran becomes a floating retreat rather than a machine that demands constant oversight.
Solar sails for a cleaner future
Sustainability plays a central role in the concept. The rigid hard sail is covered in solar panels, allowing the catamaran to harness renewable energy without adding clutter or noise. Lexus has not confirmed propulsion details, but the use of solar integration hints at hybrid or fully electric assistance. The company sees renewable power as a natural extension of its wider pursuit of carbon neutrality.
This aligns with JMS 2025, where next-generation energy solutions and cleaner propulsion were key themes. Quiet, efficient and low-impact systems are shaping many new marine ideas. The Lexus Catamaran Concept shows how these technologies can merge with premium design and high comfort.
More than a carmaker
Although the catamaran attracted strong attention, it was one part of a broader family of “Discover” concepts. Lexus also presented a new LS flagship, a sleek LS Coupe, a compact autonomous micro-mobility vehicle and a next-generation sports car. Each model offers a different glimpse of how the company sees the future.
Together, these projects show Lexus’s intention to build a multi-modal luxury ecosystem that stretches across land, sea and air. This includes advanced electric vehicles, new material research and an increasing interest in aviation. INTERSECT by Lexus, the brand’s lifestyle hub in Tokyo, reflects the same mindset. It presents Lexus through design, culture, food and technology, rather than through vehicles alone.
The Lexus Catamaran Concept sits within this larger transformation. It is not expected to enter production, but its purpose is clear. It demonstrates how Lexus’s core values of craft, calmness, precision and sustainable innovation can be extended into new environments.
A glimpse of tomorrow’s luxury
The concept offers a look at where luxury marine design may be heading. Autonomous navigation, sanctuary-style interiors and renewable energy are becoming increasingly common across high-end mobility projects. Lexus adds its voice to that conversation, imagining how quiet refinement and advanced technology could reshape time on the water.
In doing so, the company hints at a future where movement across different environments feels seamless, connected and restorative. The catamaran becomes a symbol of that vision, a calm step toward a wider interpretation of travel that blends technology with the freedom to explore.
