d+a | Issue 115 • Apr/May 2020

97 DID YOU KNOW… UX: Its leather seats have a quilting featuring the sashiko stitching method – there are more than 10 stitches per inch – that has been used to make judo and kendo uniforms for more than 1,200 years. / ES: The ornamentation that adorns its steering wheel, dashboard and door panels are made of shimamoku wood pieces in a long and detailed process that requires 38 days and 67 specialised stages. / LS: Available with an air suspension system that automatically raises the vehicle to the right height for people to enter or leave with ease, this flagship of Lexus exemplifies the interpretation of omotenashi , the ancient Japanese tradition of exceptional hospitality. / Lexus Takumi Craftsmen: One of the dexterity tests that they must undertake to assess their precision and skill is to fold an origami cat in 90 seconds using their non-dominant hand. marque’s human-focused approach in its design and production. For instance, the white glove-clad Takumi is able to detect the smallest imperfections and faults up to fractions of a millimetre. They are supported by robots, programmed with Takumi -defined skills – in fact, they are vital in developing, applying and refining the most cutting-edge new technologies too. While their crafts were once mainly done by hand, they understand today that it is only through complete harmony with technology that perfection can be achieved. At the end of the day, know that the Lexus that has been delivered has gone through the most rigorous of checks possible. If you believe that what you drive says a lot about who you are, then you definitely want to be seen behind the wheel of a Lexus. In fact, Lexus has a deep wellspring to dip into for its contemporary vehicle design. Its home country of Japan has countless art and craftsmanship techniques that have endured for centuries that it can reference. The newest model by Lexus, the UX, is a zippy compact SUV perfect for urban driving. Inspiring its design is the Japanese architectural concept of engawa . This is where the transition from inside to out is smooth, as like the verandas in traditional Japanese houses. Translated into the UX, it means an almost seamless connection between the cabin and front bodywork from the dashboard, through the base of the windscreen, to the cowl in front of the bonnet. Of course these stories of craftsmanship will not be possible without the artisans themselves. These Japanese masters, or Takumi , are the guardians of skills honed and inherited through the generations. At the Miyata Lexus plant in Kyushu, 19 Takumi , who each have at least 25 years of experience, make up part of the 7,700-strong workforce. These craftsmen also protect the artisan philosophy and tradition that Lexus holds close to its heart, while representing the