Luxury automaker Lexus unveils a Lexus RX 500h F SPORT transformed into an eye-catching crossover inspired by Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.
This transformation is the result of a cross-collaborative work among the car manufacturer, adidas, adidas S.E.E.D, Calty Design Research and 3D printing company Carbon.
“The all-new RX 500h is part of our expanding Lexus Electrified portfolio with evolved innovative technology that elevates the driver’s experience,” said Michael Moore, general manager, Lexus International. “There’s an athleticism in the performance of the RX that makes it a perfect fit to join the ‘Wakanda Forever’ team.”
The re-imagined exterior of the RX features the Wakandan-inspired print and purple colorway used throughout the adidas sportswear collection. A diamond pattern inlayed across the hood is inspired by the Black Panther’s claw necklace. Gold details, a tie to the new Black Panther’s suit, accent the exterior, with unique “F” center caps, F SPORT on the wheels and Lexus badging that are reimagined using the fictional Wakandan alphabet. The word “Vibe-Branium,” also spelled in the Wakandan alphabet, is added to the rear badging as part of its unique name: the Lexus RX 500h Vibe-Branium AWD DIRECT4.
Beyond the customized exterior wrap, the students at adidas S.E.E.D (School for Experiential Education in Design) embraced the challenge to reimagine the all-new Lexus RX interior by using the much-anticipated sequel as its source of inspiration.
To help guide the students through the design process, Calty Design Research led the students through a series of workshops exploring automotive design, Lexus design, creative processes, color and materials and the power of collaboration.
“Lexus, adidas and Wakanda Forever may seem like they come from totally different worlds but the thread that draws everything together is the pursuit and leadership in unique storytelling and innovative technology,” stated Alex Shen, chief designer at Calty Design Research. “Because of this common thread, the S.E.E.D. designers have such a unique and exciting task ahead of them to create something really artful and cool. It’s a real pleasure and honor for us to witness all the creativity, enthusiasm and collaborative thinking and execution from the S.E.E.D. designers.”
The custom build will feature an interior re-imagined with future-focused designs, textures and materials. Using the modern luxury of the latest RX as a canvas, adidas’s custom Wakanda-inspired tribal gold print covers sections of the seating surfaces and are featured prominently on the seat bolsters in particular. The same pattern is applied to the door panel inserts and in purple sections of the steering wheel. The F SPORT door sill plate is translated in the Wakandan alphabet along with “Wakanda Forever”, which is embroidered on the steering wheel. Key tactile areas such as the steering wheel pad and front and rear headrests are covered in the Carbon 3D printed energy-returning athletic shoe mid-sole material used in the adidas 4D-FWD. The front head rests include Lexus’s signature emblem and the rear center head rest houses adidas’s iconic logo. Meanwhile, surfaces around the shifter are decorated in laser-cut wood and gold trim that accents the interior to help create a uniquely Wakandan-inspired in-car environment.
To celebrate this moment, the powerhouse brands will drop a limited release T-Shirt designed by the students at adidas S.E.E.D. The exclusive T-shirt will be available to select influencers. The front of the T-Shirt includes an African Proverb written in Wakandan (“Educate a Woman, Educate a Nation”) stylized in traditional Japanese format, tategaki. The back of the T-Shirt pays homage to mineral rich Wakanda’s Vibranium that has helped shaped its future focused society through a periodic table transcribed in Wakandan. In addition, the T-Shirt’s wash tag houses emblems from the super power team, LEXUS, adidas, adidas S.E.E.D, Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Carbon.
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