DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Lexus teases flagship LF-1 SUV

Lexus has released a single picture of an all-new flagship SUV which will see it go head-to-head with the full-size Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Lexus says it plans to unveil its concept for a "crossover with no limits" -- labelled the LF-1 -- at the beginning of January at the Detroit motor show.

The single image, posted on the car-maker's social media channels, shows a large rakish four-door coupe SUV Lexus claims will reflect the "next genre in luxury crossover vehicles" rather than a traditional Range Rover-shaped vehicle.

Look closer and the large SUV shows off its rear seat's wide screen entertainment system.

A product of Toyota and Lexus' Southern Californian design studio, the flagship SUV concept is expected to evolve the car-maker's current striking design language. Expect it to influence all future models released by Lexus.

Thought to have been developed to sit above the LandCruiser-based LX 570 in the Lexus SUV range, the new LF-1 is tipped to share architecture with the luxury LS limousine.

The range-topping SUV show car is likely to be powered by either a new pure-electric powertrain, or a development of the same advanced petrol-electric hybrid configuration which powers the LS 500h.

If it's the latter, expect the LF-1 to combine a 220kW/348m 3.5-litre V6 with a powerful 132kW/300Nm electric motor.

Stay tuned because Lexus is expected to continue to tease its LF-1 in the build-up to the Detroit show.