This Lexus IS sedan can change colour thanks to its 41,999 programmable LEDs

While it sounds like something out of a spy movie, this new concept Lexus featured in singer Dua Lipa’s new video can change its colour, if not camouflage itself entirely. The company calls its concept the Lexus LIT IS and simply put, it is a 2017 Lexus IS sedan covered with thousands of LEDs. The car was developed in partnership with video streaming site Vevo to promote singer Dua Lipa’s new song. The vehicle in the video itself has plenty of character and serves as a visual anchor in the storyline. It’s basically a fine line between art and technology and what better way than a music video from a popular artist to showcase it. Lexus used hand-applied LEDs to turn the vehicle into an eye-catching screen. In addition to broadcasting graphics, the LIT IS can also generate colourful, mesmerising animations in response to gestures and music.  “A car as visually striking as the LIT IS required an equally dramatic debut,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus general manager of product and consumer marketing. “A music video was a perfect place to launch the LIT IS and working with Dua Lipa allowed the concept to come to life, putting a spotlight on the Lexus IS in an entirely new way.”  As for the LEDs the custom car produces 1,75,000 lumens when all of those 41,999 LEDs are lit up. If place in strips, end-to-end the line would stretch to half a mile.  There are three distinct modes for the LED setup as well. According to the Lexus, the LIT IS has been designed to interact with sounds and people in the vicinity. There’s an Attract mode, that runs colourful graphics in a loop, and these work keeping in mind the strong design features on the IS. Then there Music Viz mode that responds to music with custom visualisations. Last, but not the least, there’s Gesture mode which displays LED animations that can be controlled by a user’s hand movements. This is thanks to an integrated gaming console.