It's not everyday that a royal family member gets hitched, but when the occasion rises, automakers seem quick on their feet to get some media visibility.
This time around, Price Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock will be tying the knot. After the ceremony, they'll be touring the Principality in utter quietness and environmentally-friendly style, sitting in the back of a one-off Lexus LS 600h L Laudaulet.
The conversion was performed by Belgian coachbuilders Carat Duchatelet in collaboration with Lexus engineers in Brussels. Prior to chopping off the roof, computer-aided design calculations and 3D modelling were done to ensure the hybrid LS retained its chassis stiffness and torsional rigidity.
Next, off came the roof and rear pillars, and in came bodyshell reinforcement composed of Kevlar and carbon fibre. The removable, one-piece transparent roof is made of polycarbonate and was built in France; its shell is 8 mm thick and weighs 57 pounds or 26 kg.
Over 2,000 hours were necessary to transform the LS 600h L into the Landaulet. According to Lexus, a good portion of the car had to be dismantled; about 20,000 mechanical parts, electronic components as well as interior trim and upholstery were stripped off so the composite additions could be baked onto the bare chassis in an oven.
The Royal Wedding LS 600h L is hand-painted in what Lexus calls Midnight Blue.
During the Monaco tour, the Lexus will operate under electric power alone, spitting out no harmful emissions in the crowds of people who will likely gather up to cheer and congratulate the newlyweds. Afterwards, the LS 600h L Landaulet will end up exposed at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
This time around, Price Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock will be tying the knot. After the ceremony, they'll be touring the Principality in utter quietness and environmentally-friendly style, sitting in the back of a one-off Lexus LS 600h L Laudaulet.
The conversion was performed by Belgian coachbuilders Carat Duchatelet in collaboration with Lexus engineers in Brussels. Prior to chopping off the roof, computer-aided design calculations and 3D modelling were done to ensure the hybrid LS retained its chassis stiffness and torsional rigidity.
Next, off came the roof and rear pillars, and in came bodyshell reinforcement composed of Kevlar and carbon fibre. The removable, one-piece transparent roof is made of polycarbonate and was built in France; its shell is 8 mm thick and weighs 57 pounds or 26 kg.
Over 2,000 hours were necessary to transform the LS 600h L into the Landaulet. According to Lexus, a good portion of the car had to be dismantled; about 20,000 mechanical parts, electronic components as well as interior trim and upholstery were stripped off so the composite additions could be baked onto the bare chassis in an oven.
The Royal Wedding LS 600h L is hand-painted in what Lexus calls Midnight Blue.
During the Monaco tour, the Lexus will operate under electric power alone, spitting out no harmful emissions in the crowds of people who will likely gather up to cheer and congratulate the newlyweds. Afterwards, the LS 600h L Landaulet will end up exposed at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |
| |
| Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet (Photo: Lexus) |