Imagine ordering an Uber and when it arrives, the door slides open and you are ushered into first-class airline seats in the rear

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Car Reviewed: Lexus LM Takumi

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In front of you is a 48-inch TV screen which can be split in two if your companion prefers to watch a different programme. There is also a fridge for champagne and a sliding glass partition to keep you private from the driver.

No, you are right. This is not an Uber. This is the Lexus LM – Luxury Motor – the last word in chauffeur-driven luxury, the kind of exclusive car reserved for A-Listers and in incredibly high demand.

As the man from Lexus said: “If people are feeling the pinch, it’s certainly not in this sector.”

The proof! Lexus ordered a modest 30 vehicles for the UK market. They have received more than 170 orders and are now scouring Europe for the vehicles to fulfil them.

Yes, a third are from chauffeur companies, another third from plush hotels, but surprisingly, the rest are from private individuals. Try rollicking up to the school gates in the Lexus LM.

This big, bold people mover is available as a four-seater or seven-seater with four-wheel-drive or two-wheel-drive.

The top-of-the-range Takumi boasts reclinable airline seats, the aforementioned TV, fridge, window blinds, separate roof blinds and a window through to the driver, which you can raise or lower or even turn opaque if you prefer them not to see what you are up to in the back seat.

Passengers in the rear can use a smartphone-like tablet to direct everything within the car.

There are retractable tables for those who prefer to work on the move and plenty of sockets for connectivity and charging.

There is also no need to worry about car sickness. The windows are expansive, but Lexus has also installed a special suspension system that prevents the rear seat passengers from suffering pitch and roll. Should the driver ever have to stand on the brakes, those in the back will feel no discomfort as the suspension is built around a low centre of gravity.

The car stands impressively tall with a massive grille at the front. Automatic sliding doors make for easy access, too.

The drive is not just smooth, it’s steady and luxurious, offering a level of comfort and control that instills confidence in the driver. The driver’s seat, with its expansive windscreen, is designed for maximum comfort.

The Lexus LM offers a range of driving modes, from comfort to sport and eco. While it’s not the most dynamic drive, it’s designed to provide a smooth, Steady, and luxurious experience. The car also self-charges, but these features are secondary to the car’s primary focus on passenger comfort and luxury.

It is all about the passenger experience and has been designed from the wheels upwards to make this as comfortable and pleasurable as possible.

I enjoyed driving the Lexus LM. It has a high ride height, but it does not feel big from behind the wheel like all good cars.

However, most of all, I enjoyed sitting on those big leather seats in the back.

Break out the champagne and Jeeves and put my clubs in the boot.