Luc Besson, Lexus Co-Pilot Design on ‘Valerian’ Spacecraft

Luc Besson's EuropaCorp and Lexus have unveiled their design for the car of the future, the Skyjet, which marks the start of an ongoing partnership between the companies. The 28th-century vehicle made its debut Thursday in the teaser trailer for the French director’s sci-fi epic “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.”

The look of the single-seat pursuit craft, which is seen in the trailer maneuvering through the intergalactic citadel of Alpha, was hatched after meetings between the movie’s creative team, Lexus’ chief engineer, Takeaki Kato, and the Lexus design team. They were able to “discuss incorporating believable, imaginative technologies and contemporary design cues into the final iteration of the Skyjet,” according to a statement.

The design incorporates an adapted interpretation of Lexus’ signature “spindle” grille, and a similar headlight design to that of the 2018 Lexus LC coupe, “defined by an athletic and aerodynamic shape.”

Besson said: “For this partnership we were looking for a brand that’s pioneering in innovation and technology, which is focused on the future more than the past.”

David Nordstrom, global branding department general manager at Lexus, added: “We enjoyed the challenge of bringing Lexus’ design philosophy and technology innovations to this project. We look forward to developing our partnership with EuropaCorp as we strive to give audiences the most amazing experiences imaginable in the coming years.”