Lexus Partners With Adidas To Create RX 500h ‘Vibe-Branium’ Inspired By Black Panther

Lexus has decided to celebrate the release of the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” with a special version of its RX 500h inspired by the film. Created by students at Adidas School of Experiential Education in Design (S.E.E.D.), it features numerous nods to the movie’s fictional locale.

Designed as part of Adidas’ “Wakanda Forever Collection,” which is a selection of products that serve to answer the question “What if Wakanda had a national athletic team?” the Lexus RX 500h’s performance makes it the perfect vehicle for the project, says Lexus.

The exterior is finished in the same shade of purple found in much of the Wakanda Forever Collection, while a diamond pattern is inlaid across the hood that is inspired by Black Panther’s claw necklace. Further gold details, meanwhile, serve as an homage to the superhero’s suit.

Read: All-Electric Lexus RZ 450e Goes To Wakanda For Black Panther-Themed Ad

The Lexus SUV is also covered in special badging on the wheels, the back, and elsewhere that is written in the fictional Wakandan alphabet. In addition to the F Sport and Lexus badges, the word Vibe-Branium is also spelled in the script on the back of the vehicle.

Inside, meanwhile, the seats feature the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”-inspired gold print pattern that was created by Adidas, as do the door panel inserts and a section of the steering wheel. Key touch points, such as the steering wheel pad and the headrests, are covered in the same “energy-returning” material as the mid-sole used on the Adidas 4D-FWD shoe.

Elsewhere, surfaces around the shifter are covered in laser-cut wood and gold trim, and the door sill plates feature the F Sport name written in the Wakandan alphabet.

“Lexus is passionate about fostering future designers,” said Sabina Charfauros-Redmon, creative lead, Lexus International. “We see adidas S.E.E.D as representing a new normal that opens doors for BIPOC women in the design space. It’s a special moment when young creators are given the opportunity to stretch their creativity beyond their own comprehension. Lexus believes in this narrative and is excited to be a part of this process.”

In addition to this new show car, Lexus and Adidas have collaborated to create a limited-release t-shirt designed by the students at S.E.E.D. Available only to select influencers, the shirt features the African proverb “Educate a woman, educate a nation” stylized in the traditional Japanese tategaki format, on the front. The back of the shirt, meanwhile, features a periodic table transcribed in Wakandan.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” hit theaters on November 11.