Sharp has spent years perfecting the glow of screens that light up the living rooms of homes all around the globe and the hum of appliances that quietly do their thing in the background. But cars? This is a whole new playground for the Japanese company – one they’ve certainly not been a part in before. Yet here we are, with the LDK+—a compact electric minivan that brings all the comforts of home right up to your windshield. It was developed with the help of Foxconn (or Hon Hai, as the Taiwanese know it) has a pretty modest goal : making time spent stuck in traffic feel less like torture and more like sinking into your favorite armchair.
From the outside, the LDK+ has ditched the awkward look of its original 2024 prototype – the cab-over design that resulted in a cabin that looked rammed in, like an over-packed suitcase, has gone and been replaced by a more family-friendly shape. The whole thing is shorter, with a front end that pokes out just a bit, giving it some much-needed breathing room. Full-width LED headlights sweep across the front grille, where the Sharp logo has been neatly carved in – a nice touch that nods to the company’s history. And then there are the sliding doors and upright tail that promise easy access and plenty of space for luggage – or, you know, just lounging about. To keep things feeling a bit more down-to-earth, it even has traditional side mirrors and door handles – not exactly cutting-edge stuff, but it keeps this car from feeling like a concept car from the future.
- BUILD A RACING LEGEND – Boys and girls ages 9 years old and up can construct the LEGO Speed Champions Porsche 911 GT3 RS Super Car (77239) building set and collect this iconic sports car model
- AUTHENTIC PORSCHE DETAILS – Young builders can recreate the real-life vehicle's signature elements including the famous rear wing, air intake features on the hood, distinctive headlights, and novelty rims
- 1 PORSCHE DRIVER MINIFIGURE – Kids can place the driver minifigure with helmet and red Porsche Track Day Experience outfit behind the wheel to stage their own track-day racing action
Step inside the wide, pillarless entrance, and thats where things get really interesting. The floors are completely flat, from the front dash right to the back, so you don’t get those annoying bumps and barriers that always seem to make minivans feel like, well, (dare I say it) minivans. The driver’s seat swivels easily to face the back, turning the console into a shared workspace with a foldable table for eating or sketching out ideas. And in the back, there’s a bench seat for three, which is surrounded by mood-sensitive lighting.
The original concept’s massive 65-inch screen has got the chop and been replaced by a projector up above the back seat. Just pull down the retractable screen and the walls become your own personal cinema, with all the projection quality Sharp has been perfecting over the years. Of course, on the road it all folds up and the focus is on driving – or, you know, having a good old chinwag with your passengers while the tyres do their thing on the road beneath you.
Sharp’s AIoT system learns your habits – when you make coffee, how low the thermostat drops at night, how long your washing machine cycle takes. It talks to toasters, refrigerators and air conditioners, gathering data to recommend changes or even anticipate needs – like pre-cooling the house as you drive into the area. Vehicle-to-home power flows in the other direction too, delivering energy back into your setup which includes hookups for solar panels and home batteries.
Underneath it all is the same electric design as Foxconn’s Model A, a minivan concept that debuted last year and promised versatility. That same base translates to a powertrain designed for economy over raw power, while details on range, charging speed and battery size remain unknown for now. Foxconn plans to put its version on Japanese roads by early 2027, with ASEAN markets following after, so the LDK+ has a clear path to join the party.
