By Edward A. Sanchez – March 30, 2021
Today, Lexus pulled back the covers on its LF-Z Electrified concept, a battery-electric (BEV) model intended to showcase the future design language of the brand as it gradually pivots toward electrification. I’m sure Lexus would take issue with how I’m framing the discussion, as it notes in the release that it had the first “electrified” luxury model on the market in 2005 with the RX 400h hybrid crossover. Let’s be clear, Lexus and its parent Toyota have been playing the name game with “electrification” for more than a decade claiming leadership in “electrified” vehicles – which are mostly hybrids.
Even in Lexus’ stated commitment to electrification hedges things a little by saying it would have 20 “electrified” models by 2026, which will include BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs, “in line with the needs of each country and region around the world and based on the concept of offering the right products in the right place at the right time.”
Taking a cynical view of this statement, it really means, “If we’re going to be required to sell BEVs in certain markets, we’ll sell BEVs. Otherwise, we’ll sell what we’re required to by law.”
Lexus claims it will offer an electric variant of each of its models by 2025 and aims for total lifecycle carbon neutrality of its lineup by 2050, including manufacturing, logistics, to end-of-life disposal and recycling.
At any rate, back to the LF-Z Electrified. If its futuristic, sci-fi styling isn’t enough to convince you of its futuristic, forward-looking credentials, the concept has “ELECTRIFIED” spelled out in prominent block-letters across the tailgate. Lexus claims the LF-Z rides on a dedicated BEV platform and features an all-wheel-drive system dubbed Direct4. The concept also features a steer-by-wire system, which Lexus claims enables “the seamless orchestration and calculation of accelerator pedal application and steering wheel operation, resulting in powerful acceleration and exhilarating cornering performance that aligns near-perfectly to the driver’s will.”
The interior is also appropriately futuristic-looking, with a variation of Tesla’s yoke-style steering wheel present.
</div>
Those of us old enough to remember when the first-generation LS 400 and ES 250 came out may chuckle at any mention of engaging driving dynamics from a Lexus, but this is also the company that brought us the LFA sports coupe and IS-F, two unequivocally and legitimately sporty driver’s cars – so I’m not going to throw shade on Lexus’ claims of an engaging driving experience.
As part of its commitment to electrification, Lexus is opening a business and technical center at Toyota’s Shimoyama Technical Center. The center will include collaborative office spaces, a design studio, and test courses and roads to burnish the vehicles’ driving dynamics and ride quality. A 3.3-mile road course was completed in 2019, and 10 other test tracks and road courses are currently under construction to test various aspects of vehicle dynamics.
I’m encouraged that Toyota and Lexus are showing at least some level of enthusiasm and commitment to EVs, even if they’re stubbornly hanging on to the laurels of their hybrid history. Throughout most of its history, Toyota has been extremely conservative and incremental in its approach to new technologies, business, and manufacturing. As I’ve said before, it’s somewhat of a miracle that something as groundbreaking as the Prius came out of such an environment.
I understand Toyota’s reticence to jump feet first into EVs as its watching startups launch and fail by the day, and probably reading about the billions being invested into EVs by legacy manufacturers, with any payoff on those investments being years – or decades – down the road.
Someday, Toyota may be considered one of the “leaders” in BEVs. But will that day come when BEVs are simply considered “Vs” – in other words, when the transition to full electrification is essentially complete? It seems like Toyota is content to play the long game and take an incremental approach to find out.
(Images courtesy Lexus)
- Podcast - Facebook - Google News - Twitter -