OYAMA, Japan — Japanese premium chief Lexus is rolling out a few of its most fetching automotive designs, luxurious facilities and spectacular applied sciences nowadays.
Simply contemplate the rugged beauty of the GX utility automobile, the regal splendor of the LM folks mover and the futuristic steer-by-wire system for updates of the modern RZ electrical crossover.
However Lexus’ newly appointed international boss says an excellent larger transformation is on the best way from 2026 because the model leaps into next-generation electrical autos. The highway ahead shall be previewed subsequent month when Lexus unwraps the primary idea for these EVs on the Japan Mobility Present.
Takashi Watanabe, who took the helm as president of Lexus Worldwide in April, stated full electrical drive will open a brand new world of alternatives for Lexus to burnish its model persona. Lexus will spearhead Toyota Motor Corp.’s next-generation EVs on its technique to providing an electrified choice for each automobile in 2030, earlier than going EV-only by 2035.
“In 2026, we’ll introduce the next-generation battery EV that re-innovates the automobile modular construction, considerably alters our manufacturing strategies and fully re-imagines the software program platform,” Watanabe stated at a automobile and expertise showcase this month at Fuji Speedway. “We’ve additionally prioritized automobile design to embody the essence of Lexus.”
On the radar is a software program working system that Lexus stated will unlock a brand new world of customized premium perks and efficiency, in addition to luxurious tailor-made to regional preferences.
Pure electrical motor drive will ship extra direct management and pleasure, Watanabe stated, including Lexus is even contemplating an all-electric stick shift expertise that may retain the fun of throwing via the gears for tomorrow’s electrical motor heads.
A brand new technology of F-inspired all-electric efficiency fashions on faucet is pumped up by rumors of an EV sports activities coupe positioned as a non secular successor to the legendary LFA supercar. A teaser of the Japan Mobility Present idea reveals a wedge-shaped silhouette with a protracted wheelbase, tucked-down nostril and raked windshield.
All of it feeds into how Lexus desires to differentiate itself from the premium pack via its Lexus Driving Signature, a driving expertise characterised by quiet consolation and responsive steering.
“We contemplate the battery-electric powertrain excellent for controlling automobile motion,” stated Watanabe, previously chief engineer for Lexus Electrified, the operation charged with making the marque gasoline-free. Watanabe took the wheel after earlier Lexus model boss Koji Sato was promoted this 12 months to succeed Akio Toyoda as CEO of mother or father firm Toyota Motor.
As former high engineer for electrifying Lexus, Watanabe serves because the architect of the brand new path. But the highway forward is unsure, beginning with manufacturing and gross sales plans.
Lexus stated it is going to be able to promote 1 million EVs yearly in 2030, which represents an enormous ramp-up. Toyota and Lexus manufacturers mixed bought slightly below 25,000 EVs worldwide in 2022. Via August of this 12 months, Lexus bought solely 2,068 RZ electrical crossover autos within the U.S.
Simply how and the place to fabricate EVs is a plan nonetheless within the making. Watanabe stated the hot button is commoditizing the {hardware} as a lot as doable to drive down prices to compete with the likes of Tesla and China’s BYD.
“We have to make it simpler to construct and simplify as a lot as doable,” Watanabe stated, including that it’s “vital to humbly take a look at and study from” Tesla’s achievements. “One in all our first steps shall be modifying and rethinking our manufacturing strategies.”
Lexus will piggyback on a slew of recent manufacturing methods being readied by Toyota. These embody automobiles that drive themselves via meeting strains and the adoption of giga casting methods to enormously scale back the variety of elements.
One other problem is setting Lexus aside within the age of commoditized EVs.
“We should be extra distinctive — we have to outline that,” Watanabe stated. “If we rely solely on product alone, we most likely cannot get so far as we have to go. We have to supply extra. After the shopper has purchased the product, what different type of experiences are doable?”
Diversifying the model lineup to attraction to regional wants is one technique to accomplish that, Watanabe stated.
In Europe, for instance, Lexus affords the LBX compact crossover based mostly on the identical structure because the Toyota Yaris Cross. Prospects in China and Japan, in the meantime, are being focused with the boxy LM van, a chauffeured lounge on wheels for the chief set. And the redesigned GX SUV and new TX three-row household crossover are geared towards North America, the place folks need premium efficiency each on the highway and off.
“For the primary time on a world scale, we’re bringing distinctive merchandise to completely different areas,” Watanabe stated. “That is what’s distinctive about this time in our model historical past.”
To spotlight its dedication to contemporary pondering on the model occasion, Lexus confirmed off a leisure off-highway automobile dubbed the ROV Idea. The four-wheeled filth satan relies on the Yamaha YXZ1000R.
However Lexus engineers reworked its 998-cc three-cylinder inside combustion engine to change into a zero-emission powerplant that burns hydrogen as an alternative of gasoline. Skilled drivers demonstrated the automobile’s rock-chewing chops in a stomach-churning romp via a brand new off-road take a look at observe carved into the hills above Fuji Speedway’s paved worldwide circuit.
The efficiency of the ROV certainly impressed. However engineers stated its meager vary of simply 12 miles on a full tank of hydrogen will preserve the wild runabout within the improvement lab in the interim.