We welcome: the Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept. A new study model that not only looks ahead to what we can expect from the brand in the electrical field, but that also marks the start of a renewed Lexus.
Highlights
- Twenty new or renewed models within five years
- New hybrids, plug-ins and ten new EVs
- LF-Z Electrified Concept symbolizes new focus
- Almost 550 hp, 600 km range
- Preview of Lexus models from 2025
The UX 300e is currently Lexus’ only fully electric car, but that electric variant of the crossover UX won’t stay that way for long. The LF-Z Electrified symbolizes the new Lexus, which will increasingly focus on fully electric cars. Within five years, Lexus will introduce twenty modified or completely new models. It concerns hybrids and plug-ins, but also no fewer than ten fully electric cars. After inquiries from Techzle, Lexus Europe CEO Spiros Fotinos hints that the models that are available fully electrically are not necessarily all developed purely for electric propulsion. “We have the E-TNGA platform, but we can also prepare models for electric powertrains, as we have shown before,” said Fotinos. So, in addition to new purely electric models, you can also count on electric powertrains for more conventionally powered types.
Lexus says with its greater focus on electric cars, among other things, it responds to the strongly changed ‘values and expectations’ of the consumer. This also opens the doors for cars in new categories for the brand. Lexus says it is expanding its current sedan, SUV and coupé offering with sports cars and models in “completely new segments.”
Lexus LF-Z Electrified
Lexus’ shifted focus extends beyond the announcement of new models, a change in design style and the advent of electric vehicles. For example, the brand wants to have the complete production cycle of its new models and the cars themselves completely CO2 neutral by 2050. In March 2024, Lexus will open a new development center in Shimoyama, Japan, which will house not only design teams but also development teams. The location will be linked to various test locations, including a 5.3 kilometer long test route and a high-speed track. In total there will be ten different types of test tracks.
LF-Z Electrified
The LF Z Electrified gives a first impression of the design elements and the technology that you will see from Lexus on the road from 2025 and thus symbolizes the ‘new Lexus’. The show car is built on an EV-focused modular platform, most likely the E-TNGA base. In this case, that modular basis is packed with a striking design, in which we observe some hints of the LF-30 Electrified Concept dating from 2019. The LF-Z Electrified is 4.8 meters long, 1.96 meters wide and has a wheelbase of 2.95 meters. Although the slick-lined crossover is 9 centimeters shorter than the RX, its wheelbase is nicely more than 15 centimeters longer than that of that model. Only the 5.25 meter long LS has a greater distance between the front and rear axle at 3.13 meters.
Lexus LF-Z Electrified
The 2,100 kilo Lexus LF-Z Electrified has a muzzle that is both recognizable Lexus and completely new. The shape of the headlights and ‘grille’ refers to the design language and the ‘spindle grille’ that you currently see on the IS, ES and LS, although the concrete interpretation is completely different from what we are used to. Of course, the closed radiator grille is a striking design element and the adjacent pattern that merges into black areas is also an attention-grabber. The same goes for the striking lines that run from the front wheel arches to the rear. The LF-Z Electrified has cameras mounted on sticks that act as side mirrors and further back we see a noticeable kink in the shoulder line near the C-pillar. The normally recessed handles slide out when you get close (with the key or digital key in your pocket) and have a sensor that you just tap to open the door. Lexus calls this E-Latch.
Lexus LF-Z Electrified
The LF-Z Electrified has a sharply sloping rear, complete with a fairly flat rear window and a vertical ‘fin’ that extends the line of the vertical LED stripe in the rear bumper. In the center of the back is an LED strip, made up of dozens of LED segments, which runs across the entire width of the buttock porthole. It shows a large Lexus brand name.
Technic
The LF-Z Electrified is cluttered with hard- and software promising on paper. In the back is a 544 hp and 700 Nm strong electric motor that distributes its forces over the wheels via Direct4 all-wheel drive. The asset allocation is completely variable. With its massive electric power, the concept car sprints to 100 km / h in 3 seconds. Its top speed is 200 km / h. A 90 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery hides in the bottom of the LF-Z Electrified. That package gives the Lexus a range of 600 kilometers. The maximum charging power is 150 kW.
Lexus LF-Z Electrified
The Lexus has so-called ‘shift-by-wire’ steering, which means that the steering wheel is not connected to a steering rod. No study model without a flashy interior and stuffed with gadgets. The LF-Z Electrified has a futuristically designed square steering wheel, with a colorful collection of displays behind it. The center tunnel consists of a high, white ‘bar’ in which nothing but a button is placed to choose the direction of travel. The rear seat consists of two semi-loose seats. The LF-Z Electrified has, among other things, a piece of artificial intelligence (AI) on board that learns from the behavior and the chosen settings of the users. Of course you can also give voice commands. More pampering comes in the form of an extensive audio system from Mark Levinson and an electrochromatic glass panoramic roof, the degree of transparency of which you can control yourself.