Lexus to unveil new EV concept car

Lexus recently published photos hinting the upcoming electric concept car of the brand. This EV concept car is said to preview the upcoming generation of Lexus vehicles. The EV concept is set to be revealed next week.

From the previous pair of darkened images released by Lexus late last year, the new images shows a bit clearer visual of a car’s silhouette which seems to sport a coupe body styling. The new concept car is due to be revealed on Tuesday, 30 March.

As per an Autocar UK report, no further details of the car aside from Lexus saying that it will “introduce a renewed brand vision” and that it “previews the next generation of Lexus vehicles.” The brand has previously hinted the machine will be a bespoke EV.

Speculations say that the new model will be based on Toyota’s new e-TNGA EV platform. Currently, Lexus has just one EV model in the international market, the UX 300e which was based off a combustion engine-powered model.

The concept will hint at how the design team will approach bespoke EVs, but it’s not yet clear how production-ready the car shown will be.

Design chief Koichi Suga said it will demonstrate how Lexus’s bold ‘spindle’ grille will evolve, due to the lack of a radiator needed for an EV. He said that offered “a chance to express our unique design.”

The Lexus design chief also shared that the future designs of Lexus EVs would not be limited to a specific shape but rather be “more about expressing the technological foundations in three dimensions.” Suga furthered that the firm worked on designs that took inspiration from Lexus’s driving dynamics which offered a unique modelling expression.

Lexus has also outlined its new Direct4 electric drive control system, which it says will be a key feature in ensuring its future models offer unique dynamic performance.

This electric drive control system will serve as the key to Lexus’ electrification efforts. The Direct4 system is just one of the many technologies that the brand aims to develop to produce series of EVs that offer performance, handling, control, and driver enjoyment.

The Direct4 system can be used on both hybrid and fully electric cars and utilizes front and rear ‘e-axles’. Each axle is mated to a high-torque electric motor and allows torque to be sent independently to all four wheels through a single driveshaft.

The system can automatically adjust power and torque between the front, and Lexus claims that it increases dynamic cornering performance while also improving comfort and reducing noise.

Takashi Watanabe, Lexus Electrified’s chief engineer, said the Direct4 system could also be used on hybrids, with the frontmounted combustion engine driving the front axle and an e-axle with a motor at the rear.

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