Lexus LF-Z Electrified EV is a preview of the brand's future direction

Visually Striking Lexus LF-Z Electrified is heavy on style, light on details

The Lexus LF-Z Electrified has been revealed in the form of concept renderings, and the Japanese automaker claims that we’ll see a production version around 2025. According to Lexus, the LF-Z features “ideal dynamic balance achieved through the optimal placement of the battery and electric motors, as well as, among others, a new four-wheel driving force control technology known as "DIRECT4" that generates a superior and highly flexible driving performance, setting the LF-Z Electrified apart from conventional vehicles.”

So far, that all sounds rather vague. While most major automakers have committed to decarbonising their product line-ups and reducing manufacturing and supply chain emissions, Toyota Motor Corporation’s President Akio Toyota has recently criticised electric vehicles as overhyped, and stated that the transition to electrification is happening too quickly. While Toyota has been a pioneer in petrol-electric hybrid technology since the original Prius launched in 1997, the company has firmly refused to adapt to the current trend of electrification, and the LF-Z is the only sign that Lexus is serious about attaining market share in key European and American markets.

Exterior Design

The LF-Z Electrified retains some familiar Lexus design signatures; the aerodynamic ‘tick’ headlights, complex side-profile surfacing and cab-rear stance tie the LF-Z to the current model line up. The vehicle’s designers have added some pleasing new elements such as the swooping glasshouse, Aston Martin-esque wraparound rear with ducktail spoiler and vertical brake lights.

The Lexus LF-Z Electrified has a striking side profile.

The interior is bare, futuristic and laden with screens, and since it is just a concept at this stage, we can’t glean much about Lexus’ cabins of the future. The cockpit was designed based on the company’s concept of "Tazuna" ("tazuna" is Japanese for "rein"). and according to Lexus they were “inspired by the relationship between horse and rider, who communicate through a single rein, steering wheel-mounted switches and the vehicle's head-up display have been highly coordinated to create a space in which various functions, such as the navigation system, audio system, and driving mode selection, can be performed while concentrating on driving and without movement of the driver's line of sight or need to operate complicated switches.”

The interior of the Lexus LF-Z

The company has not hinted at any drivetrain or battery specifications, except to say that the LF-Z will be based on a dedicated electric vehicle platform. Lexus aims to offer electric variants of all its models by 2025, with the sales ratio of electric vehicles exceeding that of gasoline-engine vehicles. Lexus hasn’t specified how many of these will be Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) and how many will be fossil fuel free however. Given that the LF-Z is the company’s first fully electric vehicle, we don’t expect to see BEVs dominating the Lexus lineup within the next 5 years.

Source and Images: Toyota Motor Corporation