Everything You Need to Know about Lexus Direct4 Four-Wheel-Drive Force Control Technology
Lexus recently introduced the LF-Z BEV which debuts luxury automaker’s Drive4 Technology. Here is what you need to know about its mechanism, benefits, applications, future, and design.
Japanese luxury car brand Lexus recently introduced its LF-Z Electrified BEV. The model marks a very important milestone in the automaker’s electrification strategy. The company has also announced that it plans on introducing as many as 10 electrified models by 2025. The new SUV is also a technological showcase for the company’s Direct4 Wheel Drive Force Control technology. Here all that you need to know about the new four-wheel-driving tech.
Mechanism
Like most electric vehicles, the battery pack of LF-Z Electrified BEV sits low under the vehicle’s floor and therefore, dominates most of the vehicle’s wheelbase. True to our prediction; the new electric-only model features one electric motor per axle, which bestows the vehicle with an all-wheel-drive setup.
Commenting on the Direct4 technology, Lexus Electrified’s chief engineer, Takashi Watanabe said, “At Lexus, we want to use electrification and related technologies to create vehicles that elevate the original potential of the car. We focus on natural acceleration that is tune to the senses as well as vehicle movement and response according to steering. We’d like To continue improving this performance.”
The new mechanism also controls both axles independently, which means Lexus’ new technology can control the acceleration and deceleration of all four wheels to deliver a “dynamic performance”. In the case of hybrid models, a combustion engine will replace the electric motor on the front axle and the rear wheels will be driven by Lexus’ e-Axle.
Benefits
The placement of the car’s battery pack and electric motors results in a low center of gravity, which enhances LF-Z’s handling characteristics. The battery pack is positioned longitudinally and stops noise and vibrations from ruining the passenger experience.
The electric motors also offer plenty of torque, which results in a more “natural” and almost instantaneous acceleration. The technology is also compatible with the state-of-the-art steer-by-wire interface, which offers a more responsive driving experience. This allows the vehicle to change directions with more precision. The technology also allows the driver to change the ratio of drive force.
Applications
Lexus has confirmed that by 2025 it will introduce a wide range of electrified models. The Direct4 Wheel Drive Force Control technology will likely underpin all upcoming offerings. Lexus’ latest tech is quite versatile, and because the front and rear axles are independently propelled, the technology is ideal for models with different driving layouts (front, rear, and all-wheel drive).
The Future
Lexus has confirmed that in the coming years, it plans on enriching the driver’s mobility experience by introducing advanced infotainment functions and new technology. Lexus plans on using its DIRECT4 to improve its dynamic performance and traction technology in the future.
The luxury automaker has also confirmed that electrification will be at the core of its upcoming technologies and that it will focus on HEV, PHEV, and FCEV models for regions that do not have the infrastructure to support battery-only EVs.
The Design
Interestingly enough, Lexus claims that its new electrification technology also has the potential to affect the design of the vehicle. The General Manager of Lexus Design, Koichi Suga explained how the new technology is inspiring the aesthetics of the company’s upcoming vehicles.
“Design is not only about styling it is also based on engineering and expressing it as a shape. That’s what we consider design to be”, said Suga. He further adds,” but with electrification, I wanted to take a step closer to the essence.”
Suga claims that the company’s electrification tech and its driving force will be responsible for inspiring the shapes that all electrified Lexus models will sport. The company’s design team is working on devising a way to express the vehicle’s technological foundations in three dimensions.
Image Source: Lexus
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