Future Lexus Models Feature New Look & Technology
Future Lexus vehicles will lose the rear badge in favor of lettering; and the changes keep coming: new tech, new plans, and more LFA tease.
Toyota and Lexus have been very busy in the last few months. First, the company blew minds with the announcement that Lexus will be going all-electric in the near future. The company plans to have Lexus electrified by 2030, blazing towards road less traveled. To pull off such a drastic transformation on the first-of-its-kind electric fleet is not going to be easy. But Toyota and Lexus are putting in the work to make electric vehicles that earns the nameplates high standards.
But this Lexus. And one thing they have proved is that they are not afraid of changes. They have approached the EV revolution with gusto and already have a dozen BEV concepts in the works.
In addition to Lexus’ electric conversion–so to speak–the company will be rolling out a new look, an upgraded infotainment system, additional models will be added to help diversify Lexus’ reach.
Badges? We Don’t Need No Stinking Badges
Brian Bolain, Lexus’ global head of marketing, told MotorTrend about the new style.
All models will have “Lexus” spelled out in the rear, losing the badge in back. Lettering will be on the truck or tailgate. Lexus has shown this design feature in first look at the 2022 Lexus NX, as well as the 2022 Lexus LX.
Lexus is rolling out this change now. Soon every Lexus vehicle will feature the lettering. While this may seem a controversial choice, Lexus thought about it in terms of aesthetics and pivoting their brand.
“We need some way to signify that change is coming to Lexus, and this may seem like a dumb way, but it catches your eye,” Bolain says.
Frankly, we like it. It will make other badges stand out, like the F Performance or F-Sport. And the lettering is clean, sharp, and modern. But it retains a classic visual that looks good, and definitely fits the lineup.
We’ve seen the Lexus badge delete across other concepts before, including the LF-30 and LF-Z Electrified, but the NX is the first production vehicle to carry the lettering.
Turn It Up!
Another news item that welcome good news is Lexus has a new, improved infotainment system. A common complaint in the past was that Lexus came up short with usability and onboard tech. Now, they have nailed it.
The new system was developed in-house by Lexus and Toyota; a project that the automaker put a lot of effort and money into. New is word here. Lexus employs a touchscreen system that is intuitive, user friendly, and hooked up. With expanded connectivity, the new system can use Google Maps, Apple Music, Amazon Music; but remains compatible existing CarPlay and Android Auto.
Now this is the system we needed. Faster, easy to use, and all the driver assist and multimedia bells and whistles. Lexus is including it in the 2022 NX and LX, with screen options varying from 8- to 14-inches. Lexus is already planning to add it to additional upcoming vehicles, and they are not biding their time. “There’s a very quick window, something like 30 months or so, but we’re not waiting for major changes. We’re doing it fast,” he said.
More, More, More
Of course, Lexus has ambitions to take their new EVs to new heights. Bolain said that Lexus models will enter different markets around the world.Koji Sato–operating officer of Lexus–plans to introduce different vehicles to different areas.
To that end, they want to offer drivers vehicles more of what they want and need.
“One of our real pushes is the need to have more diversity of products and have more respect for the fact that some markets need some things that other markets don’t. As we move forward, there will be opportunities for us to satisfy North America, Europe, Asia, independently as we spread our wings,” Bolain said. More Lexuses? Yes, please.
Lexus Electrifies With Sport Concept
Lest we forget, there is also that very LFA-esque Electrified Sport concept that Lexus keeps teasing us with. In fact recently, Lexus UK sent out some curious images to go with this not-so-subtle Tweet.
The Lexus Electrified Sport concept hints at a future battery-electric supercar inspired by the #LexusLFA. What do you make of it? pic.twitter.com/cNzHm7hbsm
— Lexus UK (@LexusUK) January 5, 2022
We are no longer in watercooler territory. Lexus Electrified Sport concept car is a’ coming. And we suspect it is going to be a cherry bomb. Taking inspiration from the LFA is a good start. The LFA changed how people saw Lexus; it was a risky move but it paid off. Now a cult classic, the LFA showed the track-bred fury of the F Performance line; as well as Lexus’ skill and precision in developing an stunningly aggressive high-po monster. They could craft a luxury sedan as well as a satisfying beast. But an LFA without that bone ratting V10 … well, we will see.
But this is their new LFA. Lexus is going to go bold and make G-force art with style and savagery. We remain incredibly optimistic.
At Toyota’s future EV press conference, president Akio Toyoda said that they “will develop a next-generation battery EV sports car that inherits the driving taste, or the secret sauce, of the performance cultivated via the development of the LFA. We will extend the driving taste refined this way to other models as we evolve Lexus into a brand centered on battery EVs.”
Additionally, Lexus has promised that the sports car is designed to run from a solid state battery. Although this might not come to fruition until after its launch. Hoping to hit a range of 435 miles on a charge, Lexus plans to be ready to rip. Electrification hopefully will not take any of its bite; the automaker promises it will be able to zip from 0 to 62 mph in under 2.5 seconds. We will miss the V10 roar, but look forward to the future and how Lexus will make its mark.
So far, it all sounds good. Lexus showed how change could be gorgeous and inspired with the RZ 450e and RZ-F. Toyota and Lexus are going in EVs full tilt, and the results look as intriguing as they do appealing.
Photos: Lexus, Lexus UK
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