Lexus to Unveil a Sleek SUV Concept on March 30
Lexus recently shared a concept car teaser and announced that the prototype will make its global debut on March 30, 2021.
Unlike other legacy automakers, Toyota’s electrification strategy is taking its time to fruition. The Japanese car manufacturer only recently announced its plans for an all-electric SUV, which will be introduced as a Lexus model. The company’s luxury subsidiary will develop this model in collaboration with Subaru, and the two badge-engineered models will most likely be based on the e-TNGA vehicle architecture.
The luxury automaker has now shared a concept car teaser and announced that the prototype will make its global debut on March 30, 2021. It remains unclear whether the upcoming model will be a badge-engineered version of the Subaru Evoltis SUV, but the company has confirmed that its new concept will feature the all-new Direct4 drivetrain technology.
The teaser does not reveal much detail, but a quick look at the car’s front end indicates that the concept car might be the same model Lexus teased back in December 2020. The company also shared teaser images of the upcoming model’s rear-end earlier in February, and now, the car’s side profile confirms that Toyota’s luxury sub-brand plan to introduce an SUV/crossover model.
So we can probably expect that a five-door high-riding model will soon join the Lexus product portfolio. The concept’s silhouette suggests that it will sport a sloping roofline which will also feature a large fin. The car also gets illuminated Lexus badging on both ends, which strongly suggests that the new concept will receive some level of electrification.
It looks like the concept also has substantial overhangs, which suggests that Lexus probably designed the new vehicle to accommodate internal combustion powertrains. The upcoming concept will probably receive an AWD layout, and if it is a Direct4-equipped EV, then the SUV will be propelled by dual electric motors (one on each axle). In the case of a hybrid model, the electric motor on the front axle will be swapped for a combustion engine.
Earlier in February, Toyota announced that it will be introducing three new electrified models in the U.S. market. These will include an all-electric model and two plug-in hybrid offerings. As the global automotive industry aggressively adopts electrification, it is about time that Toyota joins the battery-powered bandwagon.
Image Source: Lexus
Join the Club Lexus forums now!
