Lexus has unveiled the LF-30 Electrified Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, as the headliner of the brand’s vision for an upcoming generation of electrified vehicles, dubbed “Lexus Electrified”.
Built on an electric platform that will underpin future Lexus and Toyota EVs, the design-led concept sports an aggressive exterior made possible by being an electric vehicle.
The signature Lexus spindle shape now expands from just the front grille to make up the entire shape of the vehicle, with a window glass that stretches across the entire roof, muscular fenders, roof-mounted gullwing doors, and wing-shaped headlights to form the contours of the iconic spindle.
The wing-shaped headlights are not just for visual flair either – they help form the air intakes to aid cooling performance, in addition to improving aerodynamics.
The exterior paint job in ‘Voltaic Sky’ colour employs a metal-infused coating, resulting in a unique blue-green hue to emphasise the aggressive visual appearance of the car.
The inside of the Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept is every bit as stunning as the exterior. Lexus says its designers employed a human-centered philosophy based on ‘Tazuna‘, the Japanese word for rein – as used to control horses.
All control switches in the LF-30 Concept are mounted on the steering controller, along with a wraparound gesture-controlled display, allowing the driver to control various functions of the car without shifting their vision off the road.
On the passenger side, the seating space is modeled after a first-class airliner seat, with access to a separate gesture-controlled display.
The LF-30 concept employs a new steer-by-wire system. The removal of the mechanical linkage allows the steering column to be moved away during autonomous driving modes.
Other interior highlights include artificial muscle technology rear seats, Mark Levinson audio system, and a “SkyGate” window that uses augmented reality to display starry skies, videos, and even navigation.
As per Lexus fashion, premium materials such as Yakisugi (Japanese charred cedar wood) and recycled metal are used in its interior to project a posh interior appearance.
Lexus paid extra attention to driving dynamics on the FC-30 Electrified Concept, with the introduction of Lexus Advanced Posture Control technology that can manage the powertrain, steering, suspension, and brakes.
Lexus says that the new technology is a core part of the Lexus Electrified vision, and intends to apply the technology to vehicles in the electrified range.
The integrated control system regulates drive-power output independently to all four wheels, courtesy of its in-wheel electric motors, to “evoke the original fun of driving” regardless of the road surface and driving conditions.
The in-wheel electric motors and low positioning of the battery pack also enables better handling of inertia, while the steer-by-wire system allows for more flexible turning control depending on the driving conditions.
Packing a 110 kWh battery under the floor, the Lexus LF-30 concept promises a zero to 100 km/h sprint in just 3.8 seconds, and a top speed of 200 km/h, despite weighing in at 2,400 kg.
Output figures of the electric powertrain are rated at 400 kW (536 hp) and 700 Nm. Lexus also claims that the car is capable of covering 500 km on the WLTP cycle.
Looking around the car, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any charging ports for the electric vehicle. Lexus is instead choosing to develop a wireless conduction charging for the LF-30 and the Lexus Electrified line-up.
However in an interview with Autocar, Lexus Chief Engineer for electrified projects, Takashi Watanabe said “It does not mean the technology will be ready for our first production car on this platform, but in the future we want to enhance the luxuriousness of charging.
