Lexus is committed to becoming a full EV manufacturer by 2035, and they’ve now given us a first taste of what that might look like. The Japanese luxury carmaker unveiled two new concepts at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show today, and one of them, the LF-ZC, will be headed to production come 2026.
The Lexus LF-ZC – which stands for Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst, by the way – is a fully electric four-door fastback sedan, with a look so sharp it might slice your eyes open if you stare at it too long. Since it’s still a concept, Lexus in usual fashion shared more about the concept’s design motif than its technical details.
For starters, its design is “characterised by its sleek proportions, low centre of gravity, spacious cabin, and an emotionally charged design that seamlessly blends functionality and aesthetics”, whatever the latter means. It’ll stand similar in size to the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 at 4,750 mm long, 1,390 mm tall, and 1,880 mm wide, and will boast a super-low drag coefficient of just 0.2 Cd, according to the press release.
The interior of the Lexus LF-ZC is just as futuristic as outside, thanks to a screen-filled cabin built mostly out of bamboo, which Lexus says will significantly lower the carbon footprint of its future EVs. The screens will run on the marque’s upcoming Arene OS, utilising an AI ‘butler’ to learn the drivers’ habits, then automatically customising the displays and even the driving modes accordingly.
Lexus also says that the system will also allow its customers to “engage in e-sports using Steer-by-Wire technology inside the vehicle”. We’re not quite sure what that means, but it does sound quite terrifying.
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The Lexus LF-ZC concept will be built on a new modular structure formed through gigacasting, which splits the vehicle body into three distinct parts: front, centre, and rear. Gigacasting is said to provide more flexibility in the vehicle’s form, while also increasing body rigidity for better handling capabilities.
The separate sections also mean it’ll allow them to integrate newer battery technologies more rapidly into their vehicles, as they’re structurally independent to the rest of the car. At launch in 2026, Lexus says that it’ll be powered by prismatic high-performance batteries that offer up to “twice the range of conventional BEVs”.
The same platform is also used in the LF-ZL (no clue what the name stands for), but the model will unfortunately remain as a concept for now. Lexus says that the LF-ZL will “represent a future Lexus flagship luxury model, aiming to offer a prestigious ownership experience beyond just the car”.
It’ll measure some 5,100 mm long and 2,020 mm wide, making it even bigger than the current Lexus LX SUV, and will feature many of the same features found on the LF-ZC, thanks to the shared platform and Arene OS software.
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Lexus LF-ZC Concept
Lexus LF-ZL Concept
