A glimpse of the new Lexus electric concept car which may come to Australia in late 2021.
Toyota’s luxury vehicle division Lexus has unveiled a new electric drive control system called Direct4 which has been designed for the bran’s next generation of battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
On top of that, amidst the larger announcement, Lexus gave a glimpse at a new electric concept car which it promises will be revealed in the first quarter of 2021.
Lexus’ new Direct4 electric drive control system is able to precisely control the delivery of drive torque from front and rear electric motors and braking force to all four wheels.
Further, by automatically adjusting the balance of front- and rear-wheel drive, the system is able to adapt the driving conditions to the driver’s intentions, providing a change in the driving feel and providing the best driving posture.
The system uses a front and rear e-axle, each featuring a high-torque electric motor and transaxle, which is able to focus on optimum drive force distribution and, given that it is directly connected to the wheels by a single driveshaft, is able to operate without delay.
Lexus believes the Direct4 electric drive control system will not only give “the driver a genuine sense of being fully connected with the vehicle” and provide “an ideal balance of predictability and excitement, with powerful, linear acceleration and exhilarating cornering” but will also be “engineered for quietness and comfort, true to the core quality of Lexus vehicles.”
The new electric drive technology was introduced in a short film interview by Takashi Watanabe, Lexus Electrified Chief Engineer, which includes a practical demonstration of the benefits of Direct4 with track drives of prototype vehicles.
The new film also provides a sneak peek at the future of Lexus’ design thinking, revealing sketches and images of a new concept car that the company intends to reveal in the first quarter of 2021.
Lexus’ Chief Designer Koichi Suga further explains the way in which electrification technologies will not only impact vehicle performance, but the overall design of vehicles. For example, electric vehicles do not require front cooling for an engine and radiator, giving designers greater freedom of design.
Australia should expect to see the first all-electric Lexus model in November of 2021, when the luxury compact UX 300e lands on our shores.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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