When the 46th Tokyo Motor Show opens next week, the world will get to see yet another electric car concept, this time from Japanese luxury carmaker Lexus.
Teasing a very brief video of what can only be a headlight ahead of the auto show which opens next Thursday, the premium brand by Toyota is not giving much away.
“Leveraging continued advances in technologies such as electrification and autonomous driving, the electrified concept offers a glimpse into Lexus’ future vision, which caters to consumers who are equally passionate about driving and uniquely crafted luxury experiences,” is all that the brand says in its press release on the unveil.
With naught but this sweeping general statement and a momentary flash of video, it is somewhat lacking coming from the company that pioneered hybrid technology.
Let’s hope the concept itself generates some more excitement – after all, fellow Japanese carmaker Mazda will also be unveiling its first actual electric vehicle with its production version of the e-TPV as it finally joins the EV bandwagon.
Perhaps the flavour of this unveil can be partly garnered from parent company Toyota which will also have an electric presence at Tokyo.
This will be in the form of a “mobility theme park” that will give attendees the chance to experience a future of electric shuttles and buggies, as well as an electric concept vehicle called the “LQ”.
The LQ is not your average passenger car: it is intended to be an autonomous vehicle that is more an intelligent assistant on wheels than utilitarian transport device.
“In the past, our love for cars was built on their ability to take us to distant places and enable our adventures,” said LQ development leader Daisuke Ido in a statement.
“Advanced technology gives us the power to match customer lifestyles with new opportunities for excitement and engagement.”
Probably the best indication of Toyota’s direction in the zero emissions transport space though is its investment in hydrogen fuel-cell technology, as it also brings to Tokyo its second generation FCEV Mirai concept.
This is scheduled for launch in Japan, North America and Europe in 2020, limited as it is by the presence of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.