We have an image in our minds of what Japanese engineers and senior business people are like. Serious. Dedicated. Precise. A little dour, maybe?
Heavily camouflaged
Well, this new video, just released by Lexus, kind of puts the kibosh on that image. For the first minute or so, we see the new Lexus RZ all-electric SUV, heavily camouflaged, being driven on a test track in Japan. Inside we find two people - Koji Sato, President of Lexus International and Chief Branding Officer is in the passenger seat, while in the driver's seat is Akio Toyoda himself, chairman of Toyota (and therefore boss of Lexus too) and a bit of a handy wheelman.
At first, all is predictable. The two men discuss the broad principles behind the RZ and they're speaking in the kind of nonsense marketing-speak that we've become accustomed to in such corporate video clips.
Enthusiasm
Right up until the moment when Toyoda suggests that he drive a little faster... After that, it's all big smiles, the occasional hooting laugh, and wide eyes as the overlord of all things Lexus seems to be having quite the ball pushing his company's new luxury electric SUV around the track. Having initially thought the car "a little too heavy", by the time they're halfway around the lap. Toyoda is saying "it's like night and day" and "I'm seeing a whole new side of this car now."
OK, so he would say that - this is a corporate-issued press release video, after all, but Toyoda's enthusiasm for driving tends to shine through in the cars that he signs off (GT86 and GR86, GR Yaris, Supra, etc etc) so this may be a good sign that Lexus' new EV will actually be good fun to drive. Here's hoping.
After the test drive, Sato said: "Extracting the full potential of the vehicle through electrification technology - that is what electrification means to Lexus. We will deliver a unique electrified Lexus that linear motor acceleration and deceleration, with the brake feeling and exhilarating handling to pursue the joy of driving. In particular, we believe that the battery EV will become the future symbol of Lexus as a model that most clearly expresses the evolution of the automobile. The latest of these models is the Lexus RZ. The process of strengthening the fundamentals, and pursuing the Lexus driving signature will not change even if it is a battery EV." We were then shown a series of images of the new RZ, undisguised, which shows that it will (unsurprisingly) adopt many of the styling cues of the current Lexus lineup, but will adopt a lower, sleeker shape and cleaner lines than the current NX and RX hybrid models.
LF-A replacement
That's all interesting enough, but then Sato dropped the big one on us - the all-battery replacement for the legendary LF-A supercar is a go-project, even if all he could show us so far were digitally-created images of the car, which was shown off in concept form as part of Lexus and Toyota's vast 15-strong electric concept car reveal back before Christmas. "The endless pursuit of the Lexus driving signature will move to the next stage through the development of the new sports battery EV. With the bold proportions and low ride height essential to a sports car, it will showcase the unique driving performance of a Lexus, and become a model that symbolises the future of the brand. Acceleration time will be in the low two seconds range and cruising range over 700km. With the possible use of solid-state batteries in mind, we will aim to create a truly unique high-performance battery EV."
Whatever the new RZ brings to the table, Lexus' sales seem to be recovering, post-pandemic. Global sales of Lexus products were up to 106 per cent of the previous year's, more than 760,000 cars. In Europe, sales of 72,000 meant just a small percentage increase, but any rise is good news at a time of motor industry turmoil and shortages.