Lexus will unveil its first electric car on November 22

Lexus is finally delving into the world of electric cars with its first product dedicated to this type of energy. Its public debut will take place during the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition later this year, in China, specifically on November 22.

Accompanying the announcement, the luxury carmaker has published a teaser image that reveals practically nothing, except for a logo on which ‘Electric‘ can be read.

However, the carmaker has confirmed that the new electric model will be launched in China and Europe.

“Designed specifically to meet the needs of customers in China and Europe, this further strengthens the brand’s aim of offering a portfolio of electrified powertrain options for different audiences around the world,” Lexus stated in the brief press release.

2021 is the expected date of its arrival on the market

The Japanese carmaker tested the waters last month with the LF-30 electrified concept. Despite the ‘electrified’ name, it is neither a hybrid nor a plug-in hybrid, but a vehicle with four electric motors, one mounted on each wheel, which together deliver 536 CV of power.

Depending on road conditions and/or driver preference, it can be driven in front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configuration. The concept car is equipped with several new technologies, such as wireless charging, automatic parking and front-door collection, the latter working in a similar way to the Summon function of Tesla.

For the prototype unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus chose a futuristic design approach that also includes gull-wing doors that open to reveal the cabin in a distinctive way, with several screens and a racing steering wheel. Will the production-ready electric model be a toned-down version of that concept, or something completely different? We will know next week, if not sooner…

It is still unknown whether it will be a production version of the small hatchback LF-SA concept from 2015 shown below, or an electric equivalent of the UX crossover. Either way, although we are leaning towards the latter, it will use an electric adaptation of an existing platform. For an electric car built from scratch on a dedicated platform, Lexus says we will have to wait until the early next decade, when the company’s first plug-in hybrid car will also see the light of day in production.

By 2025, Lexus wants sales of battery electric and hybrid vehicles to surpass those of conventionally powered cars, as a result of introducing electrified powertrains across the company’s entire line-up.