Lexus unveils new crossover concept supporting all-electric powertrain as it prepares to launch its first EV

As a brand, Lexus has been suffering on the electric vehicle front due to being part of Toyota, which has until recently been too focused on hydrogen fuel cell to make electric vehicles.

But Toyota has now greenlit Lexus EVs and it unveiled a new crossover concept supporting an all-electric powertrain at the Detroit Auto Show this week.

Toyota says that “by around 2025, every model in the Toyota and Lexus line-up around the world will be available either as a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option.”

Those new electric vehicles will start hitting the market in 2020, according to the Japanese automaker.

It means that the automaker’s future vehicles will need to support different powertrains and the LF-1 Limitless concept is an example of that.

Lexus says that the “LF-1 concept could be powered by fuel cell, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, gasoline, or even all-electric.”

Kevin Hunter, president of CALTY Design Research, commented:

“This is our vision for a new kind of flagship vehicle that embraces crossover capability without giving up the performance and luxury delivered by today’s top sedans. The LF-1 Limitless concept incorporates imaginative technology while creating a strong emotional connection by improving the human experience for the driver and passengers.”

Here are a few images of the new crossover concept vehicle:

Electrek’s Take

It’s one of the rare ‘potentially all-electric’ vehicles unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this year. The show revolved mostly around gas-powered pickup trucks and large SUVs.

But Toyota has been tentatively moving toward battery-electric vehicles lately with its announcement that it will launch 10 new BEVs worldwide by “the early 2020s” and it wants to have electric options throughout its entire lineup of cars by 2025.

It would make sense for them to focus on an all-electric Lexus to try to compete with Tesla.

We have heard about competing EV programs from virtually every other luxury brand but Lexus.

Now this new vehicle is very much a concept and I wouldn’t exactly expect this to hit production anytime soon, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those “early 2020s” all-electric vehicles end up being a Lexus crossover.