Lexus to Preview Electric City Car in Tokyo

Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus unit will take the wraps off an all-electric city car at the Tokyo auto show in October.

The small car’s design will resemble that of an upcoming production EV, engineering chief Koji Sato tells Autocar. The new Lexus concept follows the luxury brand’s 2015 LF-SA (pictured), a two-seater that was touted for its sporty design.

Lexus EVs will blend futuristic styling with some of the brand’s current design cues, design boss Koichi Suga adds. He says initial EVs will sport a modified version of the luxury brand’s signature spindle grille.

Lexus also aims to incorporate next-generation technologies such as solid-state batteries and in-wheel electric motors into future EVs. A next-generation infotainment system also could be previewed in the Tokyo concept, according to Autocar.

Toyota previously has said it plans to offer plug-in hybrid or full-electric versions of all its models (including Lexus’ lineup of luxury cars and crossovers) by 2025. Lexus has offered hybrid-electric models for years, but the marque has yet to introduce an EV.