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First Drive: All-New Lexus NX 350 F-Sport – Lexus Has Perfected The NX!

When it was first introduced, the Lexus NX was positioned as the Japanese brand’s answer to the BMW X3, Range Rover Evoque and even the Volvo XC60.

It was perfectly proportioned for those who wanted the space and versatility the Lexus CT offered, with the ride height of the RX.

Before the introduction of the NX, the price gap between the CT and the RX was vast. Giving Lexus the perfect opportunity to plug the gap with a mid-sized SUV.

And the strategy worked. Ever since its introduction, the NX has contributed 25% of total sales for Lexus Malaysia.

The RX remains as the most popular Lexus in Malaysia.

As popular as it may have been, the first-generation NX had its flaws. It was too soft to attract a younger audience who preferred a sporting element to their cars. And the interior design was just not attractive enough to compete against the likes of the BMW X3 or the Mercedes GLC.

There was lots of room for improvement, and the all-new Lexus NX 350 has hit all the right spots.

Let’s start with the exterior design. The spindle grille is an integral part of the Lexus design language so that has been retained, though refreshed.

The positioning of the grille is now more vertical than before, and the chrome frame has been replaced with a gloss black frame for the F-Sport model, which is the model you are seeing here.

The lights too are all-new. The daytime running lights are the biggest change. Gone is the detached DRL that was previously placed at the bottom of the main headlight. It has now been integrated directly into the headlight while the 3-eye jewel like LED lights have been retained.

Lexus says the brightness of the DRL is now dependent on the speed at which the car is travelling. The slower you drive the dimmer the light and vice versa.

The are also aerodynamic elements placed right above the front lip that help to channel air towards the engine to aid cooling.

Towards the side, the wheel wells are now in the same colour as the body, which is a refreshing touch and gives the NX an elegant presence.

The body features grooves and lines that play with the light to give the car a bigger, bolder presence than before.

The door handles are among one of the most significant updates to the NX. The handles are now updated with something called e-latch. To open the door, you don’t have to pull the door handle anymore but instead just gently press on a button placed behind the door handle, and pull the door as you usually would.

You also open the door the same way from the inside as well, with a gentle push a latch that doubles as a button, and push the door outwards as usual.

The back of the car too has been totally refreshed. The biggest change is the inclusion of an LED light strip (light bar in Lexus lingo) that runs across the back of the car, very much like the one we saw with the UX and LM.

The NX is also the first car to do without the Lexus logo placed at the back of the car. The Lexus name is now spelt out across the back of the car, very much like what you see on a Porsche.

What I appreciate the most about the back of the NX is the total omission of exhaust pipes, in design at least. The pipes are definitely still there, tucked away neatly behind the bumper. But Lexus has not bothered to create any fake tail pipes like what we see with a lot of other premium brands.

Inside is the biggest change a Lexus has seen in recent years. And the most welcomed.

But before you step inside the new NX, take some time out to appreciate the seats. They are one of the best looking seats you will ever see, and also quite comfortable.

The other thing that you will notice is the mega 14-inch screen that houses everything from entertainment, navigation and every other setting for the car. It also features wireless Apple CarPlay while Android Auto users will still need to use a cable.

For me the mega screen signals the return of the glory days of Lexus because the brand has finally removed the annoying and terribly difficult to use Remote Touch Interface.

The RTI in short, was a mouse pad lookalike that helped you navigate around the entertainment system, navigation and everything else.

It sounds simple enough but imagine driving while using a mousepad, one eye on the road and the other on the screen to make sure you are clicking on the right icon. It was counter intuitive distracting and I am glad it’s time has arrived.

The overall fit and finish is typically Lexus but turned up a couple of notches. I love the way the air-conditioning dials have a tiny monitor in them that indicates the temperature. That’s a very nifty touch that feels like it belongs in more expensive cars.

Current Lexus owners will notice one thing about the interior, and that is the obvious lack of buttons everywhere. But that’s not only because everything has been neatly tucked away in the aforementioned 14-inch screen, but this is also part of the new Lexus Driving Signature that has been defined by the Tazuna Concept.

The Tazuna Concept simply draws on the relationship between a jockey and his horse. This coming together of man and beast is what Lexus draws inspiration from, especially the subtle commands the jockey gives his horse which intuitively understands what its rider wants.

This is felt in the way the car behaves when driven, but this is also particularly apparent with the obvious reduction of switchgears around the interior. As compared to the previous generation NX which has 78 buttons and dials around the interior, the new NX has just 45.

And this time, there’s also a new heads-up display which gives you essential data such as speed, gear position, GPS directions and a few more.

Powering the new Lexus NX F-Sport variant is a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine that produces 275hp and 430Nm of torque. It is mated to a new 8-speed automatic gearbox which features Artificial Intelligence shift control that works by using a camera to scan the road ahead, and then matches its shift pattern to the terrain. Talk about genius.

For the first time, the Lexus NX comes with an electronically-controlled full-time AWD system. This AWD system sends power on a 50:50 ratio between the front and back wheels when you first start driving. Then depending on the driving condition, it will split power accordingly and reduces under or over steer if needed.

But the beautiful thing about driving the Lexus NX 350 F-Sport is that it does not try to be something that it is not. It toes the line between comfort and sporting abilities but does not lean too hard in any direction.

The luxury and comfort it offers is understated. While the sporting abilities lets you have fun when the road allows you too. It does the 0-100km/h in about seven seconds, which isn’t anything to shout about, but Lexus is not saying that the NX is a mid-sized SUV with sporting abilities.

But let’s not for a second think that Lexus does not know how to make good handling cars. This is a company has made legendary sports cars like the LFA and won multiple races. And has continued to do so for decades.

We got to drive the Lexus NX 350 F-Sport for about 35 minutes around the south track of the Sepang International Circuit. And the NX felt very much at home.

We were among the last group of the day, so about 20 other members of the media had already given the NX a good spanking before we got to drive.

And yet the brakes stood up to the test with zero signs of fade. The engine still hummed smoothly along and provided power at demand with zero hint of lag or slip.

Sure there was a little body roll through the fast corners, the NX does not have adaptive suspension to keep the body in check. But owners will be thankful for not having adaptive suspension in the long run.

But in terms of driving the NX, there is one thing that it offers that just about anyone can appreciate is a good quiet interior. Lexus has achieved this by using Active Noise Cancellation technology that uses a microphone to detect unwanted noises then emits noise cancellation frequency to cancel out those unwanted noises through the speakers.

It is a simple yet ingenious technology that makes the car feel comfortable and reduces fatigue over long distances.

Making the Lexus NX 350 F-Sport even more appealing is the new colour variants. A total of eight new colours are available for the Lexus NX, including a new Sonic Chrome that Lexus says is the flagship colour for the new NX, while the F-Sport variant gets two exclusive colours.

Interior colours are limited to just black and dark rose, while the luxury variant gets a new hazel interior. F-Sport owners will get the option of a black or a flare red interior.

The Lexus NX has matured to be an impressive mid-sized SUV that will appeal to those who want a good looking SUV without the pomp and glamour of a BMW or a Mercedes.

It comes with the well-known reliability as well as the legendary after-sales service Lexus is known for.

The new Lexus NX doesn’t seem to have put a wheel wrong in any direction, but if there’s one thing that is a thorn on the side of Lexus Malaysia that would be the grey market.

If you are thinking that you could buy a new Lexus NX 350 in the grey market for cheaper, you would be right. But you would be missing out on the official after sales service and all the luxuries a Lexus centre has to offer. And that would be missing out on a huge chunk of the Lexus experience that the brand is so well known for.

Lets not forget, buying and driving a Lexus is just one half of the car, while enjoying the luxurious after sales service Lexus offers is the other half. Why miss out on the other half by buying a Lexus on the grey market?

The Lexus NX 350 F-Sport is now available for booking in Malaysia for RM389,888 for the F-Sport variant while the Luxury variant is priced at RM370,888 on the road without insurance.

Toyota continues lead in non-national segment with 11% growth in sales year-on-year

Last year, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) started the year with the aim of regaining the top position in the non-national segment and it successfully achieved that objective. The momentum has continued into 2022 as the company held the top position in the first quarter of the year. Entering the second quarter, UMWT expects to push further ahead and has started off with deliveries of 6,946 vehicles (of which 78 units were from the Lexus brand).

Cumulative sales after the first 4 months of the year have reached 29,393 units (Toyota + Lexus), an increase of 11% compared to the volume over the same period in 2021.

With a more optimistic mood brought on by the lifting of many restrictions of the pandemic period, as well as the onset of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities, many people were inclined to consider a new vehicle. In conjunction with the festive period, UMWT had its ‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya promotion which offers benefits worth RM4,000 to those buying a new Vios or Yaris.

Both models, assembled locally as the fairly new second assembly plant in Selangor, have seen growing popularity as they are good value for money. The image of the Vios has also become sportier with the intensive promotion of the Vios Challenge one-make series over the past few years. Each round has been broadcast live, bringing the races right to homes around Malaysia and even outside the country.

*Vios Challenge one-make series, in its fifth season this year, has added a sporty image to the popular sedan.*

“It is heartening to note that we have transitioned well into the endemic phase, and we at UMW Toyota Motor are always encouraged by the support from our customers, especially during this busy Ramadan and Raya period. Even with the surprise announcement of Aidilfitri falling a day earlier than expected, all our service centres were fully prepared to assist our customers in their ‘balik kampung’ journey. We continue to be committed to leaving no one behind and offer value-for-money innovations, coupled with advanced technology and security features in all of our products,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.

‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya
With Ramadan and Syawal being the prominent events of this month, UMWT presented a special film entitled ‘Kota Raya’ on various several social media platforms. Inspired by family ties and the importance of being together, the film focuses on the deep-rooted tradition of celebrating together, something which was greatly missed over the past two years due to travel restrictions.

Besides the film, UMWT also reached out to those less fortunate in a collaboration with Harian Metro through their ‘Titipan Kasih’ programme. With the aim of providing assistance to the underprivileged, this outreach by the company saw 50 children receive ‘baju raya’ worth RM150. Additionally, a ‘Kotak Rezeki’ consisting of groceries valued at RM100 was presented to 168 families. 50 children also received RM60 each as ‘duit raya’.

Volunteers from UMWT also carried out other outreach activities to assist the less fortunate during this recovery period and at the same time, establishing a relationship with the surrounding community.

“The focus of this activity was for us to share the festive celebration with the less fortunate, as it is more meaningful if we celebrate it together. Furthering our ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ Raya, we wanted to reach out to all those underprivileged, especially the orphans, and single-parent families. We also wanted to inspire and instill a strong spirit of volunteerism, along with community service among our employees as a way to bring our brand closer to the community,” Mr. Ravindran said.

Toyota showrooms nationwide will also have ‘Toyota Raya Open House Weekender’ events on May 21/22. This event aims to reconnect with Toyota customers, both past, present and future, while celebrating Hari Raya together. At the events, there will also be special deals and promotions and those who take test-drives will receive gifts (while stocks last) in appreciation of their interest.

Visit www.toyota.com.my to know more about Toyota products and services and the locations of showrooms.

UMW Toyota Motor expects positive sales trend to continue through second quarter of 2022

Lexus Electrified Vision starts with the new RZ 450e

Lexus began its electrification journey back in 2005 with the RX400h hybrid, followed by hybrid variants of other models as well as the CT-200h, which was only available with a hybrid powertrain. Today, with the world premiere of the new RZ 450e, Toyota’s luxury brand begins a new era of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and the Lexus Electrified vision.

As the brand’s first BEV built on a dedicated platform, the RZ heralds the transition of Lexus into a BEV-centred brand. Besides a brand new design, it also offers advanced electrification technologies developed over many years of hybrid vehicle development.

New visual identity for BEVs
The exterior design presents a new visual identity as the familiar spindle grille is replaced by a minimalist BEV Spindle Body which focuses on aerodynamic efficiencies, optimized proportions, and style, versus serving the cooling and exhaust needs of an internal combustion engine. The rear features the spelled-out LEXUS logo as part of a clean and simple horizontal design that highlights the wider rear track while above is a distinct roof spoiler.

The interior is likewise minimalist, with an airy and luxurious environment that Lexus has long been known for, along with high-quality craftsmanship. Based on the tazuna concept, the cabin advances the human-centred philosophy of Lexus by welcoming occupants with intuitive controls oriented around the driver, ensuring maximum concentration on driving.

New steering wheel design
The application of shift-by-wire has resulted in a Lexus-first dial shift knob mounted on the centre console. More eye-catching will be the compact yoke-like steering wheel which is said to greatly reduce the driver’s workload by eliminating the need for hand-over-hand operation (eg in u-turns and parking). It also enabled the designers to lower placement of the instrument panel for better forward vision.

The RZ’s long wheelbase of 2850 mm within an overall body length of 4805 mm provides spacious rear-seat accommodation. An electronic ‘e-latch’ system is used to operate the doors while highly efficient Lexus-first electric radiant heaters, combined with a heat-pump system, ensure passenger ambient comfort. Three types of seat materials are used, including Ultrasuede, a refined material that uses 30% bio-based sustainable materials.

Overhead, some variants have a panoramic roof which is designed with heat shielding, thermal insulation and 99% UV protection. The glass also has a Lexus-first dimming function which, without a physical curtain, can instantly block light according to the needs of the occupants.

Different challenges for quietness
Quietness has been a hallmark of Lexus models since the very first one and besides generous use of high quality insulation, the engineers have also looked for the sources of noise and eliminated them. With the RZ powered by electric motors, new challenges were presented to the engineers who had to create a balance between sound generation and a very quiet interior space.

The underfloor battery functions as a sound barrier, the bonnet perimeter is sealed to eliminate noise caused by turbulent airflow. and acoustic glass suppresses other unwanted sounds. Additionally, the engineers have tuned sound frequencies to the vehicle’s speed and sound levels during dynamic actions such as acceleration.

2023 Lexus RZ 450e EV — *New RZ 450e uses the e-TNGA platform specifically developed for BEVs.*

Lexus Driving Signature
Regardless of the type of powertrain, the Lexus Driving Signature of impressive fundamental acceleration, steering and braking performance must be present. The electric powertrain system uses a front and rear e-axle, each equipped with a high-torque electric motor, transaxle and inverter in a compact unit. As each motor (front: 150 kW, rear: 80 kW) is directly connected to the wheels by a single driveshaft, power transmission is instantaneous.

The new DIRECT4 system takes the Lexus Driving Signature to an even higher level. It uses acceleration, cornering-speed and steering-angle information to automatically adjust front-rear torque delivery and braking force to all four wheels. The system uses a front-to-rear drive-force ratio between 60:40 and 40:60 for minimum vehicle pitch.

When the steering wheel is turned, drive force is biased to the front wheels between 50 and 75% for nimble response and excellent steering feel. When exiting a corner, torque distribution to the rear wheels is increased to between 50 and 80%, ensuring ample traction while controlling vehicle pitch.

Steer-by-wire
A Lexus-first steer-by-wire system contributes to enhanced vehicle manoeuvrability while blocking out unnecessary vibrations from the tyres and brakes. Optimum steering-gear ratios provide nimble and agile performance on winding roads and high-speed stability on highways.

Long experience in battery technology
Toyota’s experience in developing ever better hybrid electric technology has also included advancing battery technology. Some of the advanced technologies are the high-capacity 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery packs, Lexus-first silicon carbide elements in the inverters and the incorporation of low-loss technologies to deliver an estimated single-charge cruising range of 450 kms.

Battery-control technology ensures a world-class battery capacity retention rate claimed to be at least 90% after 10 years. Contributing to the long life with even higher battery capacity is a timer charging function that avoids over-charging.

100% BEVs globally by 2035
Pricing has not been announced yet but exports of the RZ 450e, which will be made in Japan, will begin during the fourth quarter of 2022. In the years following till the end of the decade, Lexus will introduce entirely new BEVs covering every segment. By 2035, the brand expects to be selling only BEVs globally and fully contribute to the Toyota Group’s objective of carbon neutrality.

Lexus releases pictures of electric sportscar on the track as well as other future BEV models (w/video)

UMW Toyota Motor expects positive sales trend to continue through second quarter of 2022

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had a significant jump of 32% in its March sales volume with 8,487 units reported, compared to 6,432 units the month before. The improvement in sales is attributed to promotions during the month which offered value-added benefits worth RM4,000 for popular models such as the Vios and Yaris.

Although conditions were challenging with the floods in Selangor causing some parts suppliers to temporarily stop operations, UMWT’s first quarter cumulative sales volume total of 22,447 units was 31% greater than for the same period in 2021 when 17,151 vehicles were sold.

The positive trend is expected to continue through the second quarter, with a boost expected when new and improved models make their appearance later in the year

Circumventing the global challenges on parts supply shortage, Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, said: “We are constantly reviewing and adapting to the changing circumstances and uncertainties. Toyota has always been known for our proficiency in supply chain management and risk mitigation measures. Leveraging on these experiences, we are working closely with our suppliers and monitoring the developments closely to ensure minimal impact to our production and our customers.”

“As Malaysia transitions towards the endemic phase, UMW Toyota Motor is appreciative of the support we have received from our customers throughout these unprecedented times. We remain committed towards achieving continuous growth for the Toyota brand as well as for the local automotive industry through our cutting-edge innovative product and solution offerings. As we transform towards sustainable mobility, Toyota aims to leave no one behind as we continue to be at the forefront in offering value for money innovations equipped with technological advancements and state-of-the-art safety features across all our products,” he added.

Promotions for Hari Raya festive season
Until May 1, 2022, UMWT will be running the ‘Pandu Uji dan Menang Duit Raya’ contest at showrooms nationwide. During this period, those who test drive any Toyota model could collect ‘duit raya’. Each test drive will entitle the customer to a contest entry to win ‘duit raya’ worth RM100. Those who take the test drive and complete a vehicle purchase can win RM200 ‘duit raya’. A total of 30 winners will be selected every week.

In addition, all Toyota showrooms will continue their ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ celebrations with the Ramadan Weekender on April 16 and 17. Customers can visit the showrooms to find out more about ‘Bulan Puasa’ deals and value-added offers as well as receive exclusive gifts (while stocks last) when they test drive any of the Toyota vehicles available.

New 3S centre in Cyberjaya
Toyota owners in Cyberjaya now have an authorised service centre close to them. Operated by Otomobil Sejahtera Sdn Bhd, the new facility is a 3S centre offering sales, service and spare parts as well as Body and Paint services for repairs or repainting vehicles.

“From the point of purchase, to aftersales service, and on to their next repurchase, it is important that customers feel the Toyota touch at every step. This new 3S service centre is just our way of bringing our brand closer to our customers, wherever they may be, while ensuring they have seamless access to our services whenever they need them,” Mr. Ravindran said.

For more information about Toyota vehicles or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

2022 Toyota Camry 2.5V – more than just a mid-cycle refresh with a brand new engine

UMW Toyota Motor reports continuing strong sales in February

UMW Toyota Motor continues to post strong sales with the month of February having seen deliveries of 6,366 Toyota vehicles and 66 Lexus vehicles for a total of 6,432 units. As in January, the number was higher than for the same month in 2021, with a jump of 27% in total sales volume.

The company is optimistic about its 2022 performance being able to keep it in the top position of the non-national sector. It has already launched an updated Camry model which has a new engine and is counting on its hybrid electric vehicle technology in the Corolla Cross Hybrid to gain greater popularity among Malaysians.

*Latest Camry 2.5V with the new Dynamic Force engine (above) and the hybrid powertrain in the Corolla Cross Hybrid (below).*

For the month of March, there’s a special promotion for the Yaris and Vios models (E & G variants) which has value-added benefits worth RM4,000. Additionally, with all models (except the Hilux), there are still savings on sales tax which is expected until June 30, 2022. As both the Yaris and Vios are assembled locally, the exemption is 100% and the savings amount to more than RM2,000.

Besides new models planned for launch in later months, the company also continues to develop and grow its sales and aftersales network. Recently, it opened a new 2S outlet with Body & Paint services in Skudai, Johor to serve the growing number of customers in the southern state. The outlet is operated in partnership with Super Evergreen (Nusajaya) Sdn Bhd and joins UMW Toyota Motor’s extensive network of authorised facilities around the country.

*A new Toyota dealership has opened in Johor to provide Body & Paint aftersales services, including accident repairs and painting.*

“We truly appreciate the support our customers have given towards the Toyota brand and are optimistic about the continuous growth of the Malaysian automotive sector. As we continue to innovate and bring mobility products offering the absolute best technology and safety that enhances lifestyles, we trust that Malaysians will continue to choose Toyota as their preferred road companion,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.

While busy with sales, UMW Toyota Motor also carried out other activities last month. An initiative to give back to the community saw the contribution of RM140,000 to the National Cancer Society Malaysia which will help with the purchase of a new Digital Doppler Ultrasound Machine to provide better treatment to cancer patients.

The company also picked winners of the 15th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest who will travel to Japan and represent Malaysia in the World Contest. The contest, which has been running since 2004, draws entrants from many countries and invites them to show their idea of the future of mobility by drawing their dream car.

*The Vios Challenge one-make series will have its fifth season with a total of 6 races during the year.*

There’s also a full motorsports program planned for this year, starting with the first round of the Vios Challenge/TGR Festival on March 18 at the Sepang International Circuit. This will be the fifth season of the popular one-make series and will consist of a total of 6 races. Additionally, there will also be the online equivalent – the GR Velocity E-sports championship – also in its fifth season. It is billed as one of the most lucrative local online racing series in the country, attracting close to 1,000 participants with more than 1 million online spectators.

Toyota recognised for winning the most 5-Star awards from ASEAN NCAP

Lexus releases pictures of electric sportscar on the track as well as other future BEV models (w/video)

In 2020, Toyota (or more specifically, its President, Akio Toyoda) expressed reluctance to make a bigger push towards fully electric vehicles (battery electric vehicles or BEVs) and even felt that it was not the right move in pursuit of carbon neutrality. While the other major carmakers were outlining their EV plans and even previewing models to come, it seemed that Toyota was not going to join the crowd if it meant leaving some customers behind. And being the world’s largest carmaker, that certainly has implications.

However, just a year later, the Toyota President went in front of the cameras and announced to the world that the company would be spending a total of 8 trillion yen (1 trillion yen = around RM37.2 billion) over a period of 9 years from 2022. Of this gigantic amount, 50% would be for the development of BEVs (inclusive of battery development).

And while other carmakers might show a handful of prototype models that will be in showrooms in coming years, Toyoda had no less than 17 models of the Toyota and Lexus brands assembled in the hall. They represented virtually all the segments that the two brands are in, including pick-ups, a segment that the American manufacturers already have fully electric models about the enter the market. And as long as Akio Toyoda is still the boss, we will certainly also get sportscars, even if they no longer run on combustion engines.

The BEVs to come
Only a couple of models among the 17 shown last December are to go on sale this year or in 2023 and, presumably, the others are just having the development programmes started. From Lexus, the closest one to production is the SUV known as the RZ450e but there was also interest in some of the other models that were visible, including a sportscar.

It is likely that top management has signed off on the designs and Lexus can now give a preview of the 3 BEVs that will follow the RZ450e. The three will slot into the segments the brand is now in – sedan, SUV and sportscar – and are associated collectively as the ‘Lexus Electrified’ vision. The brand aims to accelerate sales of electrified models from 2025.

Of the three, Lexus has provided three bits of information about the sportscar which it says revives the spirit of the LFA. Its targets are a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time in the low 2-second range, a cruising distance of over 700 kms, and it will possibly use solid-state batteries.

Charging stations for all
On the issue of charging stations for BEV owners, Toyoda said that this is an area where different parties must collaborate and cooperate. Some of the companies may establish the infrastructure on their own, but that infrastructure should be accessible to all other customers who drive vehicles of other brands.

“Toyota would like to urge related parties to realize that. When it comes to infrastructure, there’s a limit to what each OEM (company) can do to realize the sufficient convenience for customers. Of course, we will try to do what we can do. Regarding the regions where Lexus aims to achieve 100% BEV sales, in North America, there are 1,800 dealers, 2,900 in Europe, 1,700 in China, and 5,000 in Japan. I believe it is important to utilize these locations, and make such infrastructure open and available to non-Toyota [and non-Lexus] owners,” he said during the press conference last year.

Lexus BEV Sedan 202x — *202x Lexus BEV Sedan*

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade

Aeronautical innovations used for exclusive rear wing for Lexus LC

Car designers have long turned to the aeronautical industry for ideas that have led to innovations. In particular, the shapes of car bodies have been heavily influenced by aircraft because of the pursuit of airflow efficiency. Features today like spoilers and rear wings have their origins in aircraft design although with ‘reversed’ effects where instead of lift, the objective is to gain downforce.

For high-performance sportscars, downforce is important to keep the car as stable as possible at high speeds. This has seen all types of rear wings being installed, some very ‘distinctive’ though with questionable benefits. However, for a new rear carbonfibre wing that was developed for the Lexus LC Coupe, the company formed a long-term collaboration with world champion air race pilot Yoshihide ‘Yoshi’ Muroya to gain advances in aerodynamics that would enable them to design the rear wing.

Long and unique collaboration
Since 2016, Lexus has been reaching for the skies in a unique collaboration with Muroya, winner in 2017 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship series. In this rare cross-industry partnership, the carmaker benefits from aeronautic technology while the air race pilot leverages Lexus’ automotive breakthroughs.

With the principal aim of winning air races, Lexus and Muroya worked together to develop championship-winning aircraft using the technology, craftsmanship and experience from Lexus. The Lexus design and engineering team has helped develop flight technologies in areas such as aerodynamics, cooling and ergonomics.

The collaboration has produced notable innovations, including a control column grip for Muroya’s cockpit that incorporates Lexus’ sensitivity technologies and a new turning manoeuvre for the aircraft based on aerodynamic data from Lexus.

The new rear wing
For 2022, the Lexus LC will sport a new carbonfibre reinforced plastic rear wing developed together with Muroya. This lightweight, highly rigid and sleek wing maximises aerodynamic performance and makes for more agile driving.

The design draws its inspiration from the wing-tip vortices that influence the design of winglets on jet aircraft. During demanding test flights with Yoshihide Muroya, Lexus engineers analysed his plane’s drag-reducing winglets and the associated vortices that are normally problematic. In the Lexus wind tunnel, engineers found that vehicle dynamics on the ground could be improved by turning the wing upside down and adding winglets.

*The upside-down wing was thoroughly tested and analysed in computer simulations as well as wind tunnel studies (below).*

Once computer and wind tunnel tests were completed, Lexus’ elite team of designers, engineers and Takumi artisans set to work milling an aluminium prototype. Like Muroya’s race plane wings, it was later produced in carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CFRC). Laminated in carbonfibre and epoxy resin with a hollow core, after baking in an autoclave, the woven texture is visible through the lacquered finish.

Downforce without performance loss
Long and lean, the LC’s new wing is nearly 2 metres wide, yet very durable and warp resistant. According to Lexus Takumi master driver, Yoshiaki Ito, the winglets sharpened the LC’s handling, but without using drag-creating downforce, resulting in better performance without sacrifices. The Lexus team called the car the LC Special Edition Aviation, to highlight the background to the development of the rear wing.

The carbonfibre rear wing spoiler is available (in limited numbers) exclusively with the new Lexus Bespoke Build programme. This is a special personalisation programme for customers buying a LC or LC Convertible. The vehicle will be built by an elite team of ‘Takumi’ master craftspeople at the and such units will be distinguished with a personalised interior badge installed on the centre console.

2022 Lexus RZ 450e will lead brand’s BEV offensive

At the recent press conference where Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, gave a broad overview of the company’s electrification strategies during this decade, 16 fully electric – also known as BEVs or battery electric vehicles – were shown on stage. Most are probably just 3-dimensional models of future products but they certainly attracted a lot of speculation and attention, especially the electric Hilux and a SUV that has styling reminiscent of the FJ Cruiser.

To date, Toyota has launched one BEV model which will go on sale in 2022. This is the bZ4X, which is said to have been developed with involvement of Subaru, which will sell a similar model it calls the Solterra. Mr. Toyoda also showed a video of himself and Koji Sato, President & Chief Branding Officer of Lexus International, testing a Lexus BEV prototype around a test course. It’s typical of the Toyota President who, being a racing driver himself, also gets involved in product development.

An uncamouflaged model of that BEV appeared to be in the group of Lexus prototypes also displayed. The BEV will go into production in 2022 and while details have not been released, Lexus has shown more uncamouflaged pictures of the car. The BEV prototype will be the new RZ, a SUV crossover that will be the first of range of Lexus vehicles that have been designed from the start to be BEVs. Apart from having sold hybrids for many years, this will not be the first fully-electric Lexus model as the all-electric UX 300e has been available for about 2 years now. However, that model was not developed only as a BEV.

*UX 300e is the fully electric version of the UX compact crossover.*

e-TNGA
With the RZ, which will start with a 450e variant, the vehicle is built on a completely new dedicated platform called e-TNGA, a version of the TNGA (Toyota New Generation Architecture) that has been used for all recent new models. While the bz4X is RAV4-sized, the RZ 450e looks like a RX-sized model with similar styling themes but a closed front end typical of EVs.

All-wheel drive with DIRECT4
Not many details are available at this time though it can be expected that the powertrain will be something similar to what is in the bZ4X, with higher output and a bigger battery pack. The all-wheel drive system will be an exclusive control system called DIRECT4 which dynamically controls the drive force to the wheels constantly optimizing the power delivery. It can be fully front wheel drive or rear wheel drive or varying combinations of front and rear drive as conditions require.

The new RZ will also be available with a steer-by-wire system. This is said to eliminate the traditional hand-over-hand action for lower speed driving or parking. It would be possible to do a full U-turn with a simple rotation of the steering wheel.

*Steering wheel in the Toyota bZ4X which will initially be offered in SUVs for the China market.*

Lexus says there will be a ‘comfortable and unique shape’ which provides a clear view to all relevant information from the instrument panel to the heads-up windshield display. This suggests that the RZ may also have that steering column with a wing-shape. In the bz4X, it will initially be offered in China and then progressively appear in other markets.

Battery warranty up to 10 years
As a measure of the brand’s confidence in its BEV technology, Lexus is offering (in some markets) a 10-year (or up to 1,000,000 kms) extended care on all functional defects of the vehicle’s main battery pack and capacity degradation below 70%, provided that the regular health checks foreseen in the maintenance program are followed. This is a separate warranty from the vehicle warranty which covers the powertrain.

The new RZ range will begin the Lexus offensive to have BEVs in every segment, and account for 100% of the brand’s total sales in Europe, North America, and China by 2030.

*LF-Z Electrified concept shows design direction for future BEVs from the brand.*

External designers create Virtual Interiors for Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade

While Toyota has expressed a view that suggests it will not stop producing internal combustion engines so quickly – to provide customers with greater choice and not leave any customer behind – it is no less committed to electrification of its products in the quest to achieve carbon neutrality. As a pioneer in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology, having introduced the first mass-produced car with a hybrid powertrain in the late 1990s, the carmaker has naturally been promoting the technology which also contributes to reducing toxic exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.

Long history of EV developments
However, in the longer term, fully electric vehicles are going to become mainstream products, beginning with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and progressing to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In fact, the company has an EV development division since 1992 and an early production EV that went on sale in 1996 was the RAV4 EV, Today, besides a wide range of HEVs, Toyota already offers BEVs and even FCEVs, the latter now in the second generation with the Mirai.

*Toyota sold (in limited numbers) a fully electric model – the RAV4 EV – in 1996 and today, it has even begun selling electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells like the Mirai (below).*

The crucial technology
Battery technology is obviously crucial for every carmaker and Toyota will invest greatly in R&D for this area as well as in the supply system. The carmaker has had a subsidiary fully involved in battery development and manufacturing and has aimed to bring about cost reduction of at least 50% per vehicle during this decade. At the same time, safety, longer service life and high quality will be advanced.

*Battery technology is a crucial area for electric vehicles and Toyota will be spending heavily to develop more advanced technologies as well as push battery cost down.*

“Over the past 26 years, we have invested nearly 1 trillion yen and produced more than 19 million batteries. We believe that our accumulated experience is an asset that gives us a competitive edge. Going forward, we will increase our new investment in batteries from the 1.5 trillion yen announced in September to 2 trillion yen, aiming to realize even more-advanced, high-quality, and affordable batteries,” said Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, at a press conference in Tokyo this afternoon.

*1 trillion yen = approximately RM37.2 billion*

*The bZ4x is the first of the new range of BEVs and production is now underway with sales set to begin in 2022.*

*Toyota’s range of BEVs by the end of the decade will look something like this.*

As long as Akio Toyoda is leading Toyota, we will still get sportscars – even if they run on electricity instead of petrol (although the company is now exploring use of hydrogen as a fuel in combustion engines).

Sales volume of BEVs raised
Besides outlining the company’s BEV strategies, Mr. Toyoda also revealed 16 Toyota and Lexus BEV models that it is readying for market launch, starting with the Toyota bZ4X which has already had been shown in production form and will begin sales in 2022. By 2030, the company is going to roll out 30 BEV models and is anticipating sales of 3.5 million BEVs globally. This is an increase of 75% on the previous annual sales projection of 2 million BEVs mentioned in May this year. The Lexus brand aims to have BEVs, which will be in every segment, account for 100% of the total sales in Europe, North America, and China by 2030.

*Lexus will develop a full range of electrically-powered models, including sportscars that may look like the one below.*

*Lexus RZ BEV prototype during development testing. First teaser image of production model shown below. It will go on sale in 2022.*

In this diversified and uncharted era, it is important to flexibly change the type and quantity of products produced while keeping an eye on market trends. At the same time, energy plays a critical role in achieving carbon neutrality. For this reason, Toyota wants to provide a diversified range of carbon-neutral options to meet whatever might be the needs and situations in every country and region.

*Just like today, Toyota will have something for every segment of the market to suit different requirements and conditions.*

Markets and customers decide
“It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose. As for why we try to keep so many options, in terms of business management, one might think it would be more efficient to focus on fewer choices. However, we believe that quickly adapting to changes in the future is more important than trying to predict the future, which is uncertain. That is why we want to keep options available for our customers until the right path is clear,” said Mr. Toyoda.

Toyota: “No customer is left behind” in quest for carbon neutrality

Cumulative sales over 11 months for Toyota and Lexus 26% higher than in 2020

Toyota and Lexus sales in Malaysia mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV. However, demand for the two brands distributed by UMW Toyota Motor remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.

The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups). For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.

Toyota Vios and Hilux bestsellers
Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the bestselling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.

*Toyota’s bestselling models in Malaysia – the Vios and Hilux.*

“The continued growth of the market is a sign that we are steadily progressing towards recovery. The New Normal means that some things have to be done differently and we have to be conscious of SOPs, and at Toyota, we have adapted our processes accordingly. Customers can visit our showrooms or send their vehicles to authorized service centres with peace of mind that they are protected health-wise,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models. Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.

Countdown to hybrid launch
Preparations are being finalized for the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle in the near future. This will be the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

“Since we opened for bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid, response has been good and we are happy to see that many Malaysians are keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology. Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

ASSB Bukit Raja, Selangor — *The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor is now assembling the first Toyota hybrid model in Malaysia, alongside the Vios and Yaris.*

“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect. And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Mr. Takeyama added.

The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty. Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit. Customers can also extend their warranty for a further 2 years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid nearing launch as orders are accepted; pricing from RM137,000

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Cumulative sales over 11 months for Toyota and Lexus 26% higher than in 2020

First Drive: All-New Lexus NX 350 F-Sport – Lexus Has Perfected The NX!

Toyota continues lead in non-national segment with 11% growth in sales year-on-year

Lexus Electrified Vision starts with the new RZ 450e

UMW Toyota Motor expects positive sales trend to continue through second quarter of 2022

UMW Toyota Motor reports continuing strong sales in February

Lexus releases pictures of electric sportscar on the track as well as other future BEV models (w/video)

Aeronautical innovations used for exclusive rear wing for Lexus LC

2022 Lexus RZ 450e will lead brand’s BEV offensive

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade

Cumulative sales over 11 months for Toyota and Lexus 26% higher than in 2020

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