Lexus vehicles are known for their impeccable build quality and refinement, but the brand aims to make sporty driving characteristics one of its trademarks in the future.
According to comments from Toshinori Ito, project manager for Lexus' sensitivity performance development department, Automotive News (subscription required) reported on Tuesday that Lexus will start increasing the rigidity of its vehicles to enhance their sportiness—a strategy that will span across the lineup.
He said, "We are aiming for the same driving taste, no matter what Lexus model you are riding in."
Lexus has reportedly been studying vehicles from Germany's luxury brands and has identified areas where the competition excels, particularly in body rigidity.
Much of the testing is taking place at Toyota's Shimoyama test track in Japan, which includes sections that mimic parts of the famed Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. According to Automotive News, the additional rigidity is delivering noticeable improvements in steering response.
With these findings, Lexus will begin adding structural reinforcements to its vehicles during annual model changes and mid-cycle refreshes. The first vehicle to benefit from this new strategy was the RZ electric compact crossover that arrived for 2023.
Lexus is also developing a next-generation EV platform that is expected to be sportier than what we have come to expect from Lexus. This will partly be due to a gigacasting process that is anticipated to boost rigidity.
The first EVs on this platform are expected around 2026, previewed last year by the LF-ZC and LF-ZL concept cars.
