By Steve Laser
Toyota previewed the all-new 2027 Highlander EV this week, so now it’s time to wonder if Lexus will get its own luxury version? This story revisits the Lexus Electrified SUV concept that offers a potential styling direction for a future three-row luxury ZEV.
A common phrase in the automotive industry is that it takes four years to develop a new vehicle. Well, a little more than four years ago, Toyota held a Tokyo press conference in Dec. 2021 where it revealed an array of battery electric concept vehicles for Toyota and Lexus (above and below).
The Electrified SUV concept (second row above) was shown along with the smaller Lexus RZ and other concepts. The “Z” in RZ was said to stand for “Zero” as in Zero Emissions. Of course, the RZ is already in production, so how about a larger three-row Z-something?
Lexus Electrified SUV Concept
The above photo is a closer look at the Lexus Electrified SUV concept, likely to become a larger sibling to the RZ. What could they call it? Lexus already offers the TX three-row SUV, with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, sharing its platform with the Toyota Grand Highlander. Perhaps the Electrified SUV could become the new Lexus TZ?
We’ll have to wait and see if Lexus decides to build a three-row ZEV. In the meantime, the following photos show how a Toyota concept in Tokyo previewed the design direction for the new Highlander.
Toyota bZ Large SUV
Making its debut at the Toyota BEV press conference in Tokyo more than four years ago, the bZ Large SUV concept (above) offered three rows of seats. That made it a family oriented alternative to the smaller bZ4X.
2027 Toyota Highlander
With styling evolved from the concept, the all-new Highlander EV rides on a modified TNGA-K platform. It will offer two trim levels, the choice of two battery sizes, along with front- and electronic AWD. Toyota says sales of the new Highlander in North America are expected to begin in late 2026. Highlander will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) with batteries from a new Toyota plant in North Carolina, and a supplier.
Read more about the new Highlander EV in our story at this link.
Notes: The Lexus Electrified SUV is a concept vehicle. A future production Lexus battery electric three-row SUV has not been confirmed by the automaker.
News sources and photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp. and Lexus
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