Lexus may introduce a selection of new engines to
the LS sedan, including full-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell power. During an
interview with Go Auto at the model’s Australian launch, LS chief engineer
Toshio Asahi confirmed additional powertrains are “all on the table”. Pressed
by the publication for extra information, an unnamed Lexus executive said the
hydrogen full-cell powertrain used by the LF-LC Concept is heading to
production “sooner than you think.”
If this powertrain does indeed make its way into the
Lexus LS, the car will become the first vehicle in its segment to go down the
hydrogen route. Lexus currently sells the LS with a bi-turbocharged 3.5-liter
V6 delivering 415 hp, and a hybrid that pairs the same V6 with an E-CVT and a
four-speed automatic transmission. It produces 354 hp. Despite the LS500h
reaching 100 km/h in a respectable 5.7 seconds with this powertrain,
Asahi confirmed that the Japanese marque is looking to improve the hybrid
system.
The more powertrains Lexus sells the LS with, the
better chance it will have of stealing customers away from the likes of
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and even Tesla.
