Toyota may be going all in on the electrification
movement, but that doesn’t mean the company has forgotten about hydrogen. It
still believes in a future for fuel cells, after all, and these latest spyshots
show it is still working on the technology, which has been shoehorned into the
Lexus LS you see here.
There aren’t any cues to differentiate this luxury
sedan from any other LS, save for the lack of a visible exhaust pipe, but the
presence of a Toyota Mirai and a Hyundai Nexo behind and in front of it point
to what’s under that expansive bonnet. This being a big, heavy machine, expect
a much more powerful electric motor and fuel cell stack, endowing the car with
far greater performance and range.
Paultan's spy photographers say that the production model
is slated to debut in 2021, likely sporting a few unique design cues such as a
restyled spindle grille, minor trim changes and some hydrogen-specific features
in the infotainment system. It should coincide with the facelift of the regular
LS, which itself will get the usual nip and tuck to the front and rear ends.
Also expect the LS to gain an autonomous driving
feature to keep up with the competition from German brands, as previewed on the
LS+ Concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.
