by Electrification and Performance: A New Lexus Perspective
For a long time, performance and electrification seemed like incompatible concepts. Enthusiasts viewed new technologies with skepticism, automakers focused on efficiency, and every new hybrid sports car seemed to warn that thrills were not a priority. However, today electrification has penetrated almost every area—from economical cars to six-figure exotic models, with varying degrees of success.
Increasingly, performance-oriented brands are not asking whether to use electricity, but how much of it should be there. According to the engineer responsible for the new Lexus ES, electrification could define the future of the F-Sport lineup.
Chief Engineer on the Advantages of Batteries
During a conversation with ES Chief Engineer Kohei Chiashi at an event dedicated to the first test drive of the new model, we asked which powertrain makes more sense for a potential performance F-Sport version: hybrid or fully electric. His answer was revealing.
‘Personally, I think BEV (battery electric vehicle) is a good fit, as electrification provides power, and we can control the powertrain in more detail to create different types of performance within that range,’ Chiashi told us.
Initially, this phrase may sound like standard arguments in favor of electric vehicles, but Chiashi added something more interesting. According to him, the ES500e system can transfer 100 percent of the available torque to the rear wheels in certain situations. Drivers do not control this behavior directly, so do not imagine a hidden drift button in a submenu—Lexus is not going down that path.
Why the F-Sport ES Hasn’t Arrived Yet
This response also explains why Lexus is in no rush to add an F-Sport model to the ES lineup immediately. According to Chiashi, the ES500e already meets many criteria that the F-Sport traditionally represented, and introducing an additional trim at launch would complicate the situation.
However, this does not mean Lexus has abandoned the idea. Chiashi made it clear that the company is still considering future possibilities. If nothing else, these comments provide an interesting insight into where Lexus thinking on performance may be heading. Once, F was associated with naturally aspirated V8s and high-rev theatrical performances. The next chapter may involve software, instant torque, and significantly more electricity.
It is worth noting that the transition to electricity opens up new opportunities for engineers. For example, the ability to precisely distribute torque between the axles allows for creating unique control modes that are impossible with traditional internal combustion engines. Although Lexus has not yet announced specific plans for F-Sport, the technological foundation for this already exists. Electrification not only increases efficiency but can also become the basis for new performance standards, where software and instant throttle response will play a key role.
