Lexus locks in plug-in hybrid for 2021 and new EV in 2022

Lexus has announced it has pressed fast-forward on its expansion into electrification, confirming it will launch a plug-in hybrid later this year and a pure-electric car in 2022.

Both are part of a rollout of 10 new cars over the next four years, with all set to feature either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full pure-electric powertrain.

No details have been released of either new model confirmed overnight, but the plug-in hybrid is tipped to borrow its powertrain from Toyota and is set to combine a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with a pair of electric motors and an 18kWh battery pack.

Together, the Lexus plug-in hybrid should produce 225kW and have a WLTP-verified pure-electric range of about 75km.

Since the same powertrain is used on the current Toyota RAV4, it's logical the plug-in hybrid will be based on the same TNGA-K platform, to share the cost of development.

Currently, that platform underpins both the Lexus ES sedan and is set to be used on the second-gen Lexus NX small SUV that, coincidentally, is set to make its debut in 2021.

The next pure-electric Lexus to be introduced, meanwhile, will be a production version of the recently revealed Lexus LF-Z Electrified SUV concept.

The all-new LF-Z will be the first Lexus to be based on Toyota's dedicated e-TNGA architecture that it has created for battery-powered vehicles and will also be used for the 2021 Toyota bZ4X SUV that will be developed alongside the Lexus.

Set to be powered by a 90kWh lithium-ion battery and dual electric motors, the most expensive versions of the production LF-Z is primed to match the concept's 400kW and 700Nm.

The concept is claimed to be able to sprint from 0-100km/h in three seconds, while being capable of covering up to 600km between top-ups.

As well as fast, the LF-Z is set to debut Lexus' new DIRECT4 all-wheel drive chassis technology and come with the brand's next-gen steer-by-wire tech.