Yet another about face on a new electric vehicle program has come courtesy of Toyota's decision to discontinue development of the Lexus LF-ZC sedan.
Unveiling the LF-ZC Concept in 2023 Lexus positioned it as "a symbol of Lexus' electrification journey, characterized by its sleek proportions, low center of gravity, spacious cabin, and an emotionally charged design that seamlessly blends functionality and aesthetics."
But three years later the automotive world has changed thanks to a slower than expected market uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) globally and ongoing consumer preference for hybrid and pure-combustion models.
At the same time, a combination of political factors including high US import tariffs and President Donald Trump's elimination of tax incentives for EV purchases, as well as the European Union's revision of its ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 have also thrown a big spanner in the EV development works.
Global players including Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Volvo, VW, and most recently Subaru, have also shelved multiple EV model programs.
Volume Lexus LF-ZC production was scheduled to begin late this year at Toyota's Tahara plant south-east of Nagoya, using large section 'gigacasting' techniques to split the vehicle's alloy body into front, centre and rear sections for reduced complexity and cost as well as lighter weight and increased rigidity.
Recently postponed to mid-2027, Nikkei Asia has reported Lexus will now discontinue development, to "instead focus on developing SUVs and other vehicles amid a global slump in EV sales."
Despite the cancellation Toyota and Lexus will continue research and development into gigacasting and battery technology as the LF-ZC was set to feature "advanced high-performance batteries made with a prismatic structure engineered to achieve approximately twice the range of conventional BEVs through improved aerodynamic integration and weight reduction."
A "compact powertrain" also helped deliver an ultra-low Cd (Coefficient of drag) value of approximately 0.20 for the car.
