A hydrogen fuel cell Lexus LS is rumored to be in the works.
Australian website Motoring cites an anonymous source claiming that the Japanese automaker is planning to introduce a hydrogen-powered version of the existing flagship full-size sedan for its Lexus luxury brand.
The news comes just months after Toyota introduced Mirai, its first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) but right before Toyota starts selling the vehicle in Japan, followed by the United States and Europe in October.
The FCEV Lexus LS will be using the same Toyota Fuel Cell System that powers the Mirai. However, unlike the Mirai, which was built from scratch, the existing luxury sedan will be retrofitted to accommodate the new system. The vehicle's front nose will be redesigned to include air intakes that will ventilate the hydrogen powered electric system. The fuel cell, Motoring's source says, will be positioned under the two front seats while the hydrogen tanks will be located under and behind the back seat.
All this will reportedly be at least 200 kilograms lighter than the V8 petrol-electric 600h hybrid Lexus LS. The FCEV version will have a power unit that combines a 150-kilowatt fuel cell stack and a 220-kilowatt electric motor that can deliver up to 239 miles of gas-free driving, versus the 300 miles on the Mirai.
Toyota has not confirmed the rumors but has previously said that it is working on following the Mirai with other FCEVs.
Motoring's source claims that Toyota is also planning to release hydrogen-powered versions of its other vehicles as well, including its Crowns and Corollas.
"Imagine a world filled with vehicles that diminish our dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment," said Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda when he first unveiled the Mirai.
No word has been made on the Lexus LS FCEV's pricing, but the price for the current version is at $120,000. The hydrogen-powered luxury car is believed to be put above its hybrid brother, but a $20,000 subsidy from the Japanese government could peg the FCEV's price at around $100,000.
Toyota plans to sell 400 Mirai FCEVs in the car's first year but expects the number to balloon to 3,000 by 2017, the expected date for the release of the rumored LS FCEV. By 2020, Toyota hopes to sell 50,000 FCEVs globally.
