Lexus tease a production ELECTRIC car for the Guangzhou Show – but what is it?

Lexus start the tease for a production electric car, to debut at the Guangzhou International Show this month, but what will it be?

Toyota has been intent on sticking with the hybrid route as a way to mitigate emissions, both with the Toyota and Lexus brands. But that has to change.

It has to change because there’s an inexorable shift to BEVs and plug-in hybrids, unfortunately not one driven by demand, but by legislation. Which could be a bit problematic as the world fills up with electric VWs and other mainstream EVs desperately seeking a buyer prepared to spend twice as much on an EV as an ICE.

But whatever the motivation is for car makers to go down the EV route, Toyota and Lexus are joining the game and there’s going to be a debut this month in China for a production intended electric car from Lexus.

All we have at the moment is a single tease image (above), and a short press release from Lexus which says:

Lexus introduces its first battery electric vehicle at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition* on 22 November.

Specifically crafted to suit the needs of audiences in China and in Europe, this further advances the brand’s desire to offer a portfolio of electrified powertrain choices for diverse audiences worldwide.

We had the Lexus LF-30 Electric Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show last month, but that was more about shouting out direction in design and tech than a preview of a production car. So don’t expect that.

Far more likely is a production EV in the mould of the Lexus LF-SA Concept from 2015, a compact premium city SUV come hatch come crossover, which could even come with the same underpinnings as the new MINI Electric considering Toyota’s recent co-operation with BMW. Or perhaps an electric version of the Lexus UX.

Then again, it could be something different altogether.