Instead, Lexus says it’s part of a push to better vehicle packaging, effectively minimizing the necessary components of an EV drivetrain. The structure is produced using gigacasting, where huge sections of the EV — in this case, the front, center, and rear — are produced as complete parts. For the LF-ZC, the battery is then placed into the center section.
It’s not just a decision that helps keep the center of gravity low but one that keeps Lexus’ options open. By making the front and rear sections structurally independent, they can be reused with future battery developments without needing to redesign the EV from scratch. Even in the factory, Lexus’ changes improve efficiency: a self-driving assembly line sees incomplete vehicles move autonomously between build stations.
As for the batteries themselves, Lexus says it’s using a new prismatic structure cell with greater energy density. The LF-ZC should make full use of that power — delivering around twice the range of current EVs — by virtue of the super-slippery exterior design.