New Lexus Performance Hybrid: Wild Yoke, Wing Screens, and Manual Mode Hints

Lexus looks like it is getting serious about its next performance model, and now we finally have a peek inside to see what the brand is thinking. At first glance the cabin looks dramatic, almost like a concept car that somehow made it to the road, but when you slow down and look closer, a lot of it actually seems ready for production. The biggest surprise is what is not there. Lexus decided not to put a traditional central infotainment screen in the middle of the dashboard. Instead, everything is focused toward the driver with a wide digital instrument panel that has two wing style side displays. Front and center you can clearly see it is a hybrid because the screen shows a 70 percent battery state and has Power and Charge indicators. It even shows tire temperature at 86 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure at 33.4 psi, so this is not just for style, it is for people who actually like to drive.

The steering yoke is full of physical controls, which is nice in a world where everything keeps getting buried in menus. There are paddles behind it and the left one is labeled RE, which strongly suggests you can change how strong the regenerative braking is. Lexus also kept its trademark drive mode stalk idea, only now the stalks are mounted right behind the yoke. The right one appears to handle gears and the left one looks like it might let you switch between normal and manual operation. There is even an M indicator on the screen that hints at manual mode for people who still want to feel involved.

What is interesting is how little attention was given to the passenger. There is no extra screen over there and no attempt to entertain whoever is sitting on the right. You do get a nice green accent across the dash and door, but this interior is clearly built for the driver first. Down low there are neatly arranged hard keys for things you actually need in a car like climate and defroster functions, plus buttons on the door area for cameras, brake hold, and parking assist.

If Lexus brings this layout to production without watering it down too much, it is going to feel like something different in the current market. A driver focused hybrid sports coupe with real buttons and a screen setup that does not copy everybody else sounds refreshing.