Lexus reveals surprise hydrogen luxury ATV concept

Monday, 6 December 2021

Lexus has dropped an unusual one on the world - a hydrogen-powered luxury side-by-side ATV. It's only a concept at this stage, but it certainly looks ready for production.

Are you a fan of hardcore off-roading using a side-by-side ATV, but yearn for a bit more luxury in your life?

Or perhaps you are a luxury car owner who has dreams of tackling the Rubicon Trail, but don’t want to give up your badge status?

Well, regardless of which side of that improbably far-fetched spread of scenarios you may be on, Lexus may have just answered your dreams with the reveal of its new ROV (Recreational Off-highway Vehicle) Concept.

Lexus has surprised us all with a luxury hardcore off-road ATV. And its even hydrogen-fuelled too.

Looking pretty much like a Polaris RZR with Lexus styling cues and a fancy interior, the ROV Concept differentiates itself from your average side-by-side fun machine by also being the latest concept to be a part of Toyota’s drive to push hydrogen-fuelled ICE engines. Yes, that’s right, the ROV Concept is also hydrogen powered.

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If you squint you can make out the shape of Lexus’ traditional ‘spindle’ grille in the front of the ROV Concept.

* Toyota has converted a GR Yaris to run on hydrogen

* Second-generation Lexus NX coming here with no combustion-only models

The ROV Concept is the latest from the Toyota family to feature a hydrogen-fuelled ICE engine, in this case a 1.0-litre three-cylinder.

* Not ready for an EV? There are low emission alternatives

* Lexus' first plug-in hybrid detailed

Of course, it’s still a Lexus, so a carbon fibre and leather (admittedly a rugged synthetic version of it) are all through the interior.

While not going into details, Lexus says the ICE engine is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder, which strongly suggests it is the Daihatsu-developed Toyota 1KR triple the company uses in its small cars. With some versions packing variable valve timing and turbocharging, the 1KR is exceptionally light – only weighing 69kg all up, including ancillaries – making it the perfect choice for a light off-roader, with Lexus saying the “responsive rise in torque that comes from the fast combustion speed of hydrogen” as being ideal for the application too.

Unlike a FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle) the engine works just like a petrol combustion engine, but with a high-pressure tank for compressed hydrogen which is delivered precisely by a direct hydrogen injector. As with the hydrogen-powered GR Yaris Toyota revealed recently, the engine produces close to zero emissions, with a negligible amount of engine oil burned during driving.

As you would expect, the ROV Concept is compact, measuring just 3120mm long, 1725mm wide and 1800mm high. No mention was made of weight, but it’s not going to be heavy given the aforementioned Polaris RZR weights less the 700kg.

Lexus says its design team wanted to create the kind of vehicle people would expect from a luxury carmaker yet without losing the rugged performance of a side-by-side ATV. And, yes, they have even managed to incorporate the Lexus signature spindle grille (well, the shape of it, at least) into the design.

With a lightweight body composed of a strong pipe frame and suspension that boasts a large amount of travel, Lexus says the driver will “enjoy the car's natural movements, the distinctive ‘Lexus Driving Signature’ and the possibility to go anywhere they desire.”

Inside, based on Lexus’ new Tazuna interior concept (that we will see here in the new NX shortly) the ROV Concept has a simple display that instantly reads the information the driver needs while the driver concentrates on driving.

Of course, it is a Lexus, so the interior is needlessly (and awesomely) luxurious for a mud-plugging ATV, with a leather steering wheel and a sculpted shift knob, and seats upholstered with “hard-wearing synthetic leather” which also feature suspension elements that smooth bumps out of the ride.

“The Lexus ROV is our response to the growing passion for the outdoors and adventurous spirit of luxury consumers,” said Spiros Fotinos, Head of Lexus Europe.

”As a concept, it fuses our desire to also develop lifestyle-oriented products with our ongoing research into new technologies that contribute to carbon neutrality. As well as delivering a concept that is thrilling to drive, it has near zero emissions thanks to its hydrogen powered engine.”

The company hasn’t revealed any plans for production at this stage, but it wouldn’t be absolutely out of the realms of possibility, with the ROV Concept looking pretty production ready to us. Maybe apart from that hydrogen ICE engine of course, that could be a while away yet.