Lexus Trademarks HZ Name, Likely for Future EV

•    Lexus has applied to register a model name, the HZ.

It doesn’t always mean something when automakers register a name with a patent office – but pretty often it does. We’re guessing the HZ name registered by Lexus falls into the latter category.

The patent application was spotted by members of the LexusRXOwners discussion forum. The application actually includes a request to register three names: HZ 300e, HZ 450e and HZ 500e. HZ being a name never before applied to a Lexus vehicle, there’s likely a new model on the way to go with that name.

The presence of the letter ‘e’ points to the model having an electric powertrain, as we’ve seen with the new RZ 450e SUV sold in North America. The presence of the letter ‘Z’ is the other clue, as it was first used on the RZ model.

As for the letter ‘H’, we first saw it a little over 10 years ago, when it was used to identify the HS 250h hybrid sedan, a model that didn’t stay with us for very long. Could it this time refer to hydrogen, when we know that Toyota is one of the authorities in this field?

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