The Electric AE86 with a Stick Shift: Kenji Arai, Chief Engineer, Lexus Electrified

Опубликовано 17 октября 2025, 13:00

In this episode of *The InEVitable* by MotorTrend, hosts Ed Loh and Jonny Lieberman go hands-on with one of the most surprising EV conversions ever attempted — the *Toyota AE86 Levin BEV*, an electric restomod created by **Lexus Electrified Development Division**.

Joining them are Kenji Arai, Chief Engineer at Lexus Electrified, and Toshi Hayama, JDM legend and translator, to discuss why Lexus chose to electrify one of Japan’s most iconic lightweight sports cars and what it means for the future of driving fun.

This isn’t a gimmick — it’s an EV with a *manual transmission*, real gear shifts, simulated 4A-GE engine sound, and the soul of the 1980s drifting icon. From the technical challenges of reusing Lexus hybrid parts to how feedback from this prototype could inform future BEV sports cars, this is an inside look at Toyota and Lexus’ electrified philosophy for enthusiasts.

📍 **Recorded at Bowls LA in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles**

Guests:
- Kenji Arai – Chief Engineer, Lexus Electrified Development Division
- Toshi Hayama– JDM icon, motorsport host, and translator

Hosts:
- Ed Loh & Jonny Lieberman | MotorTrend

🔗 Read Jonny’s first-drive review on MotorTrend.com
motortrend.com/reviews/1983-to...


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00:00 – Cold Open
00:31 – Welcome to *The InEVitable* Podcast, Ep.117
01:11 – Setting the scene: filming at Bowls in Little Tokyo
01:38 – The AE86 Levin BEV — heritage meets high voltage
02:28 – Why electrify a drifting legend?
03:05 – What “Levin” really means (and the Easter egg, EV in the logo)
03:36 – Engineering deep dive: Tundra hybrid motor, Lexus NX battery
04:13 – Specs and performance — similar power-to-weight as the original
05:10 – The magic of keeping it light and analog
06:05 – Driving impressions: instant torque, classic feel
07:16 – Why this EV conversion actually works
08:05 – Meet the guests: Kenji Arai and Toshi Hayama
09:15 – Why Lexus is preserving the AE86 for the electric era
10:01 – Using electrification to keep classics alive
11:18 – Why the AE86, not a Lexus SC or Supra?
12:01 – Preserving “dialogue” between driver and car
13:03 – Why the manual transmission *had* to stay
13:39 – Simulating the 4A-GE engine sound and vibration
14:41 – Real shifting, not fake “simulated” gears
15:53 – Why they chose this motor and battery combo
16:25 – Could a modern electric 86 follow?
17:00 – Hot-swappable battery concept for motorsports
18:12 – Biggest challenge: preserving the feel, not just the function
19:08 – Could DIY tuners replicate this?
19:52 – Future possibility: official retrofit kits
20:24 – Testing, drifting, and top speed runs
22:05 – Lexus’ manual EV experiments began in 2021
23:35 – Akio Toyoda’s thumbs-up
24:16 – Why bring the AE86 BEV to America
26:04 – Crafting fun, analog-feeling EVs
27:28 – Recreating the 4A-GE’s sound by throttle position
28:42 – Why sound and vibration are key to driving emotion
29:13 – Could future Lexus EVs have manuals?
30:04 – Why this system feels *real*, not gimmicky
31:05 – Weight balance and battery placement
32:14 – Solid-state hopes and future battery breakthroughs
35:19 – Reusing components to keep costs down
36:07 – How much did it cost? (Spoiler: a lot)
38:33 – Team spirit: Lexus engineers who love 86s
39:07 – The “crazy” idea that worked
41:03 – Kenji Arai’s 40-year career in powertrain engineering
44:04 – JDM favorites that should come to America

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