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

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.