Lexus is launching an all-new battery electric SUV, as it plans to become a 100 percent battery electric brand in Western and Central Europe by 2030.
As of 20th April, the RZ 450e has been available for UK and European customer pre-orders.
Chief Engineer, Takashi Waatanabe explained: “Our vision is to use electrification technology as a means to enhance basic vehicle performance, so that we can continue to pursue driving pleasure for all future generations.”
The new model retains all the qualities of performance and craftsmanship unique to the brand, with the added benefits of a battery electric vehicle. For example, the RZ has an advanced drivetrain featuring optional by-wire steering with a new One Motion Grip yoke. This will be available in the UK in 2023. Front and rear e-Axles work in conjunction with Lexus’s new DIRECT4 all-wheel drive torque control. The new electric vehicle platform brings body rigidity, a low centre of gravity and a long wheelbase, securing the fundamentals of handling and responsiveness. A lithium-ion battery unit is fully integrated in its chassis, beneath the cabin floor, which is controlled to ensure its performance is maintained long-term.
The RZ comes with new freedoms in design. The car’s exterior reinterprets the signature Lexus spindle shape in the vehicle’s body, while the interior is a light and open space, expressing the brand’s Omotenashi hospitality and Takumi craftsmanship. The 96-cell battery will likely retain more than 90% of its capacity within a 10-year driving timeframe and covers more than 250 miles in the combined WLTP cycle. With a target consumption of below 18kW per 100km driven, it is also one of the most efficient battery electric vehicles in the market.
It does not compromise on safety either. The car is equipped with a full suite of safety and driver assistance features. This includes Lexus’ Safe Exit Assist, preventing door opening into the path of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear.
The RZ’s qualities are enhanced by the vehicle’s zero emission performance, helping Lexus in its progress towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable mobility society. This eco-friendly focus extends to the car’s entire lifecycle, from parts procurement, manufacturing and ownership through to eventual disposal. Already new methods have been adopted at Lexus’s Motomachi factory, the RZ production centre, in the processes that produce the highest emissions.
The first deliveries the RZ are expected the begin at the end of 2022.