Lexus has taken the silk sheets off its brand new all-electric RZ 450e, which is the first Lexus electric vehicle to be developed from the ground up based on its new electric platform architecture.
The RZ is the next step in Lexus’s move towards becoming a 100% electric brand in Western and Central Europe by 2030.
The RZ features an advanced drivetrain featuring optional by-wire steering with a new One Motion Grip yoke (available in the UK during 2023) and front and rear e-axles that work in conjunction with Lexus’ new DIRECT4 all-wheel-drive torque control. It is built upon a dedicated new e-TNGA electric vehicle platform. The new e-TNGA platform and battery electric drivetrain open up new freedoms in design. offering a low center of gravity and a long wheelbase. A 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery unit is fully integrated in the chassis, beneath the cabin floor.
Performance-wise, it claims around 250 miles of range, packs 309bhp, 435Nm of torque, and meets a respectable 0-62mph acceleration time of 5.6 seconds.
With its zero-emissions, the RZ will help Lexus in its progress toward carbon neutrality and a sustainable mobility society. Here, the focus is not just on the car’s performance on the road; it embraces its entire lifecycle, from parts procurement, manufacturing and ownership through to eventual disposal. Already new methods have been adopted at Lexus’ Motomachi factory, the RZ production center, in the processes that produce the highest emissions.
Lexus chief engineer Takashi Watanabe said: “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 will be available for UK and European customers to reserve from 20 April, ahead of the first vehicle deliveries from the end of 2022.
