The Lexus electrification story continues with the brand’s second battery-electric vehicle, the RZ 450e, due in Australian showrooms next month.

The first Lexus built on the e-TNGA platform, designed exclusively for a battery powertrain, the mid-size SUV is to be available in two grades – the Luxury and the Sports Luxury – and both are fitted with a 71.4kWh battery unit offering a claimed 470km of range.

There’s 230kW of power on tap, with an electric e-Axle – each with its own motor – for both the front and rear wheels. Each e-Axle comprises its own motor, gearing and Power Control Unit (PCU) to distribute power and grip to each of the four wheels as required.

The appropriate amount of torque sent to each e-Axle comes from the Lexus DIRECT4 all-wheel drive (AWD) system.
DIRECT4 can, Lexus says, adjust torque bias in milliseconds – faster than any mechanical system.

The RZ 450e is equipped with an 11kW on-board charger. Lexus says battery recharging when connected to a three-phase power supply can take around six-and-a-half hours, while an 80 per cent recharge can be completed in about 30 minutes when using a DC fast-charging system.

Standard exterior features for the RZ 450e include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with static auto-levelling and headlight washers, LED daytime running lights, rear spoiler, rear privacy glass and heated side mirrors and auto-dimming (driver’s side) with auto power folding function.

The interior includes NuLuxe leather trim, 8-way driver and front passenger power adjustable heated seats (driver’s with two-way lumbar power adjustment), 14-inch multimedia display, 10-speaker Panasonic audio with DAB, Wireless Apple CarPlay 4 and Android Auto 5, five USB-C ports and Qi wireless phone charger.

A suite of Lexus Connected Services is standard, along with 10 airbags and a comprehensive range of safety and security features as part of Lexus Safety Sense+.

The RZ 450e Sports Luxury gets 20-inch alloy wheels, acoustic glass, dynamic auto-levelling headlights with cornering function, two-tone exterior paint option, Ultrasuede interior trim, heated outer rear seats, ventilated driver and front passenger seats, heated steering wheel, three-position driver seat memory, touch sensitive steering wheel controls, head up display, adaptive high beam system, intelligent park assist, dimming panoramic roof, smart key card and 13-speak Mark Levison Premium Audio.

Looking forward, Lexus says the RZ is set to offer a new driving experience with steer-by-wire and yoke steering wheel featuring the Lexus One Motion Grip design.

Details on that system will be made available closer to the its introduction.

Price for the RZ 450e sees the Luxury variant come in with a manufacturer’s recommended retail price of $123,000 and the Sports Luxury at $135,000.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (April 2023) 

23 April 2023