Lexus has whipped the wraps off its first dedicated fully electric vehicle, which arrives as a posher and more powerful version of the awkwardly named Toyota bZ4X. Let’s take a closer look at what the new RZ has to offer…

Meet the new Lexus RZ, the Japanese luxury brand’s first “globally available” standalone fully electric vehicle. The newcomer establishes a fresh design direction set to feature onthe company’s upcoming battery-powered models, with the designers taking anew approach to the signature spindle grille.

Previewed back in February 2022 in 450e guise, the new RZ crossover kicks off the Toyota-backed premium brand’s plan to offer a full line-up of battery-powered vehicles “in all categories” by 2030. In fact, by 2035, Lexus aims to be sell only electric cars.

Riding on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform (and effectively taking the form of a more premium, more powerful version of the Toyota bZ4X), the Lexus RZ measures 4 805 mm long, 1 895 mm wide and stands 1 635 mm tall. The newcomer’s wheelbase, meanwhile, comes in at 2 850 mm.

With a 150 kW electric motor positioned on the front axle and an 80 kW item sited at the rear (both fed by a 71.4 kWh battery pack and effectively creating a 230 kW vehicle with all-wheel drive), the RZ features a claimed cruising range of around 450 km.

The RZ gains a new steer-by-wire set-up that Lexus claims enables vehicle control that is “more true to the driver’s intention”. In addition, the electric crossover features a system that uses wheel speed, acceleration and steering angle sensor information to control the front-to-rear drive force ratio distribution between 100:0 and 0:100.

Lexus says the system uses an approximate front-to-rear drive force ratio distribution of between 60:40 and 40:60 to minimise vehicle pitch during launches and straight-line acceleration. When the steering wheel is turned, drive force is biased to the front wheels (between 75:25 and 50:50), while when exiting a corner, torque distribution to the rear wheels is further increased (between 50:50 and 20:80) to ensure ample traction.

Suspension duties are taken care of by MacPherson struts at the front and trailing arm double wishbones at the rear. Lexus has also rolled out new “frequency reactive dampers”, which alter the dampening force on the extension stroke in response to road surface frequency input. The result, claims the firm, is a high level of handling stabilitywithout a compromise in ride quality.

Lexus describes the cabin as “spacious” and says it featuresvarious “crafted touches”. A panoramic roof (with a clever dimming function) is set to ship standard, while the door trim and console passing between the driver and front passenger seat createwhat the firm terms a “clean, wide-open feel”.

“We believe that Lexus, an established luxury automaker, should continue pursuing the creation of exciting cars while respecting nature and the global environment to achieve a carbon-neutral society,” said Takashi Watanabe, chief engineerfor the Lexus Electrified division.

“The RZ has been developed with the aim of creating a uniquely Lexus BEV that feels secure to ride in, is pleasing to the touch, and is exhilarating to drive. We will continue to take on the challenge of providing customers with new experiences and a uniquely Lexus BEV driving experience.”

Toyota South Africa has stated that the Lexus RZ is under consideration for SA, with no timeline indicated yet.

[UPDATE: Toyota SA has confirmed the RZ is scheduled to launch locally at some point in 2024.]

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