Lexus unveiled the RZ today, the luxury brand’s second foray into the electric car industry and the first developed entirely as an electric vehicle. As noted in the company’s press release, “the new RZ marks Lexus’ transition into a (Battery Electric Vehicle) BEV-centered brand and embodies the unique Lexus vehicle design and driving experience brought on by advanced electrification technology.”
The RZ will also debut a new active four-wheel-drive system called DIRECT4. To put it another way, there is a motor, gearing, and an ECU located directly between the wheels. The front axle is powered by a 150kW motor, while the rear axle is powered by an 80kW motor. According to the company, this will enable the car to automatically distribute force to each wheel based on its needs. In addition to this, the DIRECT4 will deliver “excellent driving performance” and a “stronger human-machine connection,” Lexus claims.
The battery pack has a capacity of 71.4kWh. Lexus has not confirmed the battery charging times, however, given that this platform supports 150kW charging, they may be the same. Thus yet, the only range indicated is “greater than 400 kilometres” (250 miles).
The stated performance is 5.6 seconds from 0 to 62 mph. You can tell it’s a Lexus just by looking at the nose, which has been filled in a bit so that it doesn’t need to suck in so much air for cooling. It’s a sleek-looking vehicle with an intriguing split rear roof spoiler that lends it a unique appearance.
In addition, the “One Motion Grip” steering yoke is available in lieu of a traditional wheel. This contributes to the futuristic appearance of the vehicle and is a steer-by-wire technology. Lexus claims that the yoke takes less steering effort, eliminates hand-over-hand turning, and provides a superior view of the driver display.
In the meantime, there’s no idea how drivers will react to modifying such a fundamental part of car management. The rest of the cabin features a contemporary layout centred on the driver, with a large 14-inch display and a simple dial for selecting the vehicle’s driving mode. The panoramic roof may be dimmed, and front passengers will appreciate the radiant heaters installed around their knees.
Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Audi Q4 e-Tron, and Kia EV6, it appears that the Lexus RZ will compete with these vehicles in size. Its order books are now open, and a £500 deposit is required (in the UK). Pricing has not been finalised, but it appears to be a fascinating addition to the Lexus family.
