Lexus is rapidly adding new EVs to its lineup. The high-end brand already offers the RZ as an electric SUV that offers customers a zero-emissions alternative to the popular RX. Plus, the latest iteration of the venerable ES is also becoming an EV for its new generation.The next Lexus EV on the horizon is the TZ. As its name suggests, the model occupies a similar spot in the lineup as the existing TX three-row SUV, but this one is fully electric. In essence, the vehicle is the Lexus version of the latest Toyota Highlander EV.CarBuzz/ValnetA new batch of spy shots provides our first glimpse at the production version. It's testing at the Nürburgring, which seems like an odd place to evaluate a vehicle that's mostly going to be hauling families around the suburbs. Check Out The Lexus TZ The Lexus engineers wrap the whole TZ development vehicle in camouflage, which hides the design details. However, there's more than enough visible to get a good idea of what to expect from the production version.CarBuzz/ValnetIn front, there's a large, upright grille with the only opening being a trapezoidal inlet along the nose's lower edge. Skinny headlights are at the base of the hood. The styling elements give the electric SUV a chiseled appearance that we're seeing from the brand's latest crop of EVs.The profile view indicates that the TZ sits fairly low, at least in whatever trim that Lexus is testing. It doesn't look like you should expect to do much rock crawling in this SUV. There are fairly large side windows and a panoramic sunroof, which should let plenty of light into the cabin. Flush-mounted door handles give the flanks a cleaner appearance.CarBuzz/ValnetAt the back, the TZ has a fairly narrow rear window, which would limit visibility, but modern vehicles often have cameras to give drivers far more visibility than what conventional mirrors could ever provide. The hatchback appears fairly large for easily loading cargo into the back, and the bumper has chunky styling.There are no spy shots inside the TZ yet. Given that it's a Lexus, expect high-end materials in the cabin. Expect the dashboard to feature large, high-resolution screens. Premium automakers tend to offer three-row vehicles with luxurious captain's chairs in the second row and a bench for the third row. Generally, the rearmost seats can fold into the floor to maximize the cargo volume when the owner isn't transporting an SUV full of passengers. What We Know About The TZ While these are the first spy shots of the TZ, it's not the first time we've heard about this three-row electric crossover. In 2023, Lexus's parent, Toyota, filed trademarks in Britain for the TZ450e and TZ550e, hinting at the possibility of two powertrains for the SUV.The TZ would allegedly use Toyota's new battery technology, providing a 20% increase in range and a 40% decrease in cost over the packs in the Toyota bZ4X. Plus, recharging would take less than 30 minutes. The packs also aren't as tall, which allows for more compact packaging.The production-spec TZ might premiere before the end of the year, but we don't expect it to be on sale in the US until at least early 2027. Lexus plans to debut two EVs in the country in 2026, with one of them possibly being the TZ.
+70 others
