- Lexus RZ marks the brand’s foray into EV territory in North America
- Driving range of the Lexus RZ 450e is an estimated 360 kilometres
- Canadian pricing will start at $64,950
In the arms race to build electric vehicles, Lexus has been a bit slower out of the gate compared to rivals such as Genesis which have already introduced a brace of EV crossovers plus a tasty full-sized electric sedan. That changes with the introduction of the Lexus RZ 450e, a luxurious crossover which will initially be offered in three levels of zoot.
A newly developed high-output electronic axle gets a lot of ink, as it fully integrates the motor, transaxle, and inverter within a single compact unit. Lexus says this design will benefit cruise range and interior space thanks to its weight and size, respectively. It sounds like the front e-Axle is packaged differently than the rear e-Axle, the latter of which apparently features a low-profile layout to help preserve cargo space.
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
2023 Lexus RZ 450e Photo by Lexus
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Get used to seeing the badge ‘DIRECT4’ in condo parking lots and the driveways of tony neighbourhoods, since that is the new Lexus term for its EV. Using wheel speed, acceleration, and steering angle sensor information, it can allegedly control front-to-rear drive force ratio between 100:0 and 0:100, though it hasn’t yet been mentioned in what types of increments. Output — taken from info given by Lexus America — is said to be in the ballpark of 310 total system horsepower, pairing well with an estimated driving range of up to 360 kilometres on a fully charged 71.4-kWh battery.
Lexus says the RZ marks the beginning of its transition into a BEV-centred brand, one which will offer a full lineup of battery-electric vehicles in all categories by 2030. Note the distinction here between “BEV-centred” and the pure electrification goals of some other luxury brands like Cadillac. While engineers in Nagoya will certainly have built a portfolio of EVs, this phrasing leaves the door open for internal combustion past the end of this decade.
We now understand why Lexus has been moving towards filling in the (in)famous spindle grille with body-coloured textures, such as what has appeared on the revamped RX crossover. The new RZ has a spindle which is entirely filled with colour-keyed material. Since it is an EV with no need for a grille, Lexus is calling this space the ‘spindle body architecture.” Ok, then.
Canadian pricing will start at $64,950 plus destination for the Signature trim featuring heated front seats and steering wheel, a 10-speaker audio system with 14” touch screen display, and dual-zone climate control. Making a $9,000 walk to the Luxury trim will net customers a fixed glass panoramic moonroof, power back door with kick-sensor activation, bigger wheels, and extra driving aids like lane change assist. The range tops out with the $80,950 Executive trim with ultra-suede upholstery, a dimmable moonroof, heated rear seats, and a jazzy Mark Levinson sound system plus other doodads.
Left unsaid in the bumf but mentioned on the consumer page is a notation that the RZ will only initially be available in British Columbia and Quebec this winter. Given supply chain headaches which could restrict initial supply of this thing, we suppose it makes sense to first allocate the RZ to our country’s best EV markets.
Keyword: Lexus introduces all-electric 2023 RZ 450e, announces Canadian pricing