- Lexus’ all-new battery electric SUV constructed on a dedicated BEV platform
- Introduction of advanced technologies that enhance the Lexus Driving Signature handling and performance
- Lexus Next Chapter design realizes the opportunities of a BEV, including a new Lexus spindle body
- Long-life 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery expected to retain at least 90% of its capacity after 10 years of driving
- Efficient system achieving energy consumption between 16.8 kWh and 18.7 kWh per 100 km in the combined WLTP cycle
- Evolution of the Lexus Tazuna concept for a fully focused driver’s cockpit
- New technologies enhance life on board, including heat reflecting/insulating panoramic roof, radiant heaters and new Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system with Pure Stage sound reproduction
- Full suite of safety and driver assistance features, including Lexus’ exclusive Safe Exit Assist preventing
- door opening into the path of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear
- RZ retails at PhP 4,828,000, in only one variant
The RZ 450e is Lexus’ first model to be developed as a BEV from the outset. The intention is not simply to deliver the benefits of zero emission, all-electric driving, but to capture the potential of BEVs to reinvent the driving experience. To help achieve this, the car has undergone extensive track testing and refinement at the Shimoyama Centre in Japan, soon to be Lexus’ new global headquarters.
It is not a vehicle that simply adopts battery electric power in place of a conventional engine; it goes much further to realize the exciting potential of new technologies that enhance performance and driving pleasure, true to the Lexus Electrified philosophy.
Chief Engineer Takashi Watanabe said: “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. “Our vision is to use electrification technology as a means to enhance fundamental vehicle performance, so that we can continue to pursue driving pleasure for all future generations.”
First and foremost, the RZ is a Lexus, retaining all the fine qualities of performance and craftsmanship associated with the brand. The company has leveraged its wealth of vehicle electrification experience to deliver the benefits of a BEV with the essential refinement and driving experience that are unique to its brand.
The RZ also possesses new e-Axles, the compact motor units used front and rear that work in conjunction with new DIRECT4 all-wheel electronic drive torque control. High-quality handling and responsiveness are secured with a dedicated new electric vehicle platform, which brings excellent body rigidity, a low centre of gravity and a long wheelbase. A powerful lithium-ion battery unit is fully integrated in the chassis, beneath the cabin floor, its quality finely controlled to ensure performance is maintained long-term.
The platform and battery electric drivetrain also open up new freedoms in design. The exterior reinterprets the signature Lexus spindle shape in the vehicle’s body, while the interior is a light and open space that is both simple and luxurious, expressing Lexus Omotenashi hospitality and Takumi craftsmanship.
With its zero-emission performance, the RZ will help Lexus in its progress towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable mobility society. Here, the focus is not just on the car’s performance on the road; it embraces its entire lifecycle, from parts procurement, manufacturing and ownership through to eventual disposal. Already new methods have been adopted at Lexus’ Motomachi factory, the RZ production center, in the processes that produce the highest emissions.
Building a car on an all-new battery electric platform opened up new design opportunities and the freedom to create a look that sets the RZ 450e apart from other vehicles. At the same time, its styling is an evolution of Lexus “Next Chapter” design, embracing themes that can be seen in other new Lexus models, such as the RX.
The basic theme was seamless, emotional design inspired by the experience of driving a BEV. The RZ is instantly recognizable as both a Lexus and a BEV, with proportions that reflect its dynamic character.
The new, dedicated BEV platform and electric powertrain give the RZ a lower centre of gravity and allow for a lower nose profile. This is the starting point for a silhouette that flows through a smooth cabin section to a rearward peak in the roofline, giving more headroom (67 mm) for rear seat passengers. A sleek horizontal door axis accentuates the long wheelbase and the large diameter 20-inch wheels are pushed out to the corners, expressing a wide stance and the low center of gravity.
The RZ measures 4,805 mm long, with a 2,850 mm wheelbase and short overhangs – 975 mm front, 980 mm rear. Overall height is 1,635 mm and the width is 1,895 mm (excluding door mirrors). In terms of external dimensions, the model sits between Lexus’ mid-size NX and large RX crossover models.
