Lexus has introduced the new, all-electric Lexus RZ 450e. The company says the RZ is the brand’s first globally available, purpose-built battery-electric vehicle. The electrified vehicle Lexus lineup includes seven hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The EV features a new lightweight e-TNGA steel platform (a first for Lexus), and the RZ’s body employs high-tensile steel panels and an aluminum hood to reduce weight and increase rigidity. The lightweight platform also offers enhanced stability and ride comfort by mounting the 96-cell lithium-ion battery pack, developed by Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), under the vehicle floor. A urethane sealant helps to keep dust and water out of the stack’s reinforced structure, while efficient water-cooling and water-heating systems work to maintain an ideal battery temperature, Lexus says.
The 71.4 kWh battery delivers a total system horsepower rating of 308 and a manufacturer-estimated 0-60 acceleration time of 5.0 seconds. It has an EPA-estimated range rating of up to 220 miles when equipped with 18-in. wheels and an EPA-estimated MPGe rating of 115/98/107 (city/highway/combined). When utilizing 20-in. wheels, the RZ has an EPA-estimated MPGe of 102/87/95 with an EPA-estimated range of up to 196 miles.
The RZ 450e utilizes DIRECT4, an all-wheel-drive system first introduced with the 2023 Lexus RX, which features a rear eAxle coupled with the engine and front motor. RZ’s DIRECT4 system utilizes two high-output, high-torque eAxle units that each drive a wheel set, one in the front (150-kW) and the other at the rear (80-kW). Three-point eAxle motor mounts, each using a lightweight aluminum bracket, are placed symmetrically on each side to counterbalance the eAxle’s torque.
The DIRECT4 system works to optimize RZ’s drive force, traction, and posture control (e.g., pitch and dive) in accordance with driving conditions and the load carried by each wheel, Lexus says. DIRECT4’s front-to-rear torque distribution has a maximum range of 100:0 to 0:100, depending on the driving situation.
Also lending to the RZ’s drive performance is the front MacPherson strut-type suspension and rear trailing arm multi-link configuration with both specifically tuned and located to enhance handling balance, roll posture, and ride comfort, Lexus says.
Available in the U.S. at a future date, a new “Steer by Wire” system enables the electronic exchange of steering and road surface information between the advanced steering control and tires via electrical signals, not mechanical linkage. As such, drivers feel quick, controlled, communicative steering reactions, Lexus says.
The RZ comes equipped with a Level 1 vehicle-charging cable for 120v outlets and all models are equipped with a CCS1 (Combined Charging System (CCS)) socket for at-home and public charging. Under ideal conditions, the RZ can charge from 0-100% in approximately 9.5 hours with a Level 2 charger and from 0-80% in approximately 30 minutes with a DC fast charger, Lexus says.
Participating Lexus dealers offer an option to purchase a ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 charger at the dealership or directly from ChargePoint online. ChargePoint Home Flex is Energy Star-certified and Wi-Fi enabled, can be installed indoors or outdoors, and comes with a 23-foot charging cable to support different parking configurations. With the ChargePoint Home Flex connected charger, electric vehicles can be charged up to nine times faster than a standard outlet, the company says. The home charger can charge up to 25 miles of range per hour and fully charge the battery when plugged in overnight.
