Lexus Accelerates Electrification with Launch of Second All-Electric SUV

BY JEFFREY GIBBS

Lexus has made its second bold step into Australia’s EV market, launching the luxury-focused RZ 450e mid-sized battery-electric SUV priced from $123,000 plus on road costs.

The RZ BEV follows the brand’s first all-electric model, the UX 300e, which went on sale late last year and becomes part of Lexus’ commitment to offer electrification on all its models in Australia by 2030. Lexus’ RZ also beats the Toyota BZ4X BEV– with which it shares the platform and some drivetrain components – to market by about six months. Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas said at the RZ launch in Adelaide this week that the SUV “marks a turning point in Lexus’ history.” “It is the first Lexus designed from the outset as a BEV.

It also brings all the fine qualities of refinement and luxury expected of the brand andpackages it in a car that redefines the driving relationship. The RZ is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform – to be used in the BZ4X and Subaru Solterra – but unlike these two, comes exclusively with two electric motors and constant all-wheel drive. Lexus has loaded the RZ with all the luxury features and a comprehensive safety inventory built under its ‘takumi’ craftsmanship and mandate for high build quality. Externally it carries the decade-old ‘spindle grILLE’ theme but the shape appears only as a body-coloured panel and not as an operating intake for an engine’s cooling system.

Mr Pappas said the ‘reinterpretation’ of the design language of previous Lexus models still retained the brand’s distinctive cues while marking it as “something very new”. Two variants are available – the RZ 450e Luxury ($123,000 plus on-road costs) and the RZ 450e Sports Luxury ($135,000 plus costs) with the only option being black dual-tone paint for an additional $4200. Both versions have the same drivetrain – two motors each powering the front and rear axles with a combined 230kW and 435Nm of torque. Lexus said that almost 20 years of expertise in battery and hybrid technology is within the RZ “resulting in a battery designed to perform at the highest levels and backed with a leading 10-year/ unlimited km warranty.”

Standard equipment for the Luxury includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with static auto-levelling and headlight washers, LED daytime running lights, rear spoiler, rear privacy glass and driver’s side auto-dimming with auto power folding function. NuLuxe upholstery is standard in both variants but varies in its look and feel. The Luxury comes with ‘NuLuxe’ upholstery, eight-way driver and front passenger power adjustable seats with two-way driver lumbar adjustment, 14-inch multimedia display, 10-speaker Panasonic audio with digital radio, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay, five USB-C ports, a wireless phone charger and a smart key card. The Sports Luxury adds 20-inch alloy wheels, acoustic glass, dynamic auto-levelling headlights with cornering function, Ultrasuede (vegan) interior trim, heated outer rear seats, ventilated driver and front passenger seats, heated steering wheel and the new radiant front heating feature for front passengers.

The upmarket version also gets a 13-speaker Mark Levinson hi-fi premium audio system, three-position driver’s seat memory, touch sensitive steering wheel controls, head-up display, adaptive high-beam system, intelligent park assist and a panoramic roof with dimmable glass. Mr Pappas said the ‘drive-bywire’ electronic steering system shown in overseas markets is likely to come to Australia as an option but is “12 to 18 months away.” He said the hold-up was related to meeting ADR compliance.