The is a
battery electric mid-size luxury crossover SUV
A crossover, crossover SUV, or crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is a type of automobile with an increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars, as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles ( ...
built by
Toyota
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
for its luxury division
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota, Toyota Motor Corporation. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked amon ...
since 2023. It is considered a "large SUV" by
Euro NCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...
and a "small sport utility vehicle" by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...
. The RZ is built on the
e-TNGA platform shared with the
Toyota bZ4X/Subaru Solterra, it is the first dedicated battery electric vehicle of the Lexus marque that will be sold worldwide and also the second battery electric model after the
ICE
Ice is water that is frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 ° C, 32 ° F, or 273.15 K. It occurs naturally on Earth, on other planets, in Oort cloud objects, and as interstellar ice. As a naturally oc ...
-based
UX 300e.
History
The RZ was previewed by the
LF-Z Electrified concept in March 2021. A prototype RZ was shown in December 2021 during a Toyota press event to announce its future plans for rolling out battery electric models. The production model was unveiled at a press event on April 20, 2022,
and it was first shown to the public at Le Volan Cars Meet 2022 Yokohama in late May. The RZ was developed at Toyota's
Technical Center Shimoyama.
[
It went on sale in 2022 (as the 2023 model year in North America), initially in RZ 450e grade, which is equipped with a standard fully variable "Direct4" ]all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
Types
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflects one axle with ...
system and optional steer-by-wire technology.
Design
Powertrains
The front motor of the RZ 450e is taken from the front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of internal combustion engine, engine and transmission (mechanics), transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel-drive vehicles feature ...
version of the bZ4X, while the rear unit is taken from the all-wheel drive version of the same car, making it quicker than the bZ4X/Solterra.[
The storage battery is identical to the bZ4X/Solterra, with a capacity of 71.4 kWh.][ The RZ 450e has an estimated range of under the EPA driving cycle, depending on wheel size. The maximum charging rate is 150 kW. Four levels of ]regenerative braking
Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy or potential energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed.
Typically, regenerativ ...
are available; the lowest level eliminates regeneration entirely and relies on the mechanical (hydraulic) brake system. According to the RZ 450e chief engineer Takashi Watanabe, this was done to provide a more conventional braking feel.[ At maximum regeneration, the deceleration rate is .]
Steer-by-wire system
The steer-by-wire system, which Lexus have branded "One Motion Grip" for some markets, comes with a steering yoke and removes the physical connection between the yoke and the steering rack. The position of the yoke is used to drive a motor attached to the steering rack, while a second motor provides feedback to the yoke itself. The effort required to turn the yoke varies in response to driving conditions. Regardless of the situation, the total rotational range of motion is 300 degrees, which removes any need to perform a hand-over-hand movement for which a conventional steering wheel
A steering wheel (also called a driving wheel, a hand wheel, or simply wheel) is a type of steering control in vehicles.
Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles, buses, light and hea ...
may be more suitable. In a hands-on test, ''Motor Trend
''Motor Trend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''Motor Trend'' until 1998, when it was sold ...
'' called the yoke "little more than a novelty" but declared the "steering system that minimizes movement by instantly and intuitively adjusting to ever-changing conditions ... sa brilliant bit of engineering that could well change driving for the better".
Chassis
The chassis takes advantage of structural adhesives, laser-based welding processes, and high-tensile steel to enhance rigidity and reduce weight; the hood is aluminum and the battery is carried underneath the passenger floor, contributing to the vehicle's low center of gravity.[ The e-TNGA platform has a fully-independent suspension, with MacPherson struts in front and trailing-arm double-wishbones in the rear.][
]
Styling
Six exterior and three interior colors are available; as an option, the exterior can be painted in a bi-tone finish, with the black "spindle" grill accent extended over the hood and roof.[ The low hoodline and active grille shutter reduce aerodynamic resistance; in addition, the underbody is dimpled to create minute vortices and a roof spoiler is used to enhance downforce.]
Safety
Euro NCAP
IIHS
Sales
References
External links
Official press release
{{Lexus
RZ
Cars introduced in 2021
Mid-size sport utility vehicles
Luxury crossover sport utility vehicles
Production electric cars
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Electric concept cars