Lexus will have another all-wheel drive crossover: RZ lit up on teasers

Last updated Apr 16, 2022

The electric SUV of the Japanese brand will be based on the e-TNGA platform developed by Toyota engineers.

There is only one electric car in the current Lexus lineup – the UX 300e crossover (it is based on a similar model with a traditional internal combustion engine). However, in the future, this Japanese brand is waiting for a more ambitious “greening”. New to Lexus' battery-powered lineup is an SUV dubbed the RZ.

Lexus RZ teaser

The predecessor of the new Lexus is the LF-Z Electrified crossover concept, presented at the end of March 2021. From this show car, the production car will receive some design elements and a lot of modern technologies. In particular, the commercial version is expected to have a similar steering wheel in place of the traditional steering wheel, in addition to the familiar cable steering system. Recall that a similar scheme has already been implemented on the Toyota bZ4X (“electric marketer” debuted quite recently, at the end of October).

The Japanese company showed several teasers. They have part of the cap instead of the traditional grille, part of the head optics, aft “detail” with narrow taillights and a small spoiler on the tailgate. Also in the chassis was the profile of a future Lexus “electric crossover” with traditional door handles and side mirrors (the LF-Z Electrified concept has flush handles and rear-view cameras instead of side mirrors).

The Lexus RZ will share the e-TNGA platform with the Toyota crossover. There are no official details on the “stuffing” yet. As reported by Automotive News Europe, citing the head of the old division of Lexus Spyros Fotinos, the new SUV will have a Direct4 all-wheel drive system. That is, the model is likely to be equipped with a twin-engine unit with an electric motor on each axle. The technology will allow you to instantly switch between front, rear and all-wheel drive depending on the traffic situation and conditions.

Pictured: Lexus LF-Z electrified concept

Note that the “related” Toyota bZ4X also has a modification with all-wheel drive, the system consists of two 109-horsepower electric motors. The total power of such a power plant is 218 hp. Acceleration from standstill to “hundreds” of such an SUV takes 7.7 seconds. By the way, the basic version of Toyota's “electrocross” has a single electric motor with 204 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 8.4 seconds.

Pictured: Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept interior

The Lexus RZ should have a lower stance than regular crossovers. Therefore, it will probably be undesirable to travel on it, even over minimal terrain. But it will win in terms of aerodynamics, which is important for electric vehicles, because heavy batteries tend to weigh more than models with traditional internal combustion engines. The resulting slimmer shape helps green models expand their range.

There is no information on the battery level for the new Lexus yet, but it is possible that its model will also be used for the Toyota bZ4X. This is a lithium-ion traction battery with a capacity of 71.4 kWh. The all-wheel drive version of the recently introduced SUV has a range of 460 km (calculated using the WLTC cycle).

According to preliminary data, the Lexus RZ will enter the European and domestic markets at the end of next year. The novelty will also go to retail chains in the States, but later, company representatives have not yet announced the exact dates.