LEXUS has made its second daring step into Australia’s EV market, launching the luxury-focused RZ 450e mid-sized battery-electric SUV priced from $123,000 plus on street prices.
The RZ BEV follows the model’s first all-electric mannequin, the UX 300e, which went on sale late final 12 months and turns into a part of Lexus’ dedication to supply electrification on all its fashions in Australia by 2030.
Lexus’ RZ additionally beats the Toyota BZ4X BEV– with which it shares the platform and a few drivetrain parts – to market by about six months.
Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas mentioned on the RZ launch in Adelaide this week that the SUV “marks a turning level in Lexus’ historical past.”
“It’s the first Lexus designed from the outset as a BEV. It additionally brings all of the advantageous qualities of refinement and luxurious anticipated of the model and packages it in a automobile that redefines the driving relationship.
“The RZ is the appropriate car for these wanting a luxurious SUV evoking the sensation of Lexus driving with the addition of a easy and quiet battery-electric powertrain.”
The RZ is constructed on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform – for use within the BZ4X and Subaru Solterra – however not like these two, comes completely with two electrical motors and fixed all-wheel drive.
Lexus has loaded the RZ with all the posh options and a complete security stock constructed below its ‘takumi’ craftsmanship and mandate for prime construct high quality.
Externally it carries the decade-old ‘spindle grille’ theme however the form seems solely as a body-coloured panel and never as an working consumption for an engine’s cooling system.
Mr Pappas mentioned the ‘reinterpretation” of the design language of earlier Lexus fashions nonetheless retained the model’s distinctive cues whereas marking it as “one thing very new”.
Two variants can be found – the RZ 450e Luxurious ($123,000 plus on-road prices) and the RZ 450e Sports activities Luxurious ($135,000 plus prices) with the one choice being black dual-tone paint for an extra $4200.
Each variations have the identical drivetrain – two motors every powering the entrance and rear axles with a mixed 230kW and 435Nm of torque.
Lexus mentioned that nearly 20 years of experience in battery and hybrid expertise is throughout the RZ “leading to a battery designed to carry out on the highest ranges and backed with a number one 10-year/limitless km guarantee.”
The drivetrain includes a pair of electrical “e-Axles” on the entrance and rear of the SUV, every having a motor, gearing and power-control unit to distribute infinitely variable energy to every particular person wheel.
Outputs are 150kW/266Nm for the entrance motor and 80kW/169Nm for the rear unit.
The e-Axles work with the all-wheel-drive system that displays car velocity, steering angle and G-forces to finest deploy motor torque.
Lexus claims the RZ will speed up to 100km/h from relaxation in 5.3 seconds. Importantly, it mentioned the vary is 470km on the NEDC cycle.
The lithium-ion battery, which sits beneath the cabin flooring, is rated at 71.4kWh and has a 10-year guarantee.
As a part of its buyer care program, all RZ grades come as commonplace with an 11kW on-board charger, which might recharge the car in roughly 6.5 hours when linked to a three-phase energy provide.
Recharging to 80 per cent capability cuts the ready time to half-hour when linked to a DC quick charger.
The RZ comes with a free residence charger and set up, three years of complimentary charging with the Chargefox DC speedy charging community and a subscription to Lexus’ Encore Platinum proprietor advantages program.
The Encore Platinum program has possession and life-style advantages together with the brand new subscription service ‘Lexus On Demand’ which permits house owners to borrow a unique Lexus of their alternative as much as 4 occasions over the period of their subscription.
The RZ additionally comes with Lexus Related Companies as commonplace.
Customary gear for the Luxurious contains 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with static auto-levelling and headlight washers, LED daytime operating lights, rear spoiler, rear privateness glass and heated facet mirrors and driver’s facet auto-dimming with auto energy folding operate.
Vegan upholstery is commonplace in each variants however varies in its feel and look. The Luxurious comes with ‘NuLuxe’ upholstery, eight-way driver and entrance passenger energy adjustable seats with two-way driver lumbar adjustment, 14-inch multimedia show, 10-speaker Panasonic audio with digital radio, wired Android Auto and wi-fi Apple CarPlay, 5 USB-C ports, a wi-fi cellphone charger and a wise key card.
The Sports activities Luxurious provides 20-inch alloy wheels, acoustic glass, dynamic auto-levelling headlights with cornering operate, Ultrasuede (vegan) inside trim, heated outer rear seats, ventilated driver and entrance passenger seats, heated steering wheel and the brand new radiant entrance heating function for entrance passengers.
The upmarket model additionally will get a 13-speaker Mark Levinson hi-fi premium audio system, three-position driver’s seat reminiscence, contact delicate steering wheel controls, head-up show, adaptive high-beam system, clever park help and a panoramic roof with dimmable glass.
Mr Pappas mentioned the ‘drive-by-wire’ digital steering system proven in abroad markets is prone to come to Australia as an choice however is “12 to 18 months away.” He mentioned the hold-up was associated to assembly ADR compliance.
The system, referred to as Lexus One Movement Grip system which makes use of a ‘yoke’ as a substitute of a steering wheel, permits variable enter by the motive force with out requiring a hand-over-hand manoeuvre.
The RZ comes with 5 years of capped-price servicing which can be mounted at $395 per service with intervals of 12 months or 15,000km.
PRICING (excluding on street prices):
RZ 450e Luxurious: $123,000
RZ 450e Sports activities Luxurious: $135,000
Possibility: Black two-tone paint: $4200
