- The 2023 Lexus RZ450e debuts as the first electric vehicle the luxury brand has offered in America.
- It shares a platform with the Toyota bZ4X, but the RZ450e has more power and a ritzier interior.
- The RZ450e’s dual electric motors combine for around 300 horsepower, and Lexus estimates a 225-mile range.
With the reveal of the 2023 Lexus RZ450e, the luxury automaker introduces its first electric vehicle to U.S. customers. While it shares a platform with the Toyota bZ4X, this Lexus EV pumps up the performance and increases the overall opulence compared to its mainstream counterpart.
The first thing that stands out about the RZ450e is its sharply creased sheetmetal, particularly its angular face. The lighting signature is similar to other Lexus models, and its grille features the brand’s distinctive spindle design, but something’s different. Now called the “spindle body,” the surfaces are mostly smooth for aerodynamic purposes, and Lexus says the RZ450e’s design language prefaces future EV models.
As with the bZ4X, the RZ450e rides on the e-TNGA platform that Toyota co-developed with Subaru. Lexus calls its dual-electric-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain Direct4. The motor up front is rated at 201 horsepower and the one in the rear is rated at 107 horses, so we expect their combined output to be about 300 horses. That’s considerably more powerful than the 214-hp bZ4X.
Another component the electrified Lexus and Toyota share is a battery pack. The RZ450e’s battery has approximately 65.0-kWh of useable capacity, which Lexus estimates will earn about 225 miles of range per charge. The company hasn’t yet released details about peak charging rate or estimated charging time.
Inside, the RZ450e looks like it caters to a more affluent clientele than its Toyota cousin. The cabin is said to be styled with simplicity in mind and is lined with upscale materials. While Lexus has confirmed that the RZ450e will be offered with a yoke-style steering wheel, these photos only show the standard, circular wheel. A 14.0-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment system, which has the same new software we’ve seen on the Lexus NX and LX models.
The RZ450e also comes standard with a panoramic sunroof that includes a dimming function and a host of driver-assistance technology, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Among its more desirable options are a head-up display as well as a feature that allows drivers to remotely parallel park the vehicle.
Lexus hasn’t yet announced pricing for the 2023 RZ450e, but we expect it to start at around $50,000 when it goes on sale closer to the end of this year.
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Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
