The first Lexus electric vehicle built on a dedicated EV platform will touch down in Australia this May.
Lexus Australia hasn’t yet confirmed pricing for the RZ SUV, which is built on a version of the platform debuted under the Toyota bZ4X, nor what supply will look like at launch.
“I think the RZ is going to do very well,” Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas told CarExpert.
“Whatever volumes we can get, I think will do well on that car. I can’t firm up what that’s going to look like yet.”
The RZ450e features a dual-motor powertrain making a combined 230kW of power (150kW front, 80kW rear), fed by a 71.4kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack.
Lexus says it offers around 450km of range, and claims the 100km/h sprint takes less than 6.0 seconds.
Inside, the RZ features a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, a range of vegan alternatives to traditional leather, and a new heater system designed to feel like a warm blanket wrapped around your legs… and to reduce battery usage when compared to a conventional setup.
It’s slightly smaller than the new RX SUV, and will take on the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Audi Q6 e-tron, and Genesis Electrified GV70 when it touches down.
Mr Pappas wouldn’t be drawn on pricing. The related Toyota bZ4X costs the equivalent of around A$65,000 in the USA, and Toyota Australia has told media it “will be expensive” locally.
Most rivals are priced north of $110,000 before on-road costs, a space we’d suggest Lexus is likely to occupy with the RZ.
It’ll also join the smaller UX300e in the Lexus range of electric vehicles.
Having launched locally in November 2021, the UX SUV will be picking up a bigger (72.8kWh v 54.4kWh) lithium-ion battery pack that extends range from 315km to 450km on the WLTP test cycle.
Lexus hasn’t officially confirmed when it’ll touch down, but CarExpert understands it’s likely to arrive mid-year.
With 82 deliveries in 2022, the UX sat behind the Genesis GV60 on the electric vehicle sales charts in Australia.
