√2022 Lexus RZ electric SUV revealed

Meet the Lexus brand’s first dedicated electric car, riding on a new battery-electric platform shared with parent Toyota and affiliate Subaru.

UPDATE, 19 April 2022: Toyota‘s luxury marque Lexus has released new teaser images of its upcoming RZ450e electric car – despite a static example breaking cover in full late last year.

An official online ‘reveal’ event has been pencilled in for 8pm AEDT tomorrow (20 April), and will be used to “share more details about the [vehicle].”

The newest pictures show the RZ450e will be offered with a ‘yoke’-styled steering wheel, similar that currently offered in the Tesla Model S Plaid – though unlike Tesla, a ‘steer-by-wire’ system will ensure the driver won’t have to perform awkward hand-over-hand movements at low speeds.

The original story continues below. Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.

15 December 2021: Lexus has revealed photos of its first dedicated electric car, the 2022 Lexus RZ.

Revealed alongside the Toyota group’s broader electric vehicle plans, the new RZ is expected to share its e-TNGA underpinnings with the new Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra, and sits alongside the existing UX300e and future dedicated electric cars in the Lexus brand’s plan to go all-electric by 2035.

Drawing styling influences from the LF-Z Electrified concept revealed earlier this year, the new RZ is believed to share its 2850mm wheelbase with the BZ4X, but it is clothed in unique sheetmetal – including a new, closed-off take on the Lexus brand’s ‘spindle’ grille shape.

The concept’s full-width LED tail-light bar carries over to the production car, joining a closed-off lower bumper and available 20-inch alloy wheels.

A look inside the cabin hasn’t been provided, however the BZ4X and Solterra share a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display.

No details of powertrains have been announced, though Lexus has confirmed the new electric SUV will wear the ‘RZ450e‘ moniker – with the ‘DIRECT4‘ badge on the tailgate confirming it will use the brand’s new electric all-wheel-drive system.

Using the power outputs of other Lexus 450 and 500-badged models as a guide, it’s fair to speculate the RZ450e will offer dual electric motors developing approximately 250kW combined – a significant improvement over the standard, all-wheel-drive BZ4X’s 160kW combined output (from two 80kW motors).

The Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept, meanwhile, packs dual motors and a 90kWh battery for combined outputs of 400kW and 700Nm, 600km of WLTP range and a 0-100km/h time of three seconds flat.

The 2022 Lexus RZ will be revealed in full in the first half of 2022. Australian details are yet to be confirmed.

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