Lexus reveals new RZ 450e with steering yoke
Lexus’ first dedicated battery-powered electric vehicle, the RZ 450e, has been revealed with a steering yoke instead of a conventional circular steering wheel.
The 4805mm SUV – size-wise in between Lexus’ NX medium and RX large SUVs – was revealed at a “global event” online broadcast as the luxury brand commits to selling only pure EVs by 2035.
Lexus said the sporty-looking RZ 450e will have an estimated single-charge cruising range of 400km from a 71.4kWh battery.
It will only be offered as an all-wheel-drive, using a front mounted 150kW electric motor and 80kw rear motor, offering a healthy 230kW total with 435Nm of torque. Estimated 0-100km/h time is 5.6 seconds.
It’s the first Lexus vehicle to adopt Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, making it an upmarket alternative to the incoming Toyota bZX4 and Subaru Solterra. Lexus’ first electric car, the UX300e, is compromised by being based on the combustion engine UX compact SUV.
They’re yoke-ing
The steering yoke has been made possible by implementing steer-by-wire technology. We’re told the compact yoke “greatly reduces the driver’s workload, eliminating the need for hand-over-hand operation, such as for intersections, U-turns, parking and winding roads. It also enabled designers to lower placement of the instrument gauges.”
Shift-by-wire too means a Lexus-first dial shift knob is introduced, mounted on a clean, simplistic centre console below a 14-inch touchscreen.
We’re told an electronic ‘e-latch’ system is used to operate the doors, while a fancy dimming function for the optional panoramic roof looks especially cool as it shifts from transparent to opaque.
Drive shift
The new Lexus BEV introduces Lexus’ ‘DIRECT4’ system. With an electric motor over each axle, DIRECT4 can almost instantaneously switch between front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or AWD power. It uses acceleration, cornering-speed and steering-angle information to determine which works best in each situation.
Design-wise, Lexus said the new RZ follows the language of the ‘next generation Lexus’ introduced on the new NX and LX SUVs. But the elimination of an internal combustion engine also results in “a new visual identity.”
The Lexus signature spindle grille makes way for a “BEV spindle body” – in other words, no in-your-face giant grille we’ve come to expect of Lexus.
There’s a low nose, rearward peak which Lexus said contributes to ‘ample rear-seat headroom’, a ducktail roof spoiler, spelled-out rear LEXUS logo and LED light running the width of its behind. The reveal video also showed the model sporting two-tone paint, with a different colour for the bonnet, roof, c-pillars and tailgate.
As has been previously confirmed, Lexus promises battery-control technology for a capacity retention rate of at least 90 per cent after 10 years.
Timing of the Lexus RZ 450e’s launch isn’t yet known, but with the vehicle looking production ready, later this year would be a fair guess.
