Last December, Toyota unexpectedly presented fifteen electric prototypes and announced its intention to launch thirty models of this type by the year 2030. Although most of the vehicles revealed corresponded to Toyota proposals, four of them sported the Lexus badge, the group’s premium brand.
Lexus already markets a battery-electric car, the UX 300e. This compact SUV derives directly from the hybrid UX 250h; however, the next proposals of the Japanese firm will be specific developments. By the end of the decade, Lexus aims to sell exclusively zero-emission cars in its main markets (China, the United States, Europe).
Three of the models introduced by Lexus were shown as concept cars: the Lexus Electrified Sedan, a mid-size sedan with the sedan, station wagon, cross wagon, and convertible body styles; the Lexus Electrified SUV, a large SUV; and the Lexus Electrified Sport, a supercar with solid electrolyte batteries capable of doing 0 to 100 km/h in two seconds and exceeding 700 km of autonomy.
The fourth proposal was instead a production model: the RZ 450e. Although Lexus has confirmed that its official presentation will take place in the spring, the truth is that its final design was almost completely exposed during the event; now, the company has completed its unveiling with the release of two unpublished images of its sideline and rear.
The Lexus RZ 450e will be based on the e-TNGA platform
Based on the lines of the LF-Z Electrified prototype, the RZ 450e shows a fairly sporty design that sets it apart from another brand SUVs such as the NX or RX. Its front, low and sharp, has very slanted headlights; In addition, the bumper has an “hourglass” shape that recalls the grill of the thermal Lexus.
The silhouette is quite dynamic thanks to the slope of the rear window and the C-pillar in black, while at the rear the attention falls on the spoiler divided into two sections and on the taillights attached to the width of the tailgate. The Lexus RZ 450e will be based on the e-TNGA modular platform already seen in the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X. Like the latter, it will have a by-wire address in some markets; In addition, you can also equip the advanced DIRECT4 variable total traction system.
At the moment it is not clear if the 71.4 kWh pack seen in the Toyota bZ4X will be used. If these batteries are finally maintained, we can expect their autonomy to be around 450 km WLTP. As in the electric ones of its matrix, its batteries are probably guaranteed for ten years or a million kilometers.
