Like Toyota, Lexus is a bit late to the trendy battery electric vehicle segment, but this Toyota’s luxury offshoot was an early adopter of hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. Although the first Lexus electric vehicle was the UX300e, unfortunately, it was unavailable in the US market. Lately, there’s a change in events, as Lexus plans to launch its first EV in the US, courtesy of the newly-revealed LF-Z Electrified concept.
From the images made available by Lexus, the all-new Lexus EV, the RZ, uses the same framework as Toyota’s EV, the bZ4X. However, you will notice the subtle styling difference between these two Japanese electric vehicles on a closer look. The 2023 Lexus RZ is a production model of the earlier previewed Lexus LF-Z Electrified concept.
While Lexus plans to offer electrification in all its models come 2025, the all-new Lexus RZ could be a precursor of things to come in the Lexus electric lineup.
The Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept
The LF-Z Electrified concept shows a more distinctively styled Lexus with a sharper interior and more tech amenities. This electric SUV with a new design language previews the future of Lexus EVs.
The LF-Z Electrified concept car is much different from the regular Lexus, both in its drivetrain and design language. The production model, the RZ, sports more tamed exterior elements and a simplified interior layout that focuses more on accessibility and functionality compared to the LF-Z.
According to Lexus, this concept is powered by a 90-kWh lithium-ion battery that can give up to 373 miles of drive range on a full charge. Lexus also improved the aerodynamics of its future EVs.
Some auto enthusiasts suggest that the Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept does not preview any particular Lexus EV model. Rather, it’s a pointer to the futuristic designs and tech roadmap of the upcoming Lexus electric vehicles. But tomorrow will always tell.
What To Expect
On the bigger picture, Lexus plans to sell only electric cars in North America, Europe, and China by 2030, while the rest of the world gets theirs by 2035. And in staying true to its plan, Lexus unveiled the RZ electric SUV, which will arrive later this year as a 2023 model.
The all-new 2023 RZ will be built on the e-TNGA platform (just like the Subaru and Toyota EVs). While the RZ will shape nearly the same dimension and some exterior design elements with these other two EVs, there’s a subtle difference between the RZ and the bZ4X.
Although they may be a possibility for a bigger battery, the Lexus RZ will likely come with the same 71.4kWh battery pack and dual-motor powertrain as the other two cars built on the e-TNGA platform. In Toyota, this powertrain setup delivers 215 horsepower, which Toyota claims can push the electric vehicle from 0–62mph in a record time of 7.7 seconds and up to 280 miles range on a single charge.
Although Lexus has kept mum about the Lexus first electric vehicle, we can always hope it will offer more performance, refinement, and possibly more range than the Toyota EV.
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