Lexus is getting set to reveal its first fully electric vehicle.
The dedicated battery-powered RZ 450e will be unveiled during a special online program on April 20.
The luxury lifestyle brand will use the reveal to share more details about the RZ 450e — the newest model in the Lexus Electrified line-up.
It is the first new model to be unveiled since Lexus announced its vision for battery-powered EVs to make up 100 per cent of its global vehicle sales by 2035.
RZ 450e shares a platform with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, co-developed with Subaru.
It was introduced in a concept form as the LF-Z Electrified in March 2021 and as a prototype model in December, 2021.
RZ 450e will go on sale in 2022 (as the 2023 model year in North America), initially in RZ 450e grade.
It will be equipped with a fully variable “Direct4” four-wheel drive system and steer-by-wire technology.
Subaru helped the development of the car’s all-wheel drive system.
Lexus is yet to reveal details of the powertrain, but the donor vehicle comes as a single and dual motor configuration.
The single-motor front-wheel-drive model delivers 150kW and has an estimated range of 500km, with a 0–100 km/h time of 8.4 seconds.
The dual-motor model has a combined 160kW, an estimated range of 460km and does the dash in 7.7 seconds.
Both are powered by a 71.4 kWh battery.
With a fast charger it can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes and an optional rooftop solar panel system may generate electricity to drive the vehicle for at least 1770km per year.
bZ4X is similar in size to the RAV4, but is lower with sharper styling and a longer wheelbase.
Subaru’s Solterra features a minor exterior redesign and is scheduled to go on sale around the same time as the Toyota (mid-2022 in Japan, US, Canada, Europe, and China).
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