The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e has made its official debut, arriving as the latest battery-powered addition to the luxury compact crossover segment.
This battery-electric compact crossover shares a platform and other parts with the new Toyota BZ4x crossover, which is also being marketed under the Subaru brand as the Solterra. It will come standard with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain rated at 308 horsepower, along with a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Lexus predicts the real-world range of the vehicle will sit at around 225 miles. Details on the peak charging rate and how long it will take to fill the RZ 450e’s battery have not yet been provided by the manufacturer.
Inside, the RZ 450e will come standard with the same 14-inch touchscreen that’s offered on the Lexus NX and LX models. The vehicle will eventually be offered with an optional Steer-By-Wire system, which ditches the traditional steering rack in favor of a non-physical electric connection. The electric rack’s tight 150-degree steering angle will give the vehicle a sharper turn-in response and will also eliminate the need for hand-over-hand operation when making tight turns, U-Turns or parking. Models with steer-by-wire will also ditch the traditional circular steering wheel for a “yoke” style steering wheel like that used on the Tesla Model S Plaid.
Lexus plans to offer a battery-electric model in all major vehicle segments in North America by 2025 and, like Cadillac, will transition to a 100 percent battery-electric portfolio by 2030. While Cadillac does not yet have a battery-powered compact crossover of its own, readers can be sure that Cadillac is working on an entry for this segment, which is one of the largest and most important in the North American market. Lexus’ strategy also means it will eventually offer a mid-size electric crossover to directly compete with the Cadillac Lyriq.
The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e is expected to go on sale in the U.S. towards the end of this year. Lexus has yet to share details on pricing and trim availability.
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Moving opposite to market trends.
With four model years recommended for purchase.
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
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Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
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Based on the naming and the power, it would seem realistic that this is the electric replacement for the RX. Considering that, where does the compact classification come from? I’d say this is midsized and will be a direct competitor to the Lyriq.
Visually, the Lyriq puts this to shame both on the outside and even more so on the inside. And mileage on the RZ is very underwhelming.
GMC Fan
C’mom from these photos it looks to be the same size as the Lexus UX Stationwagon. Or maybe a replacement for Lexus’ rebadged Prius (CT200h)
Yes, it looks small in the pictures but we really have no idea what size it is. Keep in mind as well the EVs have much more space inside versus their ICE comparable.
It has 300+ horsepower. Lexus isn’t going to put that much power in their base compact EV. Those numbers are much more inline with the Lyriq.
Why would Lexus put the RZ name to coincide with the UX? From their perspective, this aligns with the RX. This keeps their naming scheme aligned.
GMC Fan
The Lyriq’s dimensions are similar to the XT6. Interior space should be close to the Escalade’s.
Toyota quickly threw this thing together after their solid state batteries didn’t pan out. I’m guessing a overpriced compact EUV for the Beta testers.
Congratulations Lexus, only took you 7 years to come out with something that competes with the Chevy Bolt.
That yolk steering thing is the next dumb trend in automotive design. Following in the big mouth grills.
The interior needs help but I do dig the exterior. The steering yoke is a bad idea and looks uncomfortable.
Do not like.
Interior is OK.
The exterior is much like the NX. It looks as if it's been slashed at random by a Samurai Sword.
Trop peu, trop tard..!! Trop de fla fla, Petite batterie, autonomie inférieure à la compétition; BMW i4, Cadillac Lyric,
Genesis GV70, Kia EV6,
Imaginons la pauvre autonomie en hiver…!!! Au Québec. Que dire de la durée de la recharge..??
Toyota a toujours réfuté l’électrification, maintenant pris de court, mauvaises planifications, courent comme
des poules pas de têtes; ne sont vraiment pas dans la course.
Lexus n’a pas fait ses devoirs, car à la dérive de Toyota… et prix exorbitants + de 10,000.00$ pour 1 an de garantie
de plus que Toyota.
On s’en fout que ce groupe de cellules ne perdent que 10% après une utilisation de 10 ans Who care…??
Les cellules des batteries et composantes sont garanties pour 8 ans et plus de 160,000 kilomètres, chez la compétition.
To little, to late To much fla fla. Small battery , autonomy , horse-power, less than the competition: BMW i4, Cadillac Lyric,
Genesis GV70, Kia EV6.
What about 35% to 45% reduction autonomy in Quebec winter? Dont speak too much about 80% recharging time?
Toyota as always been less interested in the electrification , but now they felt push back with the incresive interest
by client towards electric cars , because high cost of gazoline. They tried but no hard enough ! Sorry…!!
Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota, but you will pay as musch of 10,000,00$ more than the Toyota equivalent model
for one more warrenty year.
The choice of Toyota for that kind of battery preserve the holding capacity charge at 90% even after 10 years of rechargin
Who cares most warranty cover component: cell,battery for 8 years and more than 100,000 kilometres.
225 miles of range really, most gasoline powered cars today are good for 350 miles to over 400 miles of range and probably cost half as much and don't have to worry about battery degradation and replacement costs after 12 to 15 years. Not a great selling point for most people especially for people who like to travel. A Toyota Highlander Hybrid will travel 489 miles on a full tank.