Lexus RZ: Optionally with yoke steering wheel!

Wild spoiler corners on the rear roof, which extend from the hinges of the tailgate, characterize the new Lexus RZ. With dimensions of 4,805x1,895x1,635 millimeters and a wheelbase of 2,850 millimeters, it targets the upper mid-range of premium electric SUVs. Visually, its proportions are reminiscent of the Toyota bZ4X, with which it shares the efficient e-TNGA platform and wheelbase. And like the Toyota, the Lexus remains modest in terms of battery size and power: 96 cells provide 71.4 kWh of capacity, which, thanks to favorable consumption rates of around 18 kW/100 km, should be sufficient for over 400 kilometers according to WLTP. The battery is also designed to last: Lexus expects that the RZ’s battery will still offer more than 90% of its capacity after ten years. This could work, considering the statements of other premium manufacturers about battery lifespan.

Lexus offers multiple driving modes: The Range mode builds on the energy-saving settings of the ECO mode and is intended to further adjust certain vehicle settings: Speed is limited, a different power distribution is activated, and the air conditioning is turned off. By focusing on key factors such as weight optimization, battery performance, and overall performance, the RZ’s target consumption is set at 18.1 kWh per 100 km.

The RZ is powered by two electric motors, delivering 150 kW at the front and 80 kW at the rear, totaling 230 kW or 313 horsepower. Essentially, the brand combines the "powerful" front-wheel drive of the bZ4X with the rear-wheel drive of the bZ4X. Added to this are 435 Nm of torque. The Direct4 named drive system can distribute all power to the front, rear, or all wheels. Direct4 uses ECU sensors to detect and evaluate speed, steering angle, and G-forces. From this data, it calculates the appropriate drive torque for each electric axle to maximize grip and traction. The torque distribution between the front and rear axles can be adjusted within milliseconds in the range between 0:100 and 100:0 – faster than any mechanical system.

Mechanics are also a thing of the past with the optional Yoke steering wheel: Steer by wire allows for turning with a small angle. The variable steering ratio should make hand-over-hand movements obsolete even in hairpin curves. The optional “One Motion Grip” system with the Yoke steering wheel is said to require only a 150-degree turn from the middle position to the left or right stop; hand-over-hand steering is not necessary. The Yoke steering wheel was developed with the participation of Lexus's Takumi drivers: It also improves visibility of the instruments and the road. Additionally, Lexus used it to place displays higher and further away than would be possible with a conventional steering wheel, aiming to reduce eye movements and help the driver focus on the road.

Tazuna: The Art of Minimal Rein Movement

For the entire cockpit, slightly angled toward the driver, Lexus has further developed the Tazuna concept, aiming to require only minimal hand and eye movements to operate the vehicle’s functions. Tazuna is a Japanese term describing how a rider controls a horse with minimal rein movements. We look forward to the driving presentation.

And we take a seat behind the aircraft-like control to find that the RZ offers a lot of space on all four seats! There’s a large trunk behind, making it ready for long journeys. The roof features an electric dimming function, which switches from transparent to opaque at a touch, requiring a bit of energy but eliminating the need for shutters and providing more headroom. But Lexus has also thought about heating: Two new “heating elements” are located at knee height in front of the driver and front passenger, under the steering column and lower instrument panel. They are designed to provide cozy warmth and save up to eight percent electricity compared to standard heating. In addition to seat heaters and a heated steering wheel, they contribute to quicker warming of the interior, enveloping the legs like a blanket, according to Lexus.

Lexus has also taken a step forward in multimedia: The RZ is equipped with the new Lexus Smart Connect multimedia platform, designed for faster and more intuitive operation and enhanced connectivity, efficient travel planning, and information functions.

Proactive: The Driver Assistant – Handy with the Yoke Steering Wheel

Last but not least, Lexus has also taken a step forward in safety: For the first time with the new RZ, Lexus introduces the proactive driver assistant with steering support and a monitor that checks driving behavior for signs of fatigue or distraction. The proactive driver assistant uses the front camera to determine the angle of curves and adjusts steering when starting and turning, which should be particularly helpful with the Yoke steering wheel.

But Lexus wouldn't be Lexus if it didn't have new ideas for details like the door handles, here called the E-Latch system with Safe Exit Assist. This means: you use a smooth-running, electromechanical door opening system that is operated by the push of a button. An advantage, especially if you have children or hurried passengers in the rear: the system is linked to the blind spot monitor. If it detects a cyclist or other road user approaching from behind, it prevents the doors from being unlocked. According to Lexus, the system is intended to help prevent 95 percent of accidents caused by car doors opening. A digital rear-view mirror is also available, which provides the driver with a clear field of vision that is not obstructed by headrests or luggage. Even at night or in poor weather conditions, the system offers better visibility than the standard interior mirror. This is also known from Jaguar Land Rover.

Orders can be placed from April 20, 2022, with deliveries expected from the end of the year. For 2023, Lexus expects 6,000 RZ sales across Europe, remaining as modestly Japanese as the entire RZ. Which scores primarily through sensibility, although it is sometimes wildly packaged. 

What does that mean?

With the RZ, Lexus is entering the fiercely contested premium electric SUV segment in the upper mid-range relatively late, but not too late. And it offers competitors a comparatively sensible package with some wild highlights. The fact that the RZ is closely related to the bZ4X cannot be denied in some areas (proportions, wheelbase, drive, battery).