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VM Test Drive: Lexus RZ 450e: Fully Electric Piloted

The same platform as the corporate siblings Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Soltera, but significantly more power - and an exceptional steering system: From 2025, the premium SUV will feature steer-by-wire and a yoke steering wheel.

Same platform as Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Soltera, but more refined appearance and more power. | Photo: Lexus
Same platform as Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Soltera, but more refined appearance and more power. | Photo: Lexus
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The cockpit is equipped with select materials, and the Yoke steering wheel (Yoke: yoke) draws everyone's attention. The unusual wheel resembles the control of an airplane more than a traditionally round steering wheel. And how free the view of the instruments suddenly is becomes truly noticeable when you switch from the Yoke-RZ 450e to a "normal" one. The steer-by-wire technology has been proven in airplanes for decades. In vehicle technology, the steering command is transmitted exclusively electrically by a sensor in the steering wheel – or in the yoke – through one or more control units. A motor then executes the steering command. Lexus engineers call the first steering of this kind in a production vehicle "One Motion Grip." Only a few degrees of rotation of the steering wheel are enough to drive through curves at walking pace. Hand repositioning is not necessary with the Lexus, as the maximum steering angle is only 150 degrees.

Yoke - or Joke?

The electronics adjust the steering ratio depending on speed. At walking pace, the electronics translate 1:1, while at higher speeds it translates 1:15. This works surprisingly well. The electric SUV is very maneuverable when parking. On the mountain roads in Provence, we drove through the curves like on rails, and on fast stretches of the highway, course corrections were not jittery but very consistent.

"In aviation, analog fly-by-wire with its high redundancy has long been a reality. In the Lexus, all components of the steer-by-wire system are also doubly installed for safety," explains Yushi Higashiyama, Assistant Chief Engineer and responsible for the development of the 'One Motion Grip.'

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The two permanent synchronous motors of the Lexus deliver 150 kW at the front and 80 kW at the rear, providing the AWD drive with 230 kW (313 hp), significantly more power than Toyota/Subaru. The chassis rolls crisply on the 20-inch wheels but is not designed to be overly sporty. The recuperation is adjustable in four stages via paddle shifters, but true one-pedal driving is not possible, just like with the bZ4X. The battery pack has the same storage capacity of 71 kWh as the all-wheel-drive bZ4X; while the Toyota battery comes from CATL, Lexus uses cells from the Toyota-Panasonic Joint Venture Prime Planet Energy Solutions. Lexus states the range of the premium SUV as 435 kilometers with 18-inch wheels, with 20-inch tires the RZ 450e achieves up to 407 kilometers according to WLTP. Charging is done with up to 150 kW (DC), and in 30 minutes the battery is "refueled" from 0 to 80 percent.

Back to our test rounds. The steering feel has been achieved very naturally by the Lexus engineers, although a noticeable judder at a standstill with full lock and a slight hardening of the steering during quick directional changes are still being ironed out according to Higashiyama. The invited journalists are part of the development process. Lexus engineer Higashiyama will use the expertise of the test drivers to further refine the system. "One Motion Grip" will be introduced in 2025, providing enough time to perfect the almost flawless steering.

What does that mean?

The Lexus RZ 450e is a luxurious premium SUV. However, the highlight is the "One-Motion-Grip" system, which already works remarkably well. The Lexus engineers are doing pioneering work here, and the Steer-by-Wire technology represents the future of the automobile.

Translated automatically from German.
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