Toyota luxury brand Lexus unveiled its first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) model this week, the RZ, as the hybrid-heavy Japanese automaker stepped up its efforts to electrify its broad model range.
The RZ is an SUV based on the parent company’s e-TNGA BEV-specific platform, basis of the recently unveiled Toyota bZ4X crossover. It is fitted with a lightweight, highly rigid body to achieve optimal weight distribution.
The RZ has the company’s steer by wire system and so-called Direct4 all wheel drive. The 71.4 kWh battery pack provides 150kW of power to the front axle and 80kW to the rear axle and gives the vehicle a cruising range of 450km (280 miles).
The RZ will go on sale in Japan and other markets later this year. It will go up against the Audi e-tron, the BMW iX and the Volvo XC40.
Lexus said it aimed to offer a BEV option in all model categories by 2030 and would switch its entire product range to BEVs by 2035.