Lexus redefines the RZ with more powerful engines and improved dynamic behaviour

A few months ago the Lexus RZ was in the spotlight with the arrival of a new, more sophisticated trim in terms of design and equipment, returning to the headlines but for somewhat different reasons, as Lexus now announces greater power in its electric motors, together with battery improvements, as well as changes in other areas such as its technology equipment.

Without further ado, let’s get into the heart of what the Lexus RZ will offer, and perhaps the most important point is the revision its electrical system has undergone to deliver more power. This has been achieved thanks to the new electric transaxles or e-Axle, with a revised lubrication system, the use of ball bearings in the gears, and silicon carbide semiconductors in the inverter.

Since it now delivers more power, the Lexus RZ range has been renamed and consists of the entry-level RZ 350e with 224 CV sent to the front axle, followed by the RZ 500e with 381 CV sent to all four wheels and, finally, the RZ 550e with 408 CV of power, also sent to all four wheels. All of them also receive a new lithium-ion battery with increased capacity of up to 77 kWh, raising range to a maximum of 568 km for the RZ 350e with 18-inch wheels, followed by 456 km for the RZ 500e with 20-inch wheels, and finally the RZ 550e, which registers 450 km with its 20-inch wheels.

This increase in power across the whole range has meant the Lexus RZ has received changes to improve its dynamic behaviour, which the Japanese manufacturer has achieved by giving the body greater rigidity as well as a specific tuning for the springs and dampers. The four-wheel-drive versions fitted with the DIRECT4 intelligent system have been recalibrated, offering greater traction and therefore stability for the whole vehicle.

The Lexus RZ will continue to be offered in the e-Premium, e-Premium Design, e-Executive and e-Luxury equipment levels, all of which incorporate better acoustic insulation and ambient lighting, new sustainable upholstery as an alternative to leather, available in an expanded colour palette and with new patterns for the door trims; along with new technologies such as the panoramic roof with blue-tinted glass with dimming function or the new Multimedia System Lexus Pro infotainment system with new navigation capabilities, which are expanded by, for example, combining route planning with monitoring of the battery’s state of charge.

Apart from all these trims, there will be a version called F Sport, exclusively associated with the RZ 550e engine, which, as you can imagine, gives the RZ a more sporty character. This is achieved through aesthetic changes both outside and inside, but also through a more sporty driving feel, thanks to specific chassis tuning and the adoption of technologies such as Lexus Interactive Manual Drive, an interactive gearshift that gives the driver the sensation of a manual gearbox in an electric vehicle.

It is precisely the RZ 550e F Sport, as standard, and the RZ 500e e-Luxury, as an option, that will be able to fit the new Lexus Steer-by-Wire steering system, in which there is basically no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels: the turning of the wheels is carried out through electrical signals from a torque actuator on the steering wheel to a control actuator on the steering rack, which in my opinion removes many sensations and much information from the driver. Associated with this system is the new Jet-type steering wheel, in the style of those fitted to Formula 1 cars, with the upper and lower parts of the rim of a conventional steering wheel removed.

To know the specific prices of the new Lexus RZ on the Spanish market we will have to wait a little longer, as the brand has confirmed that its arrival on the market will take place at the end of 2025.