Lexus has announced a series of upgrades for the RZ in the United Kingdom. The electric vehicle will receive a new single-motor powertrain with a boosted range compared to the dual-motor flavor and an entry-level grade.
Dubbed the RZ 300e, the model will join the Lexus RZ lineup in the United Kingdom later this year, with pricing to be announced in due course. It uses the same 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack as the dual-motor RZ 450e, which powers a front-mounted electric motor that pushes out 201 hp (204 ps/150 kW) and 196 lb-ft (266 Nm) of torque.
Lexus quotes naught to sixty-two miles per hour (0 to 100 kph) acceleration in eight seconds and states that the model has a 297-mile (458 km) range. By comparison, the RZ 450e can travel 272 miles (438 km) on a single charge and features a second motor on the rear axle that kicks out 107 hp (109 ps/80 kW). The 0-62 mph acceleration is a 5.6-second affair in the AWD model, which has a towing capacity of 1,653 pounds (750 kg).
By replacing the e-Axle unit, the new Lexus RZ 300e has adopted a rear subframe. Elsewhere, the two models are said to be the same, featuring the brand's 'takumi' craftsmanship, multimedia technologies, a fully digital cockpit, and the usual host of safety amenities bundled up in the third-generation Lexus Safety System+.
Photo: Lexus
A new entry-level grade called Urban is set to join the lineup later this year. It will be available on both the RZ 300e and the RZ 450e, featuring standard 18-inch alloys that help maximize the crossover's electric range. These are also available on the Premium and Premium Plus versions of the all-quiet high-rider.
This trim level also sports a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10-speaker audio, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charging pad for mobile devices, etc. Safety-wise, it has blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with auto-braking, safe exit assist, intelligent clearance sonar with sensors at both ends, and others.
As mentioned above, pricing for the new RZ 300e and the entry-level Urban grade in the United Kingdom will be released later this year. The RZ Premium Pack, Premium Plus Pack, Premium Plus Pack Bi-Tone, and Takumi kick off at £59,995 (equaling $76,218), £63,595 ($80,791), £64,695 ($82,189), and £67,995 ($86,381), respectively.
Lexus' RZ is also available in the United States in the Premium and Luxury configurations. The RZ 300e Premium and RZ 300e Luxury start at $55,150 and $60,800. For the all-wheel drive RZ 450e, interested parties will have to fork out a minimum of $59,850 in the Premium grade and $65,580 for the superior Luxury trim level—the US versions of the RZ feature specs identical to those sold in the UK.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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