New Lexus RZ 100% Electric: Suicide Autonomies?

Lexus, the premium manufacturer of Toyota, renews its range of 100% electric SUVs RZ with two models featuring 2 and 4-wheel drive.

Luxury car consumers are no longer willing to pay crazy prices since Tesla “broke the toy” with sharply lowered prices. Now, a very good electric sedan costs less than 40,000 euros (Model 3 Rear-wheel drive) and an SUV like the Model Y is around 37,000 euros with the electric bonus.

Subsequently, the entire luxury universe has “taken a hit” with plummeting profitability. Because it required adapting to this new customer base that didn’t even seriously exist 4 years ago. But since then, Tesla has taken massive global positions, with nearly 2 million cars sold per year. That’s fewer for the traditional manufacturers. And when you add the new discount competition from Chinese manufacturers, the brands that have shone until now must reconsider their strategy.

A Much More Affordable Lexus RX

Built on this premise, Lexus clearly understands this shift, with the RZ electric range being thoroughly overhauled. Japan (at the Motomachi plant) and the United States will be served first, with Europe to follow later in 2025. A new entry-level RZ 300e is introduced, equipped with a 72.8 kWh lithium-ion battery supplied by Chinese company CATL. It is a front-wheel drive vehicle with a modest power output of 201 horsepower.

The range is not extraordinary, reaching up to 428 km (with 18-inch wheels) and 360 km with 20-inch wheels, according to the American EPA mixed cycle. This is more relevant than the European WLTP, which might predict around 500 km on brochures. But oh well…

In the United States, the price starts at $43,900 (approximately €41,600) excluding federal and local taxes (up to 0%). Being produced outside the US, the RZ will not qualify for any eco-bonus to compete with Tesla and others.

A RZ 450e for the City?

On paper, the new Lexus RZ 450e suffers from the same range limitation, with only 71.4 kWh of capacity. Its power, split between two motors (one at the front for the 300e and a second support motor at the rear), peaks at 308 horsepower.

Unfortunately, the driving range is still limited to 220 miles (354 km) and 196 miles (315 km) depending on the wheel size. Frankly, who would be interested in real autonomy less than 300 km when competitors promise double that?

READ ALSO: To increase range, ask your passengers to lose weight?