Lexus finally reveals its all-electric RZ 450e SUV

Image: Lexus

The Lexus RZ 450e is an all-electric SUV with a 71.4kWh battery and an estimated range of over 200 miles. The company's first-ever electric vehicle will come with Direct4. The all-wheel-drive system that automatically calibrates weight distribution on all four wheels leads to improved start-up acceleration, handling stability and low power consumption.

There is a panoramic sunroof that extends from the front seats to the back of the vehicle. The steering yoke, which my colleague Andrew Hawkins lamented about in a previous post, is optional.

Image: Lexus

Lexus will sell the vehicle in the US for one year with a standard wheel, but it did not include an image of the yoke in its initial tease. The yoke will be an additional option with Steer by Wire, a feature that replaces mechanical steering with electronic controls.

Lexus hasn't revealed any pricing information for the RZ, but it's likely that the luxury vehicle will cost more than the BZ4X electric SUV offered by Toyota. The base BZ4X model comes with a 71.4kWh battery pack and is built on the same e-TNGA platform as the RZ.

Image: Lexus

The RZ falls a bit short on range when compared to other electric luxury SUVs. The BMW iX M60 can cover up to 280 miles on a single charge, while the Model X can cover 333 miles. The RZ's mileage is comparable to the Volvo XC40 Recharge, which gets up to 222 miles on one charge.