CARS OF THE WORLD

Lexus RZ 450e 2023.

Lexus RZ 450e: The Japanese are preparing to launch a global electric crossover.

The company Lexus has announced the soonest premiere of its first global electric car — the RZ 450e.

The Japanese are going to present the last one in the spring of the 22nd, and meanwhile the first photos have been published.

It is known that Lexus RZ is a premium version of Toyota bZ4X / Subaru Solterra.

It has the same body with a characteristic profile, though the external dodger is original, of course, and brings associations with the RX.

Last year 706,000 Lexus cars were sold worldwide (6% growth).

There are only 260,000 Hybrids and electric cars among them, but the demand is growing faster (plus 10%).

Yes, yes, in case you forgot, there is already one electric car in the range: the compact crossover Lexus UX 300e, introduced in 2019, although it is not sold in all countries.

Plans, however, include an extensive range of electric cars for all tastes, and the Lexus RZ 450e will open it.

The production car is scheduled to debut in the spring, but the company has already published the first images.

Lexus RZ will actually be a premium version of Toyota’s bZ4X crossover (aka Subaru Solterra): under the original body panels and branded design, the same body with a distinctive profile is hiding.

The location of the charging slot hatch has been preserved. Accordingly, it will be based on the same modular e-TNGA platform with McPherson front suspension, multi-lever rear suspension, battery under the cabin floor and steering by wire.

Features have not yet been made public. The original Toyota bZ4X has front-wheel drive (204 hp) or all-wheel drive (218 hp) versions, both with the same 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery.

But the Lexus RZ should have more advanced stuffing: the index «450», which in other Lexuses speaks about much higher power, obliges to it.

For example, the rechargeable hybrid Lexus NX 450h+ has 306 hp. More details are coming in the spring.

By 2030, Lexus plans to have a full range of electric cars with models in different classes, with only battery-powered cars remaining in Europe, North America and China.

And by 2035, Lexus will completely switch to electric vehicles.