Latest news with #RZ450e
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
2026 Lexus RZ Updates Revealed, Everything You Need to Know
Three years after introducing its first electric vehicle, Lexus has upgraded the RZ for the 2026 model year, making this sleek SUV a more worthy competitor. It will now come as the 221-horsepower RZ 350e with front-wheel drive, the 308-horsepower RZ 450e with all-wheel drive, and the new, range-topping 402-horsepower RZ 550e F Sport also with all-wheel drive. The three models reportedly have 0-60 mph times of 7.2 seconds, 4.9 seconds, and 4.2 seconds, respectively. Range has also increased, with Lexus quoting 300 miles for the RZ 350e FWD, 260 miles for the RZ 450e AWD with 18-inch tires, and 225 miles on the new RZ 550e F SPORT AWD with 20-inch tires. The RZ now sports a North American Charging System charging port on the passenger side for charging at Tesla Superchargers. Filling the battery pack from 10% to 80% requires about 30 minutes using a DC fast charger. If more power is at the top of your checklist, the RZ 550e F Sport is for you, albeit at the expense of range. Interestingly, Lexus has fitted its trim-topping model with M Mode, a virtual gearbox that simulates manual gear shifting via paddle shifters. If this sounds familiar, that's because Ferrari and Hyundai already have it. The RZ 550e F Sport also wears the appropriate go-fast attire, with a black emblem, rear spoiler, front and rear bumper moldings, front grille, and 20-inch wheels. Its cabin proves equally sweet, lined in black Ultrasuede with blue stitching and with a panoramic glass roof, aluminum pedals and footrests, and an F Sport steering wheel. While the new Lexus RZ's upgrades help keep it competitive, the automaker's plan to build it in Japan means that it won't be eligible for a federal tax credit, should that survive the onslaught by Congress. Then again, Lexus hasn't released pricing yet, promising to do so closer to the 2026 Lexus RZ's on-sale date. Currently, the 2025 RZ starts at $43,795 and tops out at $58,605 with lower range figures, but given the specter of tariffs, those prices will likely increase. So far, at least, it seems like the 2026 Lexus RZ's longer range and higher performance should be well worth the wait, along with what is likely to be a higher price. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Lexus RZ: What We Know So Far
Overview To this point, our biggest gripes with the RZ electric compact SUV have centered around its lack of pep and its limited electric driving range, but Lexus has addressed both of those complaints for 2026. The front-wheel-drive RZ350e variant receives a power bump to 221 horsepower, and a new 402-horsepower RZ550e F Sport joins the lineup as the sprightliest of the crew. With improved battery and charging tech, Lexus says that the base RZ now has a maximum range of 300 miles, which should quell range anxiety a bit. While we previously thought of the RZ as a solid Lexus but a mediocre EV, that could change with these updates. What's New for 2026? To see the RZ's 2026 changes, you need to look beneath the sheetmetal at its upgraded battery packs and electric motors. The base model has been renamed from RZ300e to RZ350e and now delivers 221 horsepower (20 hp more than before) and an estimated range of 300 miles (an additional 34 miles compared with last year's rating). While the mid-tier RZ450e's 308-hp output carries on unchanged, it now has an estimated range of 260 miles, 40 miles more than it could manage previously. A new top-trim RZ550e F Sport model joins the lineup for 2026, with a whopping 402 horsepower and some aesthetic tweaks including a rear spoiler, a different front grille, 20-inch wheels, and unique interior materials. All new RZs are fitted with an improved 11-kW on-board AC charger and a NACS (North American Charging System) charging port, which allows for quicker AC charging and the ability to DC fast-charge at Tesla Superchargers. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Lexus RZ is expected to start around $45,000 and go up to $62,000 depending on the trim and options. RZ350e $45,000 (est) RZ450e $50,000 (est) RZ550e F Sport $62,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k $90k $100k Given that Lexus hasn't released any pricing information about the new RZ, it is hard to give a definitive recommendation just yet. However, the entry-level RZ350e looks like the most tempting option on paper. With a respectable 221 horsepower and the highest estimated range of all the trim offerings, the RZ350e seems hard to beat from a value perspective. But we'll reserve final judgment for when we have pricing details. This content is imported from Third party. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. EV Motor, Power, and Performance The RZ350e has a single electric motor on its front axle that's good for 221 horsepower. The RZ450e is powered by a dual-motor arrangement that spreads 308 horses among all four wheels. The RZ550e F Sport is the performance pick, churning out 402 horsepower from its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Lexus previously stated that a yoke-style steering wheel would be offered as an option, replacing the standard steering wheel, but the carmaker has now said that the yoke and steer-by-wire system isn't yet ready for the U.S. market. For some additional driver engagement, the RZ550e F Sport has steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and an "M Mode" that simulates gear changes from a traditional transmission in a gas vehicle. 0–60-MPH Times Lexus claims that the front-drive RZ350e can work its way to 60 mph in an unspectacular 7.2 seconds. The 308-hp RZ450e does significantly better than that with the help of all-wheel drive, earning a 60-mph estimate of 4.9 seconds. When we previously tested the RZ450e, it got to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The RZ550e is unsurprisingly the quickest model, which Lexus predicts will reach 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. We'll update this section when we have a chance to test the updated RZ's acceleration capabilities for ourselves. View Exterior Photos Lexus More on the RZ SUV 2026 Lexus RZ Gets Power Bump but Not the Yoke Range, Charging, and Battery Life A NACS (North American Charging Standard) port replaces the CCS port found in the previous RZ. This new port enables it to charge at Tesla Superchargers. A higher-capacity 75-kWh battery pack increases driving range in the RZ350e to 300 miles, and to 260 miles in the RZ450e. Those new estimates are 34 miles more than the RZ300e could manage in 2025 and 40 miles further than the RZ450e's previous rating. The new RZ550e gets an even larger 77-kWh pack, which Lexus estimates will afford 225 miles of range. Lexus says that the RZ can charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes on a DC fast charger, and AC charging speed is faster thanks to a higher-capacity 11-kW on-board AC charger. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The Lexus RZ's interior is simplicity-focused, with few buttons and switches on the dashboard and doors. Instead, most functions are controlled through a large infotainment display. Similar approaches have been employed in EV models from Tesla and Polestar, with varying results. Either way, the RZ's cabin is spacious for a small crossover and looks and feels quite upscale, with most surfaces wrapped with faux suede or synthetic leather. View Interior Photos Lexus Infotainment and Connectivity A large 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the RZ's dashboard and looks similar to the screen found in the gasoline-powered NX SUV. Lexus says the driver can interact with the system by touching the screen and also by using voice commands. A digital gauge display and a head-up display are also included. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both with wireless connectivity capabilities, are standard. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features Like many other new Lexus models, the RZ is offered with a full suite of standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking. Additional features will be optional, including an automated parking feature. For more information about the RZ's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Lexus provides a competitive limited warranty and an even better powertrain warranty. The automaker also includes a short period of complimentary scheduled maintenance. Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles Battery components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles As more information becomes available, we'll update this story with more details about:
Telegraph
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
‘I was sold. Until I started driving': Diary of an electric car novice
Stepping into Lexus's all-electric RZ 450e was how I imagine Tony Stark felt the first time he fired up the Iron Man suit: awestruck and slightly overwhelmed. I was half expecting Jarvis, an artificial intelligence created by Stark to control his Iron Man armour, to start narrating the drive. Like many people in their mid-20s, I have only ever driven second-hand petrol or diesel hatchbacks – a 2004 Volkswagen Polo and a 2012 Seat Ibiza, if you must know. Faithful, noisy, vaguely tinny companions. But times are changing and all roads now seem to lead to futuristic electric vehicles (EVs). So, having never driven one, I decided to take the plunge in one of Lexus's latest offerings. For an EV novice like me, the RZ 450e felt like a spaceship on wheels – each new feature more baffling (and slightly thrilling) than the last. I, like most drivers, have become accustomed to simply releasing the handbrake and moving off. In the RZ, I had to put my foot on the brake pedal just to switch it on – a fact that took me a solid two minutes to figure out. Then, as if by magic, the seat and steering wheel adjusted themselves to fit me precisely. The dashboard lit up with the Lexus logo before morphing into what looked like an iPad, offering Spotify, Google Maps and WhatsApp. This wasn't just a car – it was a rolling tech hub. Luxe interior The interior's plush terracotta leather and ambient lighting gave it the ambience of a Vegas lounge designed by a minimalist architect. Within minutes, I found myself Googling how much you could sell a kidney for. The car screamed luxury – and I wanted in. All the EV horror stories I'd read online the night before – batteries dying mid-journey, mysterious warning lights – vanished from memory. I was sold. Until I started driving. The first warning light popped up the moment I hit 21mph in a 20 zone. The car politely scolded me. Moments later, it flashed another alert for 'driver inattention' – which felt a bit rich, considering I was merely trying to switch on Google Maps via the touchscreen. It was like being told off by a very expensive nanny. Navigating rush hour in west London on a Friday is never fun, but having your car second-guess your every move doesn't help. The Lexus seemed to think I was dangerous behind the wheel. The feeling, at that point, was mutual. Gaining confidence But once I reached the M42, en route to meet my girlfriend and her family in north Wales, the RZ started to come into its own. The car hugged the road like it had magnets in the tyres, a world away from my Ibiza, which rattles above 65mph and steers like a shopping trolley. The automatic braking was smooth, the lane assist genuinely helpful and the 'approaching rear traffic' warning earned its keep. A quick pit stop taught me how to use Apple CarPlay; with my favourite songs loaded I started to appreciate the interior again – a surprisingly effective soundscape, adjusting to the road noise and almost tricking me back into Vegas nightclub mode. I even worked out how to turn off the speed warnings – the audio ones, at least – although I kept the visual alerts because I'm not that rebellious. Two hours later, I pulled into my parents' house in Warwickshire for a tea break – and hit my next hurdle: charging. My parents, proud owners of an ageing Range Rover and a Mini Cooper, have never needed an EV charger at their home. So, I downloaded the notorious ZapMap app indicating all the chargers in the locality and headed off in search of some charge. The nearest charger? A McDonald's, naturally. With an indicated 15 miles of charge remaining in the battery, I rolled in and tackled my first EV charging point. The first charge The process was simple enough: tap your bank card, plug in, wait. This time I used InstaVolt, which takes £45 up front, regardless of how long you plan to stay and how much charge you wish to add. That £45 and all the other payments it took, I later found, wouldn't be refunded for more than a week. In the hour and a half it took to 'rapidly' charge the Lexus, I drank two sad cups of McDonald's tea and just about resisted the urge to recharge my own battery with some chicken nuggets. I also had ample time to contemplate the state of EV infrastructure in the UK and lament the fact that my 2012 Seat Ibiza can do more than 400 miles on a full tank, while the Lexus topped just over 200 from a full charge. That range wouldn't be a deal-breaker if you lived in a city and rarely drove beyond the ring road. But for someone like me, who regularly drives to the Midlands and Cheshire, it's a non-starter. Worse still, the range drops in cold weather, regardless of how frugally you drive, which is apparently common for all EVs. Hello to range anxiety By the time I'd driven to and around North Wales and back to London, I'd charged the car five times. That's five separate £45 deposits and five extended breaks that made a mockery of the word 'rapid' (although registering with one of the many charge providers, supplying your card details, makes the process easier and cheaper). On my return journey to London, I'd stopped for a Mother's Day meal, where I spent half the time calculating whether I'd make it to a charger in time. I did, thankfully. And when the Lexus representative arrived on Monday to reclaim the car, I was genuinely a little sad to see it go. A few days later, I found myself in Milan, attending a Lexus event during Design Week, where the company showcased its vision for the future of EVs. Reassuringly, Lexus is not diving head-first into an all-EV line-up. More EVs – yet also more hybrids 'Not every customer in Europe, not every market, not every country has the same maturity and the same readiness to electric vehicles,' Pascal Ruch, vice president of Lexus Europe, told me. 'Yes, we will have more and more EVs in our line-up, but we're also keeping hybrids and plug-ins available to offer multiple choice.' It was here that I saw the launch of the firm's new LF-ZC concept car, complete with a cockpit called the Black Butterfly – inspired by the Japanese idea of A-Un no Kokyū, or 'harmonised breath'. The aim is to create a driving experience where human, machine and movement feel seamlessly connected, more like a smartphone than a vehicle. My overall impression And as strange as it sounds, that feeling of connection wasn't entirely absent during my time with the RZ. Yes, I grumbled at the battery life and the faff of recharging. But once we got to know each other, the car and I started to click, especially when it came to the smooth braking and hyper-responsive steering. These are things you simply don't get from a decade-old diesel banger. Still, there's no getting around it: until infrastructure improves and battery range catches up, EVs remain an awkward fit for a lot of UK drivers. It's like buying an AI-powered smartphone with a two-hour battery life and a charger that only works in certain cafés.
