Lexus Introduces the All-New, All-Electric RZ 450E

The RZ 450E has now arrived at Lexus of Las Vegas. It is Lexus’s first battery-electric vehicle on a dedicated EV platform and the latest addition to Lexus’ extensive electrified lineup. The RZ 450E is a compact 5-passenger all-wheel drive crossover roughly comparable in size to the NX. It brings to the market the first EV built the Lexus way and represents the first step by Lexus to offer 100% BEVs globally by 2035.

Designed as an EV from the Beginning

The core of the RZ 450E is the 71.4 kWh battery located under the cabin floor. Positioning the battery this low and between the axles, combined with the use of lightweight high-tensile steel panels and an aluminum hood, give the RZ 450E a very low center of gravity for a well-planted stance when cornering. 

The RZ 450E is powered by a 150-kW motor in the front, driving the front wheels, and an 80-kW motor between and driving the rear wheels. The DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system manages front and rear motor power based on driving conditions and the load carried by each wheel. Up to 100% of power can come from either motor, depending on the circumstances. Total system horsepower is 308, which, together with its all-wheel drive system, enables the RZ 450E to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds flat.

The RZ 450Es range is conditional on which wheels it rides on. When equipped with 18-inch wheels as on the Premium trim, it has an EPA-estimated range rating of up to 220 miles and an MPGe rating of 115 / 98 / 107 (city/highway/combined). With the 20-inch standard on the top-level RZ Luxury trim, the range is up to 196 miles with an MPGe of 102 / 87 / 95.

Not that you are likely to start with a zero charge, but with a Level 2 charger such as you would install in your home, the RZ will charge from 0-100% in approximately 9.5 hours. On the road, it can charge from 0-80% in approximately 30 minutes with a DC fast charger.

Spacious Cabin

Compact electric motors, no transmission, and no driveshaft all combine to add available space to the cabin starting with the uncrowded front and rear leg room from a flat floor. Elsewhere in the interior, Lexus took the opportunity to rethink ergonomics. The gauge cluster is both an inch and a half higher and further back to minimize eye diversion and re-focusing from the road line of sight. An available 10-inch configurable head-up display enhances this goal. Again, there is no transmission, so the traditional selector for Drive, Neutral, Reverse, and Park is now a knob on the center console, which is both easy to use and frees up space above and below. 

A 14-inch high-definition touchscreen is standard on all RZ models, providing clear information and easy-to-use controls for both driver and front passenger. The display has an anti-reflective coating to remain vivid, even under the available panoramic glass roof. Even so, light from the glass roof can be dimmed electronically. The display’s menu operations have been designed to be similar to those found on smartphones, and wireless compatibility for both AppleCrPlay and Android Auto is standard. For quick, easy access, audio power, volume, and primary climate functions are still operated through physical controls.

Quietly Going About its Business 

The RZ 450E will offer a quiet, serene driving experience. The electric drivetrain is essentially silent, so major aerodynamic details have been incorporated into the exterior to reduce wind noise as well. This includes a slimmer A-pillar cross-section to quiet passing airflow and a continuous hood seal rubber that reduces wind entry and turbulence.  There is also additional sound-dampening applied to the carpet, glass, and panel foam. In addition, Active Sound Control (ASC) creates reverse-phase frequencies to cancel out other unwanted noise. All this provides a great listening environment for the superb available 13-speaker Mark Levinson® Surround Sound system.

Visit and Take a Look

If you have been interested in electric cars but also appreciate the engineering, attention to detail, and quality workmanship of a Lexus, the RZ 450E is the car you have been waiting for. The first few RZs have already made it into the Lexus of Las Vegas inventory, and more will be on their way. And remember, if going fully electric turns out not to be best for you, the Lexus lineup is full of other electrified models that combine the full Lexus experience with amazing efficiency.