A Look at Lexus’ Electric Luxury SUV
The RZ 450e is the first battery-electric vehicle offered by Lexus. This electric luxury SUV is a little larger than the NX, and a little smaller than the RX, though due to the compact electric drivetrain, its front and rear legroom actually exceeds the RX model’s. With motors positioned both between the front and rear axles, all RZ models are AWD. The power from those motors equals 308 horsepower. There are two trim levels: Premium and Luxury. In this space, Lexus of Las Vegas is going to briefly explore the RZ’s top Luxury grade.
Smart, Swift, and Silent
The range for the RZ 450e Luxury is estimated to be 196 miles. This is a little less than the Premium grade due to its 20-inch wheels vs. 18-inch for the Premium. With an electric motor in the front and rear, power can instantly be distributed front according to conditions. For instance, in a quick start from a stop, the power transfer can follow the weight shift to the vehicle’s rear to maximize traction to the point that the car will whisper from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds. A similar rear power bias will also speed you out of a corner with little fuss. For normal cruising, the front motor may do most of the work for maximum efficiency. Such transitions are entirely transparent to the driver and passengers.
An Interior that borrows from Luxury’s Future
The interior of the RZ450e Luxury exemplifies Lexus with a design that owes less to tradition than high-end contemporary style. The large 14-inch integrated center screen is both canted to the driver and integrated into the dash, not just sticking out on top of it. Naturally, interaction with your Apple or Android phone occurs wirelessly, including charging. With the Digital Key function of the Remote Connect service, your smartphone can unlock and start your car in place of your key. An ability you can share with family and friends you trust. The refinement in all the controls you interact with even extends to the interior door release that is performed electronically with a simple push of the button as you grasp the door handle.
The Luxury grade interior can be subdued in black and grays but can also be bold with the two-tone Palomino Ultrasuede® with Charcoal Trim or even bolder with the tri-tone Thunderstorm and Macadamia Ultrasuede® with Charcoal Trim with a deft combination of light macadamia leather and denim blue Ultrasuede®. At night, the interior continues to impress with Multicolor ambient lighting with Shadow Illumination.
Electric cars are quiet by nature. Combine this with Lexus’s know-how in making conventional vehicles quiet, and the result is an extraordinarily silent ride. If that silence becomes deafening, the cure is the extraordinary Mark Levinson® Premium Surround Sound system. It features Clari-Fi® technology that restores the rich, original sound of music that gets lost during the digital audio compression process before sending it through 12 channels, and 13 speakers, all backed by an incredible 1,800 watts of power. Those watts aren’t there just to blast to shatter your eardrums into confetti, but rather to eke out every last nuance of sound from the source. In combination with the vehicle’s silent running, the results are astounding.
Equipped with Features You Didn’t Know Existed
You will find sophistication and refinement all around you as you drive. A prime example is Lane Change Assist, in which you simply enact the turn signal, and the car will do the rest. Naturally, all other lane-keeping, adaptive cruise, and other driver-assist technologies perform with the highest quality. At the end of your drive, the car will provide hands-free parking, whether it’s parallel parking or backing into a tight space. Steering, acceleration, braking, and gear changes are all handled by the system. So comprehensive is the RZ 450e Luxury feature roster that options are limited to a Cold Weather Package, Panorama glass roof, illuminated exterior badges, and wheel choices.
Lexus is so excited for you to try their first electric car, that as part of their Golden Opportunity Sales Event, they are offering $10,000 cash to put toward one of their leases of the vehicle through the month of August up to Sep 9, 2023. Inquire with Lexus of Las Vegas about the details of the lease offer, and be sure to test drive the extraordinary RX 450e Luxury while you are at it.