Tag Archives: Lexus RZ 450e

EV, TEST DRIVE

2024 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury – First Drive Impression

Lexus Malaysia has officially launched its first electric SUV, the Lexus RZ 450e 2024, in the local market.

Offered in limited units, the Lexus RZ450e comes with a single Luxury specification, featuring dual electric motor setup as standard.

The front motor is capable of producing 204 hp/266 Nm of power, while the rear motor delivers 109 hp/169 Nm. Overall, the Lexus RZ 450e can generate up to 308 hp of power, driving the all-wheel-drive DIRECT4 system.

The 71.4 kWh battery pack allows for a driving range of up to 440 km on a full charge, supporting 11 kW AC charging with a full charging time of 6.5 hours, or fast DC charging up to 150 kW (shortened to 30 minutes).

Notable features in the Lexus RZ 450e include MacPherson/Double Wishbone suspension system, Electronic Power Steering (EPS), 20-inch aluminum wheels, Bi-AHS LED projector headlights with adaptive high-beam function, L-Bar design taillights, exterior and interior e-Latch door handles, and Lexus Spindle grille at the front.

The cabin is equipped with a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster screen, a 14-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Ultrasuede-wrapped seats with eight-way driver and passenger adjustments, synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel, three-zone air conditioning, and shift-by-wire gear selector buttons.

During your journey, you will be accompanied by music from the Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system with 13 available speakers.

In addition to passive safety features such as 7 airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control System (TCS), and more, the Lexus RZ 450e is also equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ which includes features like:

• Pre-Collision System (PCS)
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Stop & Go and Curve Speed Reduction functions
• Lane Keeping System (LKS) with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) functions
• Adaptive High-Beam System (AHS)

There are also two Lexus-specific features, Lexus Parking Assist Monitor and Lexus Teammate Advanced Park with Surround Panoramic View Monitoring (PVM) function.

The starting price of the 2024 Lexus RZ 450e is RM429,888.

 

First Drive Impression

During a test drive session offered for the Lexus LBX 2024 the other day, we were also given the opportunity to experience driving this electric SUV ourselves.

Our first impression is that the Lexus RZ 450e can be considered as an alternative if you are not interested in getting a German-made electric SUV in the same price range.

The acceleration performance offered by the Lexus RZ 450e is also what you would expect from an SUV with a dual electric motor configuration.

It may not be as aggressive as electric cars tuned for performance, but it is sufficient for you to outpace any fossil fuel-powered car at traffic lights.

Based on highway driving, you can feel that the NVH level of the Lexus RZ 450e is comfortable.

However, the 308 hp power output is not balanced with suspension tuning suitable for winding roads, and you can feel the body roll of this 2-ton SUV as the front end leans out of corners.

The writer understands that the Lexus RZ 450e is not a high-performance F-Sport SUV, so these weaknesses can be forgiven, as similar feelings were also experienced when the writer test drove a German-made electric SUV before this.

Not much can be shared at this time due to the very short test drive period. More information will be reviewed if there is an opportunity to test drive the Lexus RZ 450e in the future.

 

EV, NEWS

Lexus RZ 450e now in Malaysia, starting from RM430k

Lexus Malaysia recently announced the arrival of the all-new electric SUV, the Lexus RZ 450e 2024, for the local market, offered in a single Luxury variant only.

Reservations for this model are now open, with a starting selling price of RM429,888 on the road without insurance.

Here is a brief overview of the specifications of the Lexus RZ 450e Luxury electric SUV:

 

Dual electric motor configuration

The Lexus RZ 450e comes equipped with two electric motors as standard, comprising a front motor with 201 hp/266 Nm and a rear motor with 107 hp/169 Nm.

Altogether, the Lexus RZ 450e is capable of producing a power of up to 308 hp that drives all wheels through the DIRECT4 propulsion system. It includes three driving modes: Confidence, Control, and Comfort.

 

Range of 440 km

The Lexus RZ 450e comes with a 71.4 kWh battery pack allowing for a range of 440 km on a full charge (WLTP data). The lithium-ion battery can be charged using AC charging up to 11 kW, or rapid DC charging up to 150 kW.

 

“Seamless E-Motion” Design

Despite sharing the same e-TNGA platform as the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus has used its own design approach to make the RZ 450e model more premium in appearance. The powerful exterior character is the result of the “Seamless E-Motion” design concept inspired by the cheetah.

The iconic Spindle grille structure found on any Lexus vehicle has been replaced with the BEV Spindle Body for the RZ model. There are six color options offered for the Malaysian market, including Sonic Copper, Sonic Chrome, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Sonic Quartz, Sonic Iridium, and the new Aether Metallic color.

 

Tazuna Concept Cabin Space

Similar to the latest Lexus models, the Lexus RZ 450e cabin also adopts the Tazuna concept where all driving control buttons are focused on the steering wheel. It features an 8-inch digital cluster screen, a 14.0-inch infotainment screen intentionally positioned towards the driver, a head-up display (HUD) screen, and the Mark Levinson Premium surround sound system with 13 speakers.

Among other features are the Lexus Climate Concierge, nanoe™ X air filtering system, 64-color cabin lighting, and a Tsuyasumi-designed center console that delivers a glossy charcoal effect. The Lexus RZ 450e also prioritizes the use of eco-friendly materials, for example, seats made of Sustainable Grayscale Utrasuede and door panel trims made of recycled PET material.

 

Lexus Safety System (LSS+)


As standard, the Lexus RZ 450e comes with the third-generation Lexus Safety System (LSS+) safety features, including various world-class functions, along with the Lexus Teammate Advance Park assistance, surround-view camera, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

According to Lexus Malaysia, the Lexus RZ 450e Luxury will only be offered in limited units, with each owner being covered by a five-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty, as well as an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty for the battery system, extendable for two years.