The first Lexus EV to go on sale in the United States will be a crossover SUV called the RZ, the automaker confirmed Thursday.
The RZ is expected to arrive in the US in 2022, possibly a 2023 model, which is expected to be branded as the RZ 450e in this market. That corresponds to the traditional way Lexus uses a lowercase “h” for hybrids.
The trio of teaser images show off some of the design elements that appear to have been carried over from LZ-F Electrification concept launched in March, but with more upright and SUV-like styling.
Lexus didn’t provide any technical details, but the RX could use the same e-TNGA platform as the 2023 Toyota BZ4X and 2023 Subaru Solterra twins. That would make it a smaller crossover, about the same size as the current Lexus NX 200t.
Teaser for Lexus RZ to launch in 2022
Lexus parent company Toyota has previously indicated that the luxury brand’s EVs will offer more performance and range than Toyota-branded models, which will focus on affordability.
Expect RZ to have a ‘new’ Lexus dual motor drive technology intended to provide travel and handling benefits — perhaps comparable to e-4orce system Nissan has grown.
The RZ won’t be the first production Lexus EV, but it will be the first to hit these shores. Lexus has provided an all-electric UX300e in Europe, but there are no plans to bring it to the US
Last year, Lexus also announced plans for the arrival of the Its first plug-in hybrid in late 2021 — a version of the NX crossover. The NX is redesigned for the 2022 model year, retaining the hybrid powertrain option from the previous generation.
