Lexus Drops New Photos Of RZ 450e Electric Crossover Before 2022 Debut

On Thursday, Lexus provided us with a few more images of its first dedicated electric mode that sports the same e-TNGA platform as the new Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. We’ve included them in the gallery below. [Updated 16/12/2021]

Lexus showed us an entire range of fully electric models this week while announcing its electrification strategy for the next decade. The Japanese automaker returned today with another teaser of the all-electric RZ crossover, which is set to debut in 2022.

While the exterior design of the RZ was revealed in its entirety, the new teasers that were provided by Lexus give us a closer look at the front and rear end of the final production model, and more specifically the RZ 450e trim.

Naturally, the design of the RZ 450e is greatly toned down compared to the LF-Z Electrified concept that was unveiled earlier in the year and previewed the electric SUV. The headlights look more conventional, the silhouette and the greenhouse are less futuristic and the plastic cladding on the bumper and wheel arches has a simpler design.

However, the RZ retains several features like the protruding nose with a fully covered spindle grille, the dynamic lines on the profile, the coupe-style roofline, and the high-mounted full-width LED taillights. The transparent central fin might be gone but the RZ got a set of spoilers looking like horns, and another duck-tail spoiler integrated on the tailgate. Overall, the styling approach for the rear end is similar to the BMW X6 but in a more resolved manner.

The Lexus RZ 450e is based on the e-TNGA architecture, just like the Toyota bZ4x and Subaru Solterra siblings. It will be fitted with dual electric motors and will sport the new Direct4 four-wheel-drive system with advanced torque vectoring functions and a renewed focus on driving dynamics. The concept came with 600 km (373 miles) of range thanks to a 90 kWh underfloor lithium-ion battery, figures that the production version is expected to closely match.

The teaser didn’t include any information on the launch date, but judging from the revealing pictures we expect it soon. It has been confirmed earlier that the Lexus RZ 450e will reach the market in 2022. Competitors will include the likes of Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, Genesis GV60, etc.