Lexus has officially confirmed that its first electric vehicle (EV) to be sold in the United States will be an SUV crossover named RZ. The RZ is anticipated to arrive in the U.S. market in 2022, likely designated as a 2023 model, following Lexus’s conventional naming approach, such as the use of a lowercase “h” for hybrids.
While Lexus has not provided specific technical details, it is speculated that the RZ might share the e-TNGA platform with the upcoming 2023 Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra twins. This would position it as a smaller crossover, comparable in size to the current Lexus NX.
Toyota, the parent company of Lexus, has previously indicated that the luxury brand’s electric vehicles will focus on delivering superior performance and range compared to Toyota-branded models, which will emphasize affordability.
The RZ is expected to feature Lexus’s new dual-motor transmission technology, aimed at enhancing handling and performance, possibly comparable to Nissan’s e-4orce system.
While the RZ won’t be Lexus’s first production EV, it will be the first one available in the U.S. market. Lexus already offers a fully electric UX300e in Europe, but there are no plans to bring it to the United States.
Additionally, Lexus announced plans last year to introduce its first plug-in hybrid by late 2021, a version of the NX crossover. The NX underwent a redesign for the 2022 model year while retaining the option for a hybrid powertrain from the previous generation.
