Here’s Lexus first all-electric SUV. And it’s now available for booking in Malaysia.
The RZ 450e in Luxury trim is going for RM429,888 (on-the-road without insurance).
The dual motor all-wheel drive SUV has a range of 440km (WLTP).
It’s been over two years since it made its world debut and Lexus has been holding back in bringing in the fully imported model whereas its direct rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been quick on the draw in selling their battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to Malaysians.
Like its parent company Toyota Motor, Lexus have been slow to introduce electric vehicles to the world as they both subscribed to their highly publicised multi-pathway approach towards carbon neutrality.
The approach means it will continue selling cars with internal combustion engines for years to come (albeit improved and electrified over time) while hedging its bets by providing customers with a few BEVs and fuel cell vehicle (Mirai for now) as part of its forward-looking strategy.
With global EV sales slowing down except in Southeast Asia, Toyota as a group is doing well with its hybrids and plug-ins.
At the same time , the EV slowdown isn’t going to last for long. There will be a rebound as the EV and battery technologies improve.
Toyota is starting to play catch-up with EV juggernauts Tesla and BYD as it scrambles to grab a bigger share of the EV “pie”, which is seeing growing competition from a number of Chinese car makers.
In Malaysia, the RZ 450e is coming late to the game. But it’s better late than never, it seems.
The RZ 450e is Lexus’s first global, purpose-built battery electric vehicle (BEV), structured on the newly developed e-TNGA platform that is specifically optimized for electric vehicles.
The platform allows for efficient packaging of the electric drive system, improves vehicle weight distribution, and enhances body rigidity through the use of advanced construction techniques such as laser screw welding and the extensive application of structural adhesive.
Technical specifications for the RZ 450e include a dual motor setup with a total power output of 230kW/308hp and 435Nm of torque, with the front motor producing 150 kW and the rear 80 kW.
This configuration is supported by Lexus’s new DIRECT4 all-wheel drive control system, which dynamically adjusts power distribution between the front and rear axles in milliseconds based on driving conditions.
The vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 71.4 kWh, which supports both AC and DC fast charging. For AC charging, it accommodates up to 11 kW using a Type 2 cable, while DC fast charging can go up to 150 kW with a CCS2 cable.
AC charging from 0% to 100% takes 7 hours, while it’s 30 mins to DC charge from 0 to 80%
In terms of safety technology, the RZ 450e includes the third generation Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+), which provides comprehensive collision prevention and mitigation functions. Additionally, the vehicle features Lexus Teammate Advanced Park, an automated parking system that utilizes cameras and ultrasonic sensors to facilitate parking maneuvers.
The interior design focuses on functionality and minimalist luxury, featuring shift-by-wire controls, a dial type shift knob, and a human-centered cockpit layout that minimizes the need for the driver to move their hands and eyes away from the road.
The vehicle also uses advanced climate control technologies, including the Lexus Climate Concierge with nanoe X air purification, enhancing passenger comfort and maintaining air quality.
Aftersales is an important area that Lexus Malaysia said it’s taking seriously especially since the RZ 450e employs totally new technologies.
It said all the services centres in the Lexus Malaysia network nationwide have technicians trained to diagnose and maintain BEVs.
The RZ 450e comes with a standard 5-year / unlimited mileage service warranty as well as 8-year / unlimited mileage with additional 2 years (optional) of coverage for the electric-vehicle components: battery, inverter, and electronic control unit.
Lexus Malaysia also said it has enough stock of replacement BEV parts.
