Lexus RZ 450e uncovered

Lexus has released an image of the battery-electric 2022 Lexus RZ it will fully unwrap on April 20.
 
Claimed to showcase "the brand's challenge for a carbon-neutral society", the image posted on its social channels looks identical to the final Lexus RZ 450e design study it unveiled back in December 2021.

Another more recent teaser (and video) released earlier this month showed the Toyota bZ4x-based all-electric SUV will come with a Tesla-style yoke instead of a traditional steering wheel.
 
Behind the unconventional tiller lies a full digital cockpit. The top half is flanked either side by air vents, with the lower part of the dash a large infotainment system.

 
Created to rival cars like the Tesla Model Y, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Mercedes-Benz EQA, the Lexus RZ sports a coupe-style roofline and high-mounted full-width rear LED tail-lights.
 
Since it was developed alongside both the Toyota bZ4X and the Subaru Solterra, the RZ 450e also sits on Toyota's e-TNGA architecture that has been created specifically for battery-electric cars.

As standard, the Lexus comes with dual electric motors and will be equipped with Lexus' Direct4 all-wheel drive system that employs torque vectoring to enhance agility.

Lexus has yet to confirm official specs for the production car, but it's thought the RX 450e might match the LF-Z Electrified's 90kWh battery that provides up to 600km between top-ups.

More likely is that it will come with the Toyota bZ4X's 71.4kWh battery and be offered with a 150kW single motor that will provide a range of up to 406km.

A more powerful dual-motor powertrain will produce 160kW and come with a fractionally bigger 72.8kW lithium-ion cell that will cover up to 367km between top-ups.

The RZ 450e is expected to go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2022, with an Australian launch likely late next year or in the first half of 2023.
 
Stay tuned, as the Lexus RZ will be officially unwrapped on April 20 at 21:00 AEDT our time.