WORLD PREMIERE OF THE NEW 2025 LEXUS RZ ALL-ELECTRIC SUV Appearing in Europe first the 2025 Lexus RZ BEV gets a bigger battery and adds more powerful, more efficient eAxles. Lexus originally introduced the yoke steering wheel with the RZ 450e, but this time the yoke steering wheel really appears along with Steer-by-Wire System in the upgraded models. Added to the new Lexus RZ 500e, which replaces the RZ 450e, is the RZ 550e F Sport with the new Interactive Manual Drive gear shifting. The RZ 350e (FWD only) has been upgraded with a 167 kW (224 hp) motor over the 150 kW (201 hp) motor of the RZ 300e (FWD only). The new RZ 500e went with dual 167 kW motors on the front and rear compared to the RZ 450e setup of 150 kW in the front eAxle and 80 kW in the rear eAxle. Total system output is now 280 kW (375.5 hp) compared to the RZ 450e output of 230 kW (308 hp). The RZ 550e has the same dual 167 kw motors but system output increased to 300 kW (402.3 hp). All three new models get a 77 kWh battery instead of the 71.4 kWh battery in the RZ 450e and 72.8 kWh battery in the RZ 300e. Compare this to the updated sister 2026 Toyota bZ4X battery size of 57.7 kWh (probably European only) or 73.1 kWh. Sticking with an apple-to-apples comparison, range has increased from 435 km in the RZ 450e with 18" wheels to 500 km in the RZ 500e per Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). EPA range for the RZ 450e with 18" wheels is 354 km (220 miles). Sticking with the standard 21.4% decrease from WLTP to EPA the RZ 500e range is 393 km (244.2 miles). The RZ 350e has a WLTP range of 575 km (357.3 miles) which translates to roughly 452 km (281 miles) EPA compared to the RZ 300e range of EPA 428 km (266 miles). The new RZ 550e has a WLTP range of 450 km (280 miles) with 20" wheels or roughly 354 km (220 miles) EPA compared to the RZ 450e with 20" wheels of 315 km (196 miles) EPA. Europe will see the new 2025 RZ in the Fall of 2025. North American markets may not see the new 2026 RZ until 2026. IMHO the ES will be next to have a BEV version for Europe, which is big on sedans.
