more supple on smaller wheels, while cars with larger rims have sharper steering feel and responses.
The F Sport and F Sport Takumi come with the sporty flourishes already mentioned, along with the steer-by-wire system – there is no option to select normal steering, and indeed the lower trim levels cannot come with it either. Disappointingly, Lexus hadn’t confirmed prices for the car yet, but it’s a near-certainty that they will exceed the outgoing car’s £50,140 entry and £66,845 ceiling prices, due to the longer range and more technology.We predict prices will top out at around the £72,000 mark, which is an awful lot of cash.
What you really want to know is how do cars with the steer-by-wire system feel? It’s very odd at first, especially at low speeds as you really have to recalibrate your brain. But, after a while, it becomes a bit more intuitive, while the fake manual gearbox is very well calibrated. Press the ‘M’ button on the centre console and the paddles behind the wheel that normally adjust the brake regeneration switch to changing virtual gears, while fake engine noise enters the cabin. You really do have proper manual control, so if you don’t change up into another ‘gear’ the ‘engine’ will hit a virtual rev limiter and stop accelerating.This is matched to the sound from the speakers with the engine bouncing off the rev limiter. It’s not quite as believable or intoxicating as the system Hyundai has developed for the Ioniq 5 N, but it’s not far off.
Verdict
The updates have rectified probably the previous RZ’s biggest problem – range.This new version now puts Lexus’s electric SUV more on par with rivals like the Audi Q4 E-tron, Genesis GV60 and Volvo EX40 in having the type of range you’d expect from a premium offering. It’s a shame that the admittedly clever steer-by-system will likely be shunned by many buyers in the UK on account of unfamiliarity, and it’s a pain that there’s no option to delete it on the new top-spec models. It does give the RZ a USP in a crowded class, though, and doesn’t detract from the fact that the RZ is a plush feeling and very likeable electric SUV.
How does it look?
With this update Lexus hasn’t sought to change the car’s design, rather it has focussed on arguably more important things such as range and technology. That said, it has introduced a new top-spec trim level – the RZ becomes the first electric Lexus to come in racy F Sport guise.This trim gets new front and rear bumpers, a rear diffuser and boot spoiler, along with 20-inch aero wheels and blue-painted brake callipers. No matter which trim level you go for, though, the RZ still stands out and looks fresh compared to other premium electric SUVs.
Facts at a glance
Model as tested: Lexus RZ 550e F Sport Takumi
Price: £72,000 (est)
What’s it like inside?
Engine: Dual electric motors
Again, Lexus hasn’t focused on the interior with this update with there being the same high-quality cabin.The new F Sport trim level does add a little more interest than before thanks to its ‘Ultrasuede’ upholstery and blue stitching, but the smaller yoke steering wheel does give an oddly unfinished look due to the huge gap between the wheel and the instrument binnacle. Interior space is good; there’s plenty of room in the back seats despite that sloping roof line, although the 522-litre boot is just average for the class.
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 538Nm
Max speed: 112mph
0-60mph: 4.2 seconds
MPG: NA
Emissions: 0g/km
What’s the spec like?
Range: 280 miles
The old car’s 11 trim levels have been slashed to five, with the entry-level Premium getting a 22kW onboard charger, a panoramic roof, electrically adjustable heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 14-inch infotainment system. Premium Plus adds extras such as a head-up display and ventilated seats, while Takumi gets a fancy Mark Levinson audio system, dimmable glass roof, and a digital rear view mirror.
Charging speed: 150kW
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