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Lexus, a luxury subsidiary of Toyota, has been weakening in Europe for years. The Japanese have never been as serious competition as one might expect for the German premium brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Not because the products are not good enough, but because the luxury Japanese brand does not have the necessary prestige in our geography.
However, Lexus is currently on the rise again. Sales in Switzerland increased by 22.2 percent in 2022. In fact, for 2023, Lexus Switzerland Director Christian Wellauer expects a significant increase of 67 percent compared to the previous year. But still what would be “only” 900 manageable new cars. For comparison: BMW sells us an average of 1500 new cars per month!
positioned between RX and NX
In addition to the new plug-in SUV RX, the first RZ 450e developed as an all-electric vehicle should contribute to the rise in Lexus. The elegant crossover is built on the same basis as the Toyota bZ4X or Subaru Solterra, but it differs visually and technically from the two cheaper twins. At 4.81 meters long, the RZ sits between the larger RX and the more compact NX.
We already know about the electric motors and batteries for the RZ 450e from the aforementioned Toyota bZ4X. In the Lexus RZ, the front electric motor outputs 150 kW and the rear 80 kW, providing 230 kW (313 hp) of system output and 435 Nm of torque. The 71 kWh battery should provide a WLTP range of 395 to 440 kilometers. Charging takes place in 6.5 hours with a maximum of 11 kW on an alternating current (AC) charger, and in 30 minutes with direct current (DC) up to 150 kW.
Axis Torque Control
But how does the 2.1-tonne electric all-wheel drive work? Whisper-quiet, essentially like all Lexus. Unlike electric cars from other brands, the rolling noise of tires is hardly noticeable on the RZ. The Japanese are particularly proud of e-axles linked to all-wheel drive and torque control.
In particular, the system uses engine control unit sensors to record speed, steering angle and G-forces, thereby optimizing grip and traction for the respective road surface. In practice, thanks to the system, the all-wheel drive vehicle accelerates without delay in any situation, even on sharp bends on asphalt or on poorly paved surfaces. If necessary, you can accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and continue up to a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
User-friendly cockpit
The interior delights with a surprisingly user-friendly cockpit and pampers you with the ample space and comfort you’re used to from Lexus. Even for the base Impression model, there is an updated 14-inch multimedia, LED headlights, mood lighting and various safety assistants, starting at CHF 69,900. For the top model Excellence (from CHF 82,900) there are also air-conditioned seats, a 360-degree panoramic camera, automatic parking and a premium sound system.
After our test drive with the now available RZ 450e, we wonder why the Japanese luxury brand isn’t selling more cars in Switzerland. Of course, prices between 70,000 and 83,000 francs are a lot of money, but there are also a lot of offers. We are confident that the two-thirds increase in sales that Lexus Switzerland hopes for in 2023 should not be a mere wish.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
