- Lexus RZ employs a steer-by-wire system with yoke for European markets
- Revised lithium-ion battery and more potent motors provide more power and range
- Performance-leaning F Sport model features a virtual manual transmission
The Lexus RZ electric crossover casts a wider net with more range, more power, quicker charging, a new steer-by-wire system, and a new F Sport grade for the European market, Toyota announced Tuesday.
The first significant update since the midsize crossover launched in 2022 also showcases the luxury potential of an EV onslaught in Europe for both Toyota and its luxury brand. In addition to the new Toyota C-HR+ and Toyota Urban Cruiser, the world’s largest automaker will launch three more EVs in Europe by the end of 2026, including a pickup truck and a large luxurious crossover that could be the Land Cruiser Se EV.
At a product showcase in Brussels, Belgium, last week, Toyota highlighted its pronged approach to electrification to attain carbon neutrality in Europe by 2035. The new RZ F Sport demonstrates a deepening commitment to Lexus’s premium bona fides.
2026 Lexus RZ 550e F Sport
2026 Lexus RZ 550e F Sport
2026 Lexus RZ 550e F Sport
2026 Lexus RZ 550e F Sport
Lexus RZ 550e F Sport prioritizes performance
The range-topping 550e earns the F Sport badge with dual-motor all-wheel drive rated at 402 hp from two 165-kw motors. Greater efficiency in the front inverter and less parasitic losses, as well as a larger rear motor than in the existing RZ, contribute to the enhanced acceleration. Lexus stopped short of full specs, but reps said torque gets distributed more effectively between the axles to come out of turns with more gusto. The rear motor can deliver all the torque at launch or in certain situations based on speed and steering angle, and up to 80% can go to the front, typically at turn-in.
Lexus retuned the damper and spring settings to account for the increased power, and it rides on new 20-inch alloy wheels with aerodynamic resin covers that trim weight as well as smooth airflow. A more aerodynamic lower front bumper as well as more pronounced brake ducts and a racier split rear spoiler highlight the functional design tweaks.
The interior belies more significant enhancements. The steer-by-wire system we tested in the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e has been tweaked and now rolls out to the full European market; non F Sports get the existing rack and pinion steering with electrical assist and a traditional steering wheel, though mid-level models can get it optionally. There’s no mechanical connection to the front wheels, as Lexus engineers use two motors, one off the steering wheel and another at the axle, with sensors relaying information back and forth. A road bump sends feedback from the axle motor to the steering motor, and the driver turning the wheel does the opposite. The advantage of a steer-by-wire system is quicker communication with the road to keep up with the instantaneous torque distribution and quicker motor braking, as well as less vibrations through the steering yoke than a mechanically connected system.
Surprisingly, we preferred its directness and simultaneous ease. Since our testing early in 2023, Lexus has increased the range lock-to-lock from 150 to 200 degrees. It’s easy to turn the yoke at low speeds, and it firms up at higher speeds. Three levels of redundancy protect the driver in case of a failure.
Exclusive to the F Sport, a “Interactive Manual Drive” employs steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters to fake shifts as in an 8-speed automatic. Engine sounds with a rev limiter and visual cues indicate when a driver should “shift,” and there’s a meter in the recessed instrument cluster.
2026 Lexus RZ
Every Lexus RZ benefits from a larger battery pack
Every RZ now comes with a 77-kwh lithium-ion battery pack instead of the 71.4-kwh pack on the current 2025 Lexus RZ. More cells result in higher output with the revised front motor throughout the lineup, and water cooling for the battery and motor system also enables more sustained performance.
The RZ 350e comes with a 221-hp (165-kw) single motor and front wheel drive; the RZ 500e has dual motors and all-wheel drive with an output of 375 hp (280 kw); then there’s the 402-hp RZ 550e F Sport.
All-wheel-drive versions can now tow twice as much as before at 3,300 pounds.
Lexus says the improvements to the battery and motor systems boost range by up to 60 miles, presumably for the 350e. The 300e had a range of 266 miles on the EPA cycle, which is more rigorous and conservative than the European WLTP standard.
A new 22-kw AC onboard charger promises to quicken Level 2 charging on the road or at home, especially against the current 6.6-kw charger. Battery pre-conditioning should also boost DC fast-charging in cold weather.
Lexus added that every RZ benefits from more rigidity due to the addition of a rear brace, and the suspension has adjustments to the front and rear dampers as well as the spring rates for better stability and ride comfort. Additional soundproofing throughout the crossover should limit noise and vibrations.
The updated Lexus RZ launches in Europe this fall, and a North America rollout is expected to follow. It remains to be seen if the U.S. will get such features as steer-by-wire or the F Sport grade.
Toyota paid for airfare and lodging for DriftBreath Reports to attend its product showcase.
