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Lexus just officially revealed its first battery-electric SUV model. The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e has unique features despite being closely related to the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.

The Lexus RZ 450e features ‘Shadowy Illumination’

The interior of a 2023 Lexus RZ 450e.
The interior of a 2023 Lexus RZ 450e | Lexus

Ambient lighting has become an important feature in the cabins of new luxury automobiles. Luxury automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz include ambient lighting in some of their best-selling models. The Lexus RZ takes things a step further and offers a unique new take on ambient lighting. The Japanese automaker has dubbed this new style of ambient lighting “Shadowy Illumination”.

The Lexus RZ’s cabin “changes the shade of light projected on the door trim ornament”. This creates interesting patterns inside the cabin of the new electric SUV. The RZ 450e’s interior may be uncluttered, but Lexus is doing what it can to provide a quality driving experience while keeping a minimalist interior design.

The new Japanese electric SUV will also feature a huge panoramic roof that opens the cabin to the outside world. Lexus’ battery-electric SUV may be based on the Toyota bZ4X, but it will include features that are specific to the Lexus model.

The Lexus’ RZ 450e pays attention to sound frequencies

A gray Lexus RZ 450e electric SUV is parked.
The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e | Lexus

Electric vehicles can be very quiet, sometimes eerily so. Lexus had engineers match sound frequencies to specific actions and circumstances to recreate some of the noises that are heard in an internal combustion engine vehicle. Lexus chose to create these sounds to produce the best driving experience possible and make the electric SUV more responsive and interactive.

The RZ 450e comes with front and rear acoustic glass. Its underfloor battery also suppresses sound. This will allow occupants to tune out all of the irritating ride noise and focus on the pleasant sounds that are custom-made by Lexus engineers. Welcome to the future.

The Lexus RZ 450e radiant heater is mindful of battery consumption


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Temperature-related issues aren’t new to electric vehicles. Many of the most popular EV brands, including Tesla, have struggled with problems that stem from extreme temperatures. The winter can be brutal for electric vehicles because some models have lost power completely. Some models were unable to keep cabins warm because of how the cold affects EV batteries.

The Lexus 450e can keep cabins comfy without wreaking havoc on the SUV’s battery capacity. Lexus designed the RZ with both comfort and battery reliability in mind. So, you can keep your cabin warm and make it home without becoming frozen solid in the winter.

Toyota has put careful thought into the bZ4X’s battery reliability and practicality. The Lexus RZ should be just as dependable, and that means being able to deal with harsh temperatures. The radiant heater is just one example of how Lexus is addressing major EV concerns with its first battery-electric vehicle.

The RZ 450e is the first of many new electric vehicles from Lexus. The Japanese automaker plans to electrify its entire lineup by 2035. It wants half of its vehicles to be electric by 2030. Lexus may not have an EV for everyone yet, but the RZ 450e is a great start. According to Road Show by CNET, the RZ 450e will have 250 miles of driving range and make an exhilarating 308 horsepower.

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