Lexus has posted a single shadowy teaser picture of its new three-row electrical SUV, and confirmed its official reveal date for later this week.
The Japanese premium model’s new flagship electrical SUV, prone to be known as the Lexus TZ, is about to be revealed within the US at 11.30am AEST this Thursday (Might 7), however up to now there are not any particulars and Lexus Australia has stated solely that “One thing new is coming”.
Nevertheless, the TZ title was hinted at by European trademark filings for the TZ450e and TZ550e nameplates in mid-2023. The SUV was additionally spied testing on the Nürburgring in April this 12 months.
The car’s silhouette, proven right here within the sole official teaser picture, suggests the TZ will probably be based mostly on the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV revealed earlier this 12 months. That will make sense, given Lexus’ solely different devoted electrical car (EV) up to now – the RZ mid-size SUV – is predicated on the Toyota bZ4X.
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It is due to this fact prone to be the electrical different to the North American-exclusive Lexus TX, very similar to the RZ is the electrical different to the RX. On condition that Toyota has all however dominated out bringing the US-built Highlander EV to Australia, it is unclear whether or not the Lexus TZ will probably be offered right here.
That stated, Japanese web site Finest Automobile Net has reported that an “electrical model” of the TX will probably be launched in Japan this 12 months, which might imply a right-hand drive model of the brand new Lexus SUV is coming.
New left-hand drive autos could be offered in Japan regardless of it being a right-hand drive market, however the report notes the brand new Lexus will probably be produced in Japan, which nearly actually means it’s going to be in-built right-hand drive configuration.
It is also value noting the TZ would be the third mannequin based mostly on the Highlander EV to be offered by a model apart from Toyota. Its reveal will observe that of the Subaru Getaway final month, and all three SUVs will be part of the prevailing Toyota bZ4X/Lexus RZ/Subaru Solterra trio.
As with the RZ, the TZ is anticipated to sport a considerable redesign in comparison with its donor EV, even when its silhouette would not look like all that totally different.
It’s going to nearly actually have cut up LED headlights, whereas the Nürburgring spy pictures present a extra aggressively sculpted bonnet and wheel-arch flares with extra pronounced angles. Naturally, giant alloy wheels are all however assured.
The TZ’s inside is anticipated to be extra lavishly appointed than its Toyota counterpart’s, although it’s going to possible carry over core parts together with a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Because the three-row Highlander and Getaway SUVs can be found in each six- and seven-seat configurations – the latter comprising a pair of captain’s chairs within the second row – the TZ is anticipated to do the identical.
It is also prone to be nearly similar in measurement to the Highlander EV. Toyota’s electrical three-row SUV measures 5050mm lengthy, 1989mm broad, and 1709mm tall on a 3050mm wheelbase.
Highlander EV powertrains are additionally prone to carry over, which might imply each front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive choices can be found. The Highlander produces 165kW/269Nm in front-drive guise, whereas the AWD variant bumps outputs to 252kW and 438Nm.
Battery-wise, the Highlander is on the market with two choices. The usual 77kWh lithium-ion battery delivers a claimed 462km vary in front-drive configuration, or 434km in AWD guise, whereas a bigger 95.8kWh battery supplied solely with all-wheel drive presents a claimed vary of 515km.
There was no phrase on pricing, however we are able to look to anticipated rivals for clues. One is the Volvo EX90, which begins at $124,990 earlier than on-road prices in Australia, whereas the Cadillac Vistiq begins at $116,000 earlier than on-roads.
Final month Lexus Australia slashed its RZ beginning worth by $36,559, to $84,500 plus on-roads.
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