BANGKOK: The all-electric Lexus RZ 450e arrives in Thailand in two grades, namely Luxury at a starting price of 3.87 million baht (RM505,544) and Premium which starts at 4.19 million baht (RM547,346).
The RZ, which made its global debut nearly a year ago, is the first completely new battery electric vehicle (BEV) from Lexus and has an estimated driving range of 470km.
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Its new DIRECT4 technology is said to achieve an unparalleled driving experience that intuitively responds to the driver’s intentions while effectively controlling the drive force of all four wheels in a variety of driving situations.
The RZ uses the Lexus’ e-Axle that was first introduced in the UX 300e. This is a compact, modular package which consists of a motor, gearing and an ECU, located between the driven wheels. On the RZ they are used front and rear and operate in conjunction with the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive control system to adjust the vehicle’s posture, traction and power distribution, according to the driving conditions.
The front motor produces 150 kW and the rear 80 kW, giving a total power output of 230 kW.
The RZ uses a lithium-ion battery in a stack comprising 96 cells, with a total capacity of 71.4 kWh. It is located entirely beneath the cabin and forms an integral part of the platform. Its position also contributes the car’s low centre of gravity.
Regarding battery durability, Lexus expects the RZ’s battery to retain more than 90% of its capacity within 10 years of driving.
