Nor'West News: November 16, 2023

10
Thursday November 16 2023
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Latest Lexus RZ strong and purposeful
THE RZ 450e is the second
Lexus to go fully electric and
follows in the footsteps of the
compact UX SUV launched here
about 18 months ago.
Its twin, the bZ4X, is the first
all electric Toyota, and goes on
sale from early next year. The
Lexus version beats it onto our
market by about six months.
While new here, this model has
been available for some time
overseas including the USA.
Toyota offers two models
– the Front-wheel drive Pure
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
for $72,990 with a $10k price
premium slapped on the AWD
Motion. The considerably more
expensive RZ is a two-model
affair leading off with the
$141,600 Core lined up for this
road test. There’s an extra $10k
hit on your wallet for the flagship
Dynamic. The company is
accelerating its EV development
and aims to have a full range of
Battery Electric Vehicles across
the entire Lexus range by 2030.
Because this model is built on
a new e-TNGA platform, it gives
Lexus the flexibility to
create a range of vehicles
with different motor
sizes, battery types and
drive systems. The thin,
high-capacity 71.4kW/h
battery pack is placed flat
under the floor, to achieve
a low centre of gravity.
The approximate driving
range is 470km using the
overly optimistic New European
Driving Cycle (NEDC). Most
owners will struggle to achieve
that sort of range in every day
driving
Both RZ 450e variants use new
eAxle technology integrating the
transaxle, motor generator and
inverter with a mighty 230kW
total output (150kW front and
80kW rear motor). The test car’s
performance was strong and
purposeful and with plenty of
that to draw on when needed,
to spirit this fairly large and
chunky SUV along in impressive
fashion. Drive in the pace and
purpose space for prolonged
periods, which is easy enough to
do given the exhilarating driving
experience, and the EV range
quickly evaporates.
Throttle response is swift
enough to mow down the 0 to
100km/h sprint in less than seven
seconds. The instant acceleration
of the electrified system makes
most conventional engines seem
lethargic. It’s remarkable to think
all the vehicle’s electrified thrust
is superbly managed by a single
speed automatic that operates
with relentless accuracy and
Ratings out of 10: Performance 7; Handling 7; Build
Quality 8; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 8; Value
for money 6; Safety – Five Star EuroNCAP crash rating.
Qualifies for a $7015 clean vehicle rebate until Dec 31, 2023.
Overall points out of 10: 7.5
precision.
A spacious cabin offers an
abundance of practical and
usable passenger and cargo space.
Instruments and controls are
designed with trademark Lexus
attention to detail, and perfectly
positioned so they are easy for
the driver to read and use.
This is Lexus New Zealand’s
first dedicated electric battery
model and is also the first
vehicle to score a maximum
five stars against the recently
updated Australasian New Car
Assessment Program (ANCAP)
protocols, the strictest safety
testing ever in Australia and New
Zealand.
The RZ features a range of
safety measures that includes
frontal, side, and curtain airbags,
as well as a knee airbag for the
front seats. A centre airbag,
standard across all variants,
provides added protection to
front seat occupants in side
impact crashes
A high-voltage battery parked
up in the floor between the axles
ensures a low centre of gravity,
which has a positive impact
on the vehicle’s agility and
cornering.
I liked the even-natured ride
and handling, and its cool, calm
and composed management
of the unrelenting rigours and
demands of our roads, terrain
and weather.
The test vehicle’s mettle
and resolve both received a
thorough examination over some
challenging rural gravel roads. It
had to endure what were at times
a constant barrage of bruising
bumps and potholes, and
confidently front footed it all.
Both ride comfort and
handling were hard to fault,
and underline just some of the
qualities that are making Lexus
one of the fasted growing luxury
brands in New Zealand.
Vaughan Pirie
owner operator
027 565 5577
vpbaeries@gmail.com
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