Lexus brings its first pure EV to Korea with RZ 450e SUV

Industry

Published: 21 Jun. 2023, 17:29

Lexus brings its first pure EV to Korea with RZ 450e SUV

Takashi Watanabe, president of Lexus International, poses with the RZ 450e at a press event Wednesday in southern Seoul. [TOYOTA MOTOR KOREA]

Lexus, a pioneer in the hybrid segment, is now ready to march into Korea’s electric vehicle (EV) market with its first dedicated pure EV.

Lexus on Wednesday introduced the RZ 450e SUV for the Korean market, its first all-electric model developed based on the e-TNGA EV-dedicated platform.

The signature Lexus grille is replaced by what it calls "Spindle Body," which focuses on aerodynamic efficiencies, optimized proportions and style.

Powered by a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery, the RZ 450e can travel 377 kilometers (234 miles) per single charge, according to Korea’s Environment Ministry. It boasts up to 312 horsepower, and 44.4 kilograms-meter of torque.

Lexus' fully revamped RX 350h, left, and RZ450e. [TOYOTA MOTOR KOREA]

“Korea is leading the global electrification trend,” said Takashi Watanabe, president of Lexus International, during a press event Wednesday in southern Seoul. “Lexus will push forward electrification suitable for the Korean market."

The sticker price of the RZ 450e starts from 84.8 million won ($65,640).

Toyota’s upscale luxury brand hopes to sell around 150 RZ 450e SUVs this year.

On Wednesday, Lexus also introduced the RX series, the first fully revamped version of the car in seven years. RX is Lexus’ best-selling lineup globally.

The RX models are available with three different powertrains: a hybrid RX 350h, a plug-in hybrid RX 450h+ and a high-performance hybrid RX 500h F Sport Performance.

The RX 450h+ is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and comes with an 18.1-kilowatt-hour electric motor that can travel 56 kilometers.

The sticker price of RX 350h starts from 97.4 million won.

Toyota and Lexus have been engaged in their latest effort to boost Korean sales since 2019 when Japanese export restrictions sparked a Korean boycott of Japanese products. Toyota and Lexus sold a total of 13,851 vehicles in Korea last year, fewer than half the units they sold in 2018.

But they are showing signs of recovering recently, with the combined sales of the two brands rising 34.6 percent this year through May, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.

Lexus sold 5,117 vehicles in Korea, up 119.7 percent on year, during the same period.

Of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in Korea last year, 98 percent were hybrids.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]