Tag Archives: Lexus

NEW CARS

Lexus Turns Up the Heat with the 420-HP RZ 600e F Sport Performance

If you thought Lexus had finished sharpening the RZ, think again. Just when the electric crossover was settling into its role as the brand’s polite, tech-forward EV, Lexus has gone back to the tool chest and come out swinging—this time for its home market. The refreshed RZ lineup has landed in Japan, and it brings with it a new flagship that sounds far more like an F-badged provocation than a luxury appliance: the RZ 600e F Sport Performance.

Yes, that’s a mouthful. But it’s also the most powerful, most aggressively styled RZ yet, and it finally gives Lexus’s electric SUV some genuine bite.

Carbon Fiber and Intent

The visual message is unmistakable. The RZ 600e F Sport Performance lifts its carbon-fiber body kit wholesale from the limited-run RZ 450e F Sport Performance launched in 2024—a model that was itself a toned-down echo of the 2023 RZ Sport Concept. In other words, Lexus already knew this look worked. Now it’s bringing it back without the collector-only production cap.

The kit is extensive and unapologetic. A vented hood sits above a more aggressive front splitter, while wider fenders sprout integrated aero extensions. The side skirts are reshaped for airflow management, and at the rear you’ll find a serious diffuser capped by a two-piece wing that looks more Nürburgring than Narita. This isn’t subtle design theater; it’s Lexus signaling that this RZ wants to be noticed—and maybe driven hard.

Buyers get two color options: Neutrino Gray or Hakugin II, both contrasted with black paint, exposed carbon fiber, and blue accenting. The look is completed by 21-inch matte-black Enkei wheels, hiding larger 20-inch brakes with six-piston aluminum monoblock calipers up front. Lexus didn’t just dress this thing up; it gave it hardware to match the outfit.

Lower, Louder, Faster (Well, Quicker)

Underneath, the changes go deeper. Compared with the RZ 550e F Sport—the mechanical baseline for this model—the suspension has been lowered by 20 mm (about 0.8 inch). That drop, combined with revised tuning, should take some of the crossover out of this crossover.

More importantly, Lexus reworked the dual-motor setup to deliver a combined 420 horsepower. That makes the RZ 600e the most powerful RZ ever and puts it ahead of its platform siblings, the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, neither of which have ever felt particularly eager.

The payoff is measurable. Lexus claims a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) sprint of 4.4 seconds, which is properly quick for an electric SUV that isn’t trying to cosplay as a supercar. Power comes from the familiar 77-kWh battery pack, good for a claimed range of up to 525 km (326 miles) on Japan’s test cycle. No, it won’t rewrite the EV record books, but the balance between performance and range looks more convincing than before.

A Yoke, a Wire, and a Point to Prove

Inside, Lexus continues to double down on its most controversial idea: the yoke steering wheel. Paired with the brand’s steer-by-wire system, the yoke remains a defining feature of the RZ F Sport models, and it’s standard here. Love it or hate it, Lexus clearly believes this is part of the RZ’s identity.

Adding to the driver-focused pitch is what Lexus calls “Interactive Manual Drive,” a system that simulates stepped gear changes in an EV. It’s the sort of feature that sounds faintly ridiculous until you remember that driving involvement isn’t always about mechanical necessity—it’s about feel. If nothing else, Lexus is trying something different, and that counts for something in an EV landscape that often feels homogenous.

The rest of the cabin leans into the F Sport Performance theme with blue accents across the dashboard and Ultrasuede-trimmed sport seats. It’s familiar Lexus quality with a slightly louder voice.

Not Just a One-Off

Unlike the 2024 RZ 450e F Sport Performance, which was capped at just 100 units, the new 600e will not be production-limited. It goes on sale in Japan on March 2, 2026, priced at ¥12,165,000 (about $78,100) in Black with Neutrino Gray, or ¥12,440,000 ($79,900) in the more distinctive Black and Hakugin II combination. That’s serious money, but Lexus is clearly positioning this as a halo model rather than a volume play.

Whether it ever reaches markets outside Japan remains an open question—and a slightly frustrating one.

The Rest of the RZ Grows Up

The headline-grabbing 600e isn’t the only news. Lexus has updated the entire RZ lineup, including the RZ 350e Version L, RZ 500e Version L, and RZ 550e F Sport. Across the board, buyers get more power, better efficiency, and a revised charging system.

Depending on configuration, claimed range now spans from 579 km to 733 km (360 to 456 miles), and the familiar single- and dual-motor setups remain, paired with 75-kWh or 77-kWh battery packs. The F Sport models keep their visual differentiation and the yoke-and-wire steering setup, ensuring continuity within the lineup.

Pricing in Japan starts at ¥7,900,000 ($52,000) for the front-wheel-drive RZ 350e Version L and climbs to ¥9,500,000 ($63,000) for the all-wheel-drive RZ 550e F Sport. There’s also an optional “Performance Upgrade Boost + Interactive Manual Drive” package for ¥220,000 ($1,500), which bumps peak output and adds the simulated manual control.

The Takeaway

The RZ 600e F Sport Performance feels like Lexus finally letting its electric crossover show some attitude. It’s quicker, lower, louder in design, and more willing to experiment with how an EV should feel from behind the wheel. It won’t convert every skeptic, and the yoke will remain polarizing, but this is the most convincing argument yet that Lexus wants the RZ to be more than just a luxury EV with good manners.

Now the real question is whether Lexus has the nerve to bring it beyond Japan. If it does, the RZ might finally earn a spot on the enthusiast radar—rather than just the spec sheet.

Source: Lexus

News

Lexus Wraps 2025 with Momentum—and a Clear Runway to 2026

As 2025 fades into the rearview mirror, Lexus isn’t coasting. It’s accelerating. The brand closes the year with a sharpened design language, a broader electrified lineup, and the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly where it’s headed next.

This was the year Lexus turned incremental progress into visible momentum—proof that its long game of electrification, performance polish, and lifestyle relevance is finally clicking into place.

The ES Grows Up—and Plugs In

The headline act is the all-new 2026 Lexus ES, now in its eighth generation and more ambitious than ever. For the first time, Lexus’s longtime midsize luxury staple isn’t just hybrid—it’s fully electric, too. The ES BEV marks a significant philosophical shift for a nameplate traditionally defined by comfort-first conservatism.

Visually, it’s a departure as well. Drawing heavily from the LF-ZC concept, the new ES introduces a cleaner, more futuristic design language that signals where Lexus styling is headed in the EV era. If this is the template, expect fewer visual gimmicks and more quiet confidence.

RZ: More Power, More Range, More Attitude

Lexus didn’t stop at adding another EV badge. The 2026 RZ receives meaningful hardware upgrades, including a redesigned battery-electric system that boosts motor output, extends EPA-estimated range, and trims charging times—under ideal conditions, anyway.

The real enthusiast bait is the new RZ 550e F SPORT AWD. With higher-output motors front and rear, it finally gives the RZ lineup a version that prioritizes punch over politeness. It’s not a track weapon, but it’s a step toward making Lexus EVs feel less like rolling tech demos and more like driver-focused machines.

EV Ownership, Minus the Headaches

As the BEV lineup expands, Lexus is trying to smooth out the ownership experience. A significantly larger DC fast-charging network, Plug & Charge functionality, Apple Maps EV routing via CarPlay, and complimentary charging adapters for existing RZ owners all point to a brand that understands EV friction isn’t just about range—it’s about convenience.

LX Goes Hybrid—and Leans Into It

At the opposite end of the spectrum sits the first-ever LX 700h, a hybrid flagship SUV that blends old-school luxury with modern electrification. For 2026, the F SPORT Appearance Package is now exclusive to the LX 700h F SPORT Handling model, underscoring Lexus’s push to make electrification synonymous with performance, not compromise.

It’s a subtle message, but a clear one: hybrids aren’t the side dish anymore—they’re the main course.

Electrification, Everywhere

With electrified versions of the NX, RX, TX, UX, ES, RZ, and LX, Lexus is methodically covering the luxury landscape—from compact crossovers to full-size SUVs. The strategy isn’t about forcing buyers into EVs; it’s about giving them options that fit their lives, whether that means hybrid convenience or full battery power.

Special Editions for the Faithful

Lexus didn’t forget its loyalists. For 2026, the LC coupe and convertible return with Inspiration Series editions—limited, striking, and unapologetically emotional in a lineup increasingly dominated by efficiency metrics.

Then there’s the LS AWD Heritage Edition, limited to just 250 U.S. units. Finished in Ninety Noir with a Rioja Red interior, it’s a tasteful nod to the sedan that launched the brand—and a reminder that Lexus still knows how to do understated drama.

The IS Gets Its Swagger Back

The 2026 IS 350 also emerged from the shadows with a visual refresh that finally gives the compact sport sedan the presence it’s been missing. Its first public showing at Motul Petit Le Mans was no accident—Lexus clearly wants the IS associated with motorsport energy, not just suburban driveways.

Lifestyle, Loud and Clear

Beyond the metal, Lexus doubled down on cultural relevance. Culinary Masters, the World Surf League, fashion collaborations, and even movie tie-ins may sound like marketing fluff—but they reinforce a broader point: Lexus is actively shaping a lifestyle identity, not just selling transportation.

Racing Still Matters

And then there’s motorsport—the brand’s credibility check. The Lexus Vasser Sullivan team delivered once again, landing on the podium at Petit Le Mans and marking their fifth podium finish there in six years. In a sport defined by margins, that kind of consistency matters.

It was a season built on precision, pressure, and persistence—the same traits Lexus is leaning on as it transitions into its next era.

The Bottom Line

2025 wasn’t about one breakout car or a single headline-grabbing reveal. It was about alignment. Design, electrification, performance, and brand identity are finally pulling in the same direction.

If this year was about proving Lexus is ready for the future, 2026 looks like the year it plans to own it.

Source: Lexus

CONCEPT CARS

Lexus LFA Concept: The V10’s Ghost Haunts Lexus’s Bold Leap Into the Electric Unknown

For more than a decade, the Lexus LFA has lived in a sacred corner of the car world—a limited-run V10 masterpiece whose wail could send shivers through carbon fiber. So when rumors began swirling about a new LFA, enthusiasts expected a familiar formula: a Lexus-flavored take on Toyota’s latest GR GT supercar, likely with a fire-breathing internal-combustion engine.

Instead, Lexus dropped a shockwave.

The new LFA Concept, unveiled in Japan alongside Toyota’s twin-turbo V8 GR GT, isn’t the next evolution of the iconic V10 halo car. It’s something far stranger—and far bolder. The LFA name now adorns an all-electric performance flagship, one Lexus says represents the technologies engineers should “preserve and pass on to the next generation.”

That’s philosophical language for a supercar with zero published specs.

A Silent Successor

Here’s what we know: Lexus isn’t ready to talk numbers. No kilowatts, no battery capacity, no performance estimates. The brand’s tight-lipped approach leaves us speculating about everything from motor count to horsepower. But Lexus seems fully aware that, no matter how potent the output, nothing it builds can replicate the original LFA’s F1-inspired shriek. Even Toyota’s new V8 can’t scratch that itch.

What makes this whole situation even more intriguing is the architecture beneath the sculpted shell. The LFA Concept rides on the same aluminum platform underpinning the GR GT and GT3 race car. Lexus almost certainly had the option to slot in Toyota’s new twin-turbo V8, yet deliberately didn’t. In a market where electric supercars struggle to find traction—and where enthusiasts still crave cylinders—this is a contrarian move.

Design First, Answers Later

While the powertrain is a mystery, the sheetmetal isn’t. The LFA Concept is gorgeous. It’s lower, sharper, and more cohesive than many EV sports concepts we’ve seen recently. Lexus clearly intends the LFA successor to stand apart from Toyota’s version, and nowhere is that clearer than the cabin. Unlike the Toyota’s more traditional cockpit, the LFA Concept interior embraces futurism—clean surfaces, minimalist interfaces, and the kind of conceptual flair you expect at an auto show, not at a dealership.

Production Bound—Eventually

Lexus isn’t playing coy about the bigger picture, though. This concept is not a design exercise destined for storage. Lexus openly acknowledges that the car is headed for production, and the renaming of last year’s “Lexus Sport Concept” to “LFA Concept” all but confirms it will wear the legendary badge when it arrives.

What Lexus won’t say is when. But given Toyota’s GR GT is expected around 2027, the LFA’s road-ready debut should follow a similar timeline—perhaps a bit later as Lexus fine-tunes the tech it hopes will define its electric future.

The Legacy Question

Will an EV ever fill the emotional void left by the original LFA’s V10—the sound, the rawness, the sense of mechanical magic? Probably not. But Lexus isn’t trying to recreate history. It’s redefining what an LFA can be, even if that means stepping into territory supercar buyers haven’t fully embraced yet.

It’s a risk. It’s unexpected. And it might just be the kind of disruptive thinking that made the first LFA legendary.

Source: Lexus