The Lexus RZ debuted in 2022 as the upscale luxury version of Toyota’s bZ4X electric compact crossover, built on the same e-TNGA platform. A major update took place for the model-year 2026, addressing people’s initial criticism directed at the RZ’s limited range and also giving it a nice bit of extra power in the process.
But Lexus doesn’t want those who showed up to the party early to feel left out, so they’re getting a pretty sweet upgrade, as well. And even though it won’t give the pre-2026 RZ more range, the package does bring a couple of great things to the table. Depending on how you look at it, they might actually be way cooler than the ability to drive your luxury SUV further between recharges.
Simulated Manual And More Power? Where Do We Sign Up?
2024 Lexus RZ 450e Premium Ether Front Angled View DrivingLexus
At its core, this fresh power-up is comprised of two distinct elements aiming to enhance one’s driving experience. The first of them has to do with the EV’s power output, adding 40 extra ponies to its original figure – not outlandish by any means, but enough for you to feel the difference when stepping on that acceleration pedal.
Then there is a sort of manual mode with paddle shifters, because pretending to work your way up and down a simulated gearbox is at least better than nothing, right? The setup mimics the behavior of an eight-speed transmission virtually, with sound effects played through the speakers for a more immersive experience. And there’s even a digital tachometer to make it feel as authentic as possible, but all this comes with one big caveat.
So, What’s The Catch Here?
Lexus RZ simulated tachometer for Interactive Manual DriveLexus
If you’re starting to get excited about this upgrade but don’t live in Japan, we’ve got some bad news. Lexus is only offering it to its Japanese customers at least for the time being, with a price tag of ¥220,000 (just under $1,400). It seems the rest of us are out of luck, but Lexus might eventually roll out a similar package in other markets.
Because 1,400 bucks seems like a very reasonable price to pay for all that extra excitement, and places like America or Europe crave it just as much as Japan. It would make the pre-2026 RZ more appealing to buyers with an appetite for performance, as evidenced by people’s response to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
We’re seeing more and more carmakers implementing digital wizardry to replicate six-speed manuals or DCTs. And although a simulation will never be as good as the real thing, it’s nice to know that efforts are being made to appease enthusiasts in an age when the shift knob is going extinct and electrification is slowly taking over.
Truth be told, though, it’s funny how newer technologies are now imitating those which they were meant to replace. It does make sense in practice, but we simply can’t ignore the degree of irony at play here. Expect to see more brands coming up with this sort of stuff in the future, and let’s be thankful for the silver lining instead of calling it out as a gimmick.
Source: Lexus Upgrade Factory
