Here mid-year! 2023 Lexus RZ electric car will beat Toyota bZ4X sibling to showrooms as pricing is confirmed for Tesla Model Y rival

If the incoming Toyota bZ4X electric car doesn’t quite seem plush enough, and you’ve got a fair bit more coin to drop, then perhaps the Lexus RZ is for you.

Set to launch in Australia in May this year - likely months ahead of its Toyota sibling - the Lexus RZ is the first dedicated electric car from the brand, given the UX300e is based on a petrol-powered model.

The RZ will arrive in only one drivetrain variant, 450e, across two trim levels: Luxury and Sport Luxury.

With pricing starting from $123,000 before on-road costs for the Luxury grade, it represents a significant margin over the entry price we expect to see from the Toyota bZ4X.

Coming already highly specified, the RZ will feature 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with static auto-levelling, a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, and heated auto-folding side mirrors.

Inside, a 14.0-inch multimedia display, 10-speaker Panasonic sound system, heated front seats, and Qi wireless phone charger are also standard.

The higher specification, Sports Luxury, will start from $135,000, but will add a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, auto-levelling and active cornering headlights, a two-tone exterior, synthetic Ultrasuede interior trim, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and ‘radiant’ heating for front seats.

Both variants are powered by the same all-wheel drive, dual-motor setup, with a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery storing the juice for the total motor output of 230kW.

Inside is a 14.0-inch multimedia display.

Lexus says the RZ450e has a driving range of 470km, and can be charged to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.

The Lexus RZ will be the first from the brand to come with both a steer-by-wire system and a yoke steering wheel to replace the traditional circular design.

2023 Lexus RX pricing before on-road costs