Lexus unveils TZ three-row electric SUV

LEXUS has unveiled details of its all-new TZ three-row electric SUV, a model it says is designed around the concept of a Driving Lounge, and one that aims to deliver a quiet yet dynamic ride and high levels of comfort regardless of seating position.

Blending familial Lexus styling with an aerodynamic body, and crafted interior décor, the TZ measures 5100mm in length, 1990mm in width, and 1705mm in height, its 3050mm wheelbase enabling cargo capacity ranging from 290 litres in seven-seat mode to 2017 litres all told.

The model tips the scale at 2630kg (kerb) and rides on alloy wheels ranging in diameter from 20- to 22 inches, depending on variant.

All variants are all-wheel drive and dual motor in configuration, with both the front- and rear motors providing 167kW/268Nm for a total system output of 300kW (no combined torque value is listed).

Lexus says the figures are sufficient to accelerate the TZ from standstill to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds, while driving range is listed at 530km on the WLTP cycle.

Power is drawn from a 95.8kWh battery pack that may be recharged from 10-80 per cent in 35 minutes when connected to a 150kW DC appliance. AC charging is also available.

While Australia delivering timing, pricing, and specifications are yet to be announced, Lexus International chief engineer Takeshi Miyaura says the TZ aims to deliver a new experience to family buyers.

“We envisioned Lexus’s target brand value – customers who value time and choose authenticity – and aimed to deliver a new Lexus experience through the TZ,” he explained.

“Battery-electric technology (BEV) emerged as the method to realise these values because BEVs offers an ideal blend of driving enjoyment and driving evolution.

“In addition to the Lexus experience of seeing, riding, and driving, we now offer the new value of spending time inside the vehicle.

“Our primary focus in the development of the TZ was the unity of design and aerodynamics. Beyond the BEV-driven need for aerodynamic efficiency, we asked what styling would stand out in the expanding luxury mid-size SUV market.

“We believe the TZ features a design born from functional beauty that harmonises typically conflicting engineering and styling demands. Interior development targeted lounge-like comfort in every seat; we paid careful attention to each component, including a newly developed platform, seats, and the panoramic roof.

“For driving, we fully leveraged BEV advantages and Lexus’s Aji-migaki refinement program to rigorously tune performance. We prioritised quietness, both at rest and in motion, and succeeded in creating a lounge where acoustics can be enjoyed.”

The Lexus TZ will compete in a complex and expanding segment alongside rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQS (from $219,900). Australian delivery confirmation is yet to be announced.