Lexus RZ Sport Concept Revealed With More Performance

Addressing Concerns

The Lexus RZ450e represents the brand's first global EV, a major step toward its planned all-electric conversion in the coming years. However, if there's one thing that the RZ has been criticized over thus far, it's performance, range, and styling - the former being a bit lacking with a total of 308 horsepower, range coming in at just 225 miles, and looks that are more attractive than the Toyota bZ4X on which it's based, albeit not terribly sporty. Now, Lexus is addressing at least two of those three concerns with the new RZ Sport Concept, which was revealed at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show.

Photos: Lexus

Future of Customization

If nothing else, the RZ Sport Concept gives us a peek at the future of automotive customization, a world in which we'll continue to modify our vehicles to suit our individual tastes, even if that doesn't include doing things like extracting more power from our vehicles by adding forced induction or punched-out powerplants.

Photos: Lexus

More Power

Based on the regular RZ 450e, the RZ Sport Concept isn't just a styling exercise, however - it's also equipped with two, more powerful 150 kW electric motors, one at each end, which equates to around 201 horsepower each - giving the concept a significant boost of 94 horsepower over the stock EV's output.

Photos: Lexus

Sporty Stuff

In addition to the power boost, the RZ Sport Concept has also been lowered by 35 mm and fitted with larger wheels and tires, along with new bucket seats in the front and rear to make occupants quickly realize that they aren't in some boring old mainstream EV.

Photos: Lexus

Sporty Looks

The most notable thing about the new RZ Sport Concept, however, is the way it looks - it's equipped with a full array of aero bits and pieces that give it a far more aggressive appearance, which is further accentuated by a two-tone black and "Hakugin" white hue, which "is based on a pure, clear white base that produces a delicate shining texture when illuminated by light," according to Lexus. Then there are some blue accents to boot, including the Lexus logo in the front grill, which only add to the sporty effect.

Photos: Lexus

Production Worthy

Designed under the supervision of racing driver Masahiro Sasaki, the RZ Sport Concept is certainly far more appealing to enthusiasts than the regular old production model, but it's unclear if Lexus will ever actually sell it - or something similar - to the public. In truth, it's really just proof that EVs can be customized just like regular old ICE vehicles, but we'd certainly love to see it sold right alongside the conventional RZ in the future.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the RZ Sport Concept right here at ClubLexus.com.

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