The 2027 Lexus TZ is the luxury automaker's first electric three-row SUV. It rides on the same TNGA platform as the recently revealed Toyota Highlander, but it spices things up with more niceties inside. The longest-range version can drive an estimated 300 miles, powered by a 95.8-kilowatt-hour battery. That's the same long-range battery as in the Toyota Highlander, and, just like the Highlander, there's also a smaller, 77 kWh pack available. Lexus has not revealed the range figures for the smaller battery yet.
However, unlike the Highlander, which can be had with a single, front-mounted electric motor, the 2027 Lexus TZ comes exclusively with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Irrespective of the battery capacity, the electric SUV offers a maximum system output of 402 horsepower, 64 hp more than the all-wheel drive Highlander. Lexus says the dual-motor setup can dynamically shift torque between the front and rear axles, depending on the driving conditions. During acceleration, torque ratios adjust from 60:40 (front:rear) to 0:100. During hard cornering, the ratios can go from 80:20 (front:rear) to 0:100, effectively making the SUV rear-wheel drive for short bursts.
View Price on AmazonOutside, the new TZ comes with 20-inch wheels as standard, but 22-inchers will also be available. The closed grille features the typical Lexus spindle design, while the blacked-out C pillar is supposed to make the roof look like it's floating. There are crisp lines everywhere, with a full-width LED lightbar at the rear completing the look. The 2027 Lexus TZ comes with a native NACS charge port, allowing owners to use Tesla Superchargers and other NACS-equipped DC fast chargers without an adapter. The charge port is located on the front right, behind a motorized door. The maximum charging power for the large battery is 150 kilowatts, and a 10-to-80% top-up takes about 35 minutes, according to the automaker.
Battery preconditioning and vehicle-to-load (V2L), which allows owners to export energy from the main battery to power tools and appliances from the charge port through a dedicated adapter, are standard. Rear steering with up to 4 degrees of turn will be available as an option, with Lexus claiming that the feature delivers "excellent handling and reduces body sway." With the feature enabled, the minimum turning radius is 17.2 feet. On cars without it, the turning radius is 19 feet.
All this being said, the interior of the TZ is where the party starts, as with all Lexus vehicles. A full-length opening glass panoramic roof lets the sunshine in for all three rows, and it also has an integrated power sunshade. Forged Bamboo interior surfaces are sourced from Shikoku Island in Japan, with engineers designing the cabin as "an enjoyable lounge space." The front passenger seat and second-row captain's chairs offer ventilation and power ottomans—a Lexus SUV first—and all seats are heated.
The interior of the TZ is the quietest of any Lexus SUV, according to the automaker. The quietness of the electric powertrain plays a big role, but engineers also made an effort to boost comfort by making good use of sound-absorbing materials, vibration-frequency offsetting design elements, and aerodynamic mirrors to minimize wind noise. A large digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel. It's complemented by a central touchscreen and several touch-sensitive buttons. Ambient lighting is standard, along with a suite of active and passive safety features. The cargo capacity is 13.8 cubic feet, presumably behind the third row, and the maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.
Source: insideevs.com
