The new RZ crossover from luxury car brand Lexus is just around the corner, one of 15 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that automotive giant Toyota plans to unleash by 2030. But instead of a round tiller found on more mundane EVs, the first battery-powered Lexus vehicle will come with a yoke as a primary means of control.
The upcoming Lexus RZ is emulating Tesla in more than just the electric powertrain
This echoes the established leader in the segment, Tesla, which has been (in)famously known for offering its models with a yoke steering wheel. After the initial novelty wore off, Tesla customers began to feel frustrated with how unwieldy the controller was especially at low speeds, prompting the company to offer the option of having it swapped out in favor of a standard round wheel.
It remains to be seen how Lexus has engineered its own version differently to avoid the pitfalls that plagued Tesla’s execution. Also uncertain is if the yoke will be the default feature for all Lexus EVs moving forward, and if Lexus even plans to make a conventional steering wheel available.
The yoke is just one of the elements revealed in recent teasers released by Lexus, as the clock winds down towards the RZ’s global reveal on April 20, 2022. It will be the third model riding on the e-TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that underpins both the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
A yoke steering wheel isn't the only thing hinted at for the first Lexus EV
Only the exterior details have been evident so far, with the RZ managing to incorporate the trademark spindle grille despite not being derived from any existing combustion model. Information on the interior has been scarce as well, save for the yoke controller sitting in front of an all-digital instrument cluster in what appears to be a driver-centric cockpit.
Launching as a single RZ450e variant, the upcoming Lexus EV will likely be propelled by the same dual-motor electric powertrain on the bZ4X and Solterra. This setup is capable of delivering 215 horsepower, with the output expected to be slightly higher on the RZ to reflect its more premium stature.
See more of what to expect on upcoming model releases at Philkotse.com.