Lexus has shown off a new six-seat electric SUV called the TZ, which will reach Ireland next March, and which is something of a spiritual replacement for the old RZ450h L.
That looks quite beefy…
Yes, the TZ is definitely at the chunkier end of the Lexus styling scale, and it looks a closer bedfellow to the likes of the really big GX and LX models, which are only sold in the US market. The TZ gets a bluff, upright front end, a long, almost flat shoulder line, and a rather cool floating-roof effect thanks to blacked-out pillars.
How big is the TZ, exactly?
It's a lengthy 5.1 metres from stem to stern, with a massive 3,050mm wheelbase that should ensure decent interior space spread across its three rows of seats. Lexus says the boot volume ranges from 290 litres with all seats in use to a massive 2,107 litres with all the rear seats folded down.
What's the interior like?
As you'd expect from a Lexus, the cabin looks really gorgeous, and actually up front - thanks to a mixture of pale leather and blonde wood - there's a distinct Scandi-vibe about the whole thing. Hygge, indeed.
There's the usual big touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, and this can be optionally embiggened so that it stretches all the way across to the passenger side, but thankfully, there are some neat touch-sensitive buttons, separate from the screens, which are almost hidden within the structure of the dash. There's a good deal of recycled and sustainable materials used in the cabin, including forged bamboo and recycled aluminium.
Is the TZ a seven-seater?
Not yet, no. So far, Lexus has shown the TZ off in six-seat form, with three rows of two seats each. It's obviously possible for it to be a seven-seater, but that layout hasn't yet been confirmed. Lexus says that it's focusing on making each seat sumptuously comfortable and also on creating the most refined and quiet cabin of any Lexus SUV. The middle row of seats can be equipped with reclining 'club class' style seats with footrests, if you fancy a bit of a stretch.
Equally, if you fancy a bit of noise, there's a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo on the options list, as well as an active sound system that is said to be able to mimic the noise of the immortal V10 petrol engine from the Lexus LF-A supercar.
Presumably, there's not a V10 under the bonnet?
No, sorry. The TZ is a fully electric car, and it uses a 95kWh (gross capacity) lithium-ion NMC battery to power a twin-motor four-wheel drive system with 408hp, giving this massive luxury SUV a 0-100km/h time of just 5.4 seconds.
More importantly for most buyers, Lexus claims a range of 530km on the European WLTP test cycle. For those that need it, there's also a 1,500kg towing weight. Because it's a big old thing, the TZ benefits from rear-wheel steering for tighter manoeuvres.
That's pretty pokey performance for a big SUV…
It is, but then Lexus' chief engineer, Takeshi Miyaura, says that he wants this to be the big, multi-seat, luxury electric SUV that you buy if you're still a keen driver, and - just as importantly - that you want to pass that love of driving on… "Sustainability is important environmentally, but we also want to support the sustainability of 'the joy of driving.' We want the TZ to be the kind of car that inspires children by seeing parents drive joyfully, passing the desire to drive from generation to generation. We hope drivers will smile while driving―that is our wish for the TZ. The Driving Lounge balances a comfortable interior with Lexus driving, and it empathizes with the feelings of everyone on board. We invite you to look forward to the TZ, bringing new joy to everyday life and elevating each moment with greater beauty and depth,” said Miyaura.