Lexus launches first fully electric vehicles in Korea
From left, Lexus International A-Class Engineer Kasai Yoichiro, President of Lexus Korea Konyama Manabu, President of Lexus International Watanabe Takashi, second from right, and Lexus International Chief Engineer Ohno Takaaki, pose with the new vehicles at the launch of the RZ450e and RX Series at Lotte World Mall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Lexus Korea
By Kim Jae-heun
Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Toyota, launched its first fully electric vehicle (EV) the all-electric RZ and new generation RX series with three electric powertrains in the local market, the company's Korean branch said Wednesday.
The all-electric RZ is the first Lexus car to adopt an EV-only platform, the e-TNGA, which the company introduces as the starting point of the Lexus change in car design and driving performance.
It is equipped with a large-capacity lithium-ion battery (71.4 kilowatts per hour) and has a driving range of up to 377 kilometers on a single charge with a silicon carbide inverter, which the company adopted for the first time. The total output of the vehicle's system is 312 horsepower.
“We see newlyweds in their 30s and 40s as our target customers for RZ. They are smart consumers, who are willing to spend money according to their preference and purpose,” a Lexus Korea official said.
The RX series is an electric version of Lexus' core RX series models, first released in 2006. They come with three different powertrain options: the hybrid (HEV) model RX350h, the plug-in hybrid model (PHEV) RX450h+ and the turbo-engine hybrid model (turbo HEV) RX500h F sports performance.
“Korea is a market that is leading the global electric vehicle trend. In line with the Lexus global direction to change into a mobility company, we will promote carbon neutralization suitable for the characteristics and environment of the Korean market,” President of Lexus International Watanabe Takashi said during a press conference held at Lotte World Mall in Songpa District, southern Seoul.
Meanwhile, Lexus will open a research base equipped with a test course near Toyota's headquarters in Aichi Prefecture, in March, next year, to accelerate the development of eco-friendly vehicles.