It had the same 308 horsepower as the regular RZ 450e, leaving it with less grunt than all-wheel-drive Hyundai Ioniq 5s and Ford Mustang Mach-Es, among others. This year, though, Lexus is taking another stab at a sporty RZ with the RZ 600e F Sport Performance, and it's now more powerful and plentiful.
The Outside Is The Same, But Not The Inside
All of the unique bodywork for the RZ 450e F Sport Performance has been carried over to the new one, and it's all just as over-the-top as before. It has not one, but two huge carbon fiber wings, and they're matched by wider fender flares. Lexus also added carbon fiber side skirts, front and rear spoilers, bumper accents, and hood vents. The fender flares are necessary for the aluminum Enkei wheels with fat tires. At the front are 255-mm wide tires, and the rear has 295-mm ones. The retuned suspension allows it to sit 0.79 inch lower, too.
The cabin is the same as before, too, with black upholstery, aluminum pedal covers, and blue accents. The sole exception is the steering wheel, which is now a yoke to go with steer-by-wire system. The interior's blue accents can match the exterior, as well, if you opt for the white and black color scheme. The other color option is a gray and black combo that swaps the blue trim for a more understated black.
Fortunately, the mechanical aspects of the RZ 600e are not the same as the old RZ 450e. Lexus revamped the whole RZ line just recently, and that included a new RZ 550e with more powerful motors. Lexus took those and turned up the power just a bit, going from 402 horsepower to 420. The company claims it will get to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. We're wondering if Lexus is being a bit conservative with that estimate, since the company also estimates a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.1 seconds for the less-powerful, though 55-pound lighter, RZ 550e.
Lexus RZ 600e F Sport Performance front three-quarter
In addition to the extra power, and the aforementioned retuned suspension and big tires, Lexus also upgraded the brakes. The RZ 600e now features six-piston front calipers that clamp down on larger rotors. The RZ 550e on the other hand, makes do with two-piston units up front.
It's Still Japan-Only
We checked with the US arm of Lexus, and a representative informed us that the RZ 600e F Sport Performance will not be coming to our shores. We'll admit that we're a little disappointed, since it's a striking machine and is probably fairly fun, though we know it's quite a niche product. It would also be facing some serious competition. Even with 420 horsepower, the RZ 600e is outgunned by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT.
Lexus RZ 600e F Sport Performance front wheel
Worse, the same basic powertrain and chassis upgrades in those will be appearing in a more direct competitor this year: the Genesis GV60 Magma. Other luxury makes also have potent EVs, such as BMW's i4 and iX models. So, the RZ 600e might have it tough in our market.
If you happen to be in Japan, though, and are interested in the RZ 600e, the good news is that it won't be limited to just 100 units. It's now a regular addition to the line-up. It starts at 12,440,000 yen, which comes to $79,683 at the time of writing. For reference, the RZ 550e has an MSRP starting at just under $60,000 in the US.
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