Since its debut for the 2023 model year, it’s been eventful for the Lexus RZ, the brand’s version of the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra electric SUVs, with new variants and price drops packing the timeline. For 2026, though, the Lexus EV sees its biggest change yet as the electrical architecture is overhauled and a new F Sport performance variant debuts.
Related: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Review: Delightful in (Almost) All the Right Places
What Are the 2026 RZ’s Upgraded Powertrain Specs?
Lexus isn’t sharing specs for the RZ’s new hardware but says a redesigned battery and more efficient motors increase the range of the front-wheel-drive RZ 300e by 20% and the all-wheel-drive RZ 450e by 14%. That would vault the RZ 300e’s range past 300 miles and lift the RZ 450e to the neighborhood of 250 miles. Lexus claims the new battery is also capable of faster charging than the existing pack.
The new motors are not only more efficient, but more powerful, too. Lexus says the front-drive RZ now makes 221 horsepower, an increase of 20 over the 2025 model, while AWD versions available globally will generate anywhere from 308 to 375 hp; the 2025 RZ 450e makes a total of 308 hp. It’s not yet clear which of those will come to the U.S., however. Elsewhere, Lexus stiffened the RZ’s structure with reinforcements front and rear. Additional sound deadening in the bottom and sides of the body shell should cut interior noise.
The First F Sport EV
Buyers wanting more power will want to check out the new RZ 550e F Sport, in which the motors output a combined 402 hp, or double the output of the existing base variant. The F Sport also debuts Interactive Manual Drive, a feature like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s N Active Sound+, which generates synthetic engine noises and simulates gearshifts to add a dose of excitement to the EV’s naturally silent and seamless power delivery. Paddle shifters allow drivers to manually “shift” through eight virtual gear ratios while watching a “shift guide meter,” which sounds like a simulated tachometer.
Sport-tuned springs and dampers sharpen the RZ 550e F Sport’s ride while unique front and rear bumpers, 20-inch wheels and a spoiler give it a more aggressive look. Inside, the F Sport features sport seats, aluminum pedals, and unique black-and-gray upholstery.
Is This Some Kind of a Yoke?
The 2026 RZ also debuts Lexus’s first-ever steer-by-wire system, in which there is no direct physical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. Instead, sensors and electric motors convert driver inputs into mechanical reactions. A rectangular yoke replaces the steering wheel, which at first might seem like it would result in drivers grasping at air where the rim of a round wheel would usually be. However, Lexus uses a variable ratio in this system to limit steering inputs to approximately 200 degrees from the neutral position, eliminating the sort of large hand-over-hand rotations that could cause problems.
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What Is the 2026 RZ’s Release Date and Pricing?
The 2026 Lexus RZ will go on sale in late 2025. As Lexus has struggled to find the right price point for the RZ 300e and RZ 450e, we don’t expect those variants to move much from their current starting prices of $43,975 and $48,675, respectively (prices include $1,175 destination charge). A base of around $55,000 seems likely for the RZ 550e F Sport.
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