Lexus is filling in the top of the RZ lineup today with a proper performance variant and, for the first time, a 300-mile range figure that closes the most obvious gap critics had with the original model. The 2027 RZ arrives in three distinct powertrains, with a new RZ 550e F SPORT AWD sitting above the existing 350e and 450e configurations, and the whole lineup is bound for dealerships early next year starting at $47,495 including destination.
The range improvement alone is worth pausing on. The outgoing 2025 RZ 300e base model posted 266 miles of EPA-estimated range; the 2027 RZ 350e FWD carries a manufacturer-estimated 301 miles on 18-inch wheels. The 450e AWD comes in at 260 miles on the same wheel size, and the new 550e F SPORT AWD lands at approximately 229 miles with its standard 20-inch wheels. That 350e figure represents meaningful progress, though buyers who opt up to the AWD variants trade range for capability in the usual fashion.
Three Powertrains, Each With a Distinct Purpose
The RZ 350e FWD makes 221 hp through a single front eAxle, powered by a 74.69 kWh battery. It is the efficiency case: the lightest powertrain configuration, the longest range, the lowest price. For buyers coming from the 2025 RZ 300e’s 224 hp, the output figure is nearly identical, but that 35-mile range gain is the actual headline.
The RZ 450e AWD bumps output to 308 hp using the same 74.69 kWh battery and adds DIRECT 4 all-wheel drive. The DIRECT 4 system varies its front-to-rear torque split between 60:40 and 0:100 under acceleration to minimize pitch, and modulates from 80:20 to 0:100 through corners, feeding more torque to the front wheels on turn-in for precise line tracing and shifting to the rear at corner exit for stability. In Range mode, the split locks to 50:50. The 2025 RZ 450e also made 308 hp, so the AWD output figure carries over; the range improvement from 220 to 260 miles is where Lexus focused its engineering effort on that variant.
The RZ 550e F SPORT AWD is the new arrival. At 402 hp with DIRECT 4 AWD and a slightly larger 76.96 kWh battery, it runs 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, which Lexus says is the quickest the RZ nameplate has ever been. It also introduces M Mode, a virtual manual system operated through paddle shifters that simulates an eight-speed gearbox. Simulated engine and exhaust sounds accompany each virtual upshift, and a shift guide meter in the instrument cluster tracks gear position in real time. Whether that sort of theater appeals or irritates depends on the driver, but Lexus is clearly targeting buyers who want an engagement layer the standard RZ doesn’t offer.
Charging and Tech
All three variants use a NACS charging port on the passenger side and support Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging through an 11 kW onboard charger. Under DC fast charging, Lexus estimates a 10-to-80-percent charge in approximately 30 minutes. The 11 kW AC capacity is worth noting in context: the 2027 Lexus NX PHEV added DC fast charging as a new feature this year, signaling that Lexus is broadly upgrading its electrified lineup’s charging infrastructure. Lexus has not announced DC charging speed in kW for the RZ, only the 30-minute 10-to-80 time estimate.
The cabin runs Lexus Interface on a 14-inch touchscreen with an anti-reflective coating and a center knob at the screen’s lower edge for power and volume. Cloud Navigation integrates Google points-of-interest data for live traffic routing, with an offline mode that pre-downloads maps when signal loss is anticipated. The Intelligent Assistant responds to “Hey Lexus” voice commands via dual microphones with enhanced noise cancellation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. A five-year Remote Connect trial covers remote lock, unlock, climate pre-conditioning, and vehicle health monitoring. Advanced Park with Remote Park, operable via the Lexus app, is available on upper grades.
Standard Digital Latch with Safe Exit Assist detects approaching vehicles or cyclists from the rear and holds the door closed until the system determines conditions are clear. Available Traffic Jam Assist handles stop-and-go highway traffic below 25 mph with temporary automated steering, braking, and acceleration, requiring an active Drive Connect subscription after a three-month trial.
Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard across the lineup, covering Pre-Collision System with pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcyclist detection, Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Curve Speed Management, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Proactive Driving Assist, which applies gentle braking and steering to maintain following distance from vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Interior and Grades
Three grades, Premium, Luxury, and F SPORT, stack across the three powertrain options. NuLuxe seating comes standard; the Luxury and F SPORT grades upgrade to Ultrasuede with laser-etched door trim inserts. Every RZ includes heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and eight-way power adjustment for both driver and front passenger. The driver’s seat adds two-way power lumbar, and the Lexus Memory System covers the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors. Tsuyasumi interior trim and single-color ambient lighting are standard; Luxury and F SPORT grades add thematic animated door Shadow Illumination. The available Dynamic Sky panoramic glass roof includes an electronically adjustable dimming feature.
Pricing
Six configurations cover the lineup. The RZ 350e starts at $47,495; the RZ 350e Premium at $49,970; the RZ 450e AWD at $50,995; the RZ 450e Premium AWD at $53,470; the RZ 450e Luxury AWD at $58,495; and the RZ 550e F SPORT AWD at $58,770. All figures include the $1,395 delivery, processing, and handling fee.
The RZ has built genuine sales momentum. U.S. deliveries reached 9,697 units in 2024, and Q1 2026 volume hit 4,456 units, compared to 1,454 in Q1 2025. Lexus is expanding its electrified lineup broadly this fall, with the 2027 NX going fully hybrid and the 2027 TX trimming its powertrain count to two non-plug-in options. The RZ takes the opposite approach: three powertrains, a wider performance envelope, and now a top-of-range variant that can credibly claim to challenge the Tesla Model Y Performance and Genesis GV60 on acceleration. Whether 301 miles from the base model is finally enough to close out the range objection is a more interesting question, and one the order books will start answering early next year.
Source: Lexus. Images courtesy of Lexus.
