Honours for Lexus NX and forthcoming RZ at the Business Car Awards
The Lexus NX has been awarded Best Premium Medium SUV and the future Lexus RZ as One to Watch at the Business Car Awards that took place in London last night, (Thursday 22 September).
Martyn Collins, Editor, Business Car magazine, said “The all-new NX impresses with its extra practicality and performance, plus there’s the NX 450h’s EV range and low 8 per cent BIK figure. On top of the added space, the NX’s new Global Architecture means it’s a tidy and refined choice that’s worthy of picking over German rivals in this class.”
The second generation NX has represented a significant shift for the Lexus brand, taking new directions in design, powertrains and dynamic performance. The NX 450h+ is the halo model equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain which can cover up to 46 miles on electric power. The electric system also stands out from the competition by maintaining use of its hybrid system when battery charge is depleted; unlike rival models which default to their combustion engine.
Turning to the Lexus RZ 450e, the brand’s first bespoke fully electric SUV winning the One to Watch Category, Collins added, “The RZ is the first all-electric Lexus developed from the ground up and, when it goes on sale next year, it is sure to shake up established premium brand rivals with 309hp, a range of more than 250 miles and fully fly-by-wire steering.”
The RZ 450e is an all-new battery electric SUV, due to be on sale in the UK in 2023 constructed on a dedicated BEV platform. It is the first Lexus electric vehicle to be developed from the ground up and introduces advanced technologies that enhance its handling and performance. It uses Lexus e-Axles with an innovative DIRECT4 all-wheel drive torque control system, as well as a full suite of safety and driver assistance features, including Lexus’s Safe Exit Assist which prevents a door being opened into the path of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear.
Neil Broad, General Manager, One Toyota Fleet Services, said, “The second generation NX continues to impress all round, representing a new chapter in Lexus design, electrified powertrains and advanced technologies including the brand’s first plug-in hybrid electric model, the NX 450h+.” On the RZ model, he added, “It is a real honour to accept this award in anticipation of a model not yet on sale. It absolutely highlights the exciting potential of the new technologies and enhanced performance the RZ 450e will bring to market.”
For more information about the Lexus NX range and RZ 450e, visit the Lexus website www.lexus.co.uk
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