Lexus RZ 600e F Sport Performance confirmed

LEXUS Australia will launch its most powerful production EV ever, the RZ 600e F Sport Performance, in the fourth quarter of this year, priced from $135,000 plus on-road costs.

Only nine examples are earmarked for Australia out of a global production run of fewer than 200 representing a scarcity figure that puts it on par with the brand’s famed V10-powered LFA supercar, of which the same number of nine were ultimately delivered locally.

The RZ 600e sits atop the RZ range as its new performance flagship, joining the RZ 550e F Sport and updated RZ 500e Luxury and Sports Luxury variants launched earlier this year.

At $135,000 +ORC, it commands a $30,080 premium over the RZ 550e F Sport ($104,920 + ORCs) it’s closely related to though that figure lands close to the $133,059 asked for the outgoing RZ 450e Sports Luxury before this year’s broader RZ price cuts of up to $42,000.

Lexus Australia CEO Jack Hobbs said the model represents a new direction for the brand’s EV ambitions.

“The RZ 600e F Sport Performance is unlike anything we have offered before,” he said.

“As our most powerful production EV to date, it showcases the thrilling possibilities of electrification, seamlessly blending dynamic performance with the luxury, sophistication and refinement expected of Lexus.

“With only nine vehicles destined for Australia, the RZ 600e F Sport Performance will be one of the rarest and most sought-after Lexus models on our roads.”

The RZ 600e uses the same 77kWh lithium-ion battery and 167kW/268.6Nm front and rear motor pairing as the RZ 550e F Sport, but retuning lifts combined output by 13kW to 313kW, sent through Lexus’s Direct4 all-wheel drive system.

That’s enough for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, identical to the RZ 550e despite the extra power with WLTP range dropping to 420km, down from the RZ 550e’s figure due to the larger wheels and added performance hardware.

Like its sibling, the RZ 600e retains variable torque control, letting front-to-rear power distribution shift between 60:40 and 0:100 in a straight line, and between 80:20 and 0:100 while cornering.

To back up the extra performance, Lexus has dropped the RZ 600e’s ride height by 20mm versus other RZ variants, fitted unique front and rear performance dampers, and revised spring rates front and rear.

Braking steps up to 400mm ventilated front discs with fixed six-piston blue-painted aluminium monobloc callipers, and 317mm ventilated rear discs.

The car rides on 21-inch matte black Enkei wheels wrapped in 255/40 front and 295/35 rear tyres, the rear rubber 40mm wider than standard and housed under unique wheel-arch mouldings.

Visually, the F Sport Performance gets a comprehensive carbon-fibre aero package – a unique front lip spoiler, bumper and grille, a vented bonnet moulding, rear bumper, diffuser and spoiler, plus side rocker and door mouldings.

Lexus says the aerodynamic package was developed in partnership with air-race pilot Yoshihide Muroya and racing driver Masahiro Sasaki to ensure real functional benefit rather than pure styling.

Standard paint is Neutrino Grey two-tone, with an optional matte Hakugin White two-tone finish available for an additional $5000 and the only extra-cost option on the car.

Inside, the RZ 600e shares the RZ 550e’s steer-by-wire system and yoke-style steering wheel, which does away with a conventional top rim section for a markedly different driving feel.

Column-mounted paddles enable Lexus’s Interactive Manual Drive, simulating eight gear shifts complete with throttle feel, G-force cues, engine sound and tachometer response modelled on a traditional combustion car.

Cabin trim steps up to Ultrasuede upholstery across the heavily bolstered sports seats, instrument panel and door trim, alongside a unique shift-by-wire gear selector knob. 

Comfort equipment includes heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, dual-zone climate control, smart entry and start, a 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging, and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The latest Lexus Safety Sense driver-assist suite and Lexus Connected Services round out the package.

Given its extremely limited allocation, Lexus Australia has selected just eight of its 31 dealerships nationwide to display the car and manage customer expressions of interest – Lexus of Brisbane (with two allocated vehicles), Lexus of Chatswood, Lexus of Perth, Lexus of Parramatta, Lexus of Brighton, Lexus of Sutherland, Lexus of Blackburn, and Sydney City Lexus.

2026 Lexus RZ pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.