Every new reveal of future electric vehicles seems to be farther out from 2022. That’s the case with the Lexus three-row electric SUV. Lexus says this will be its flagship model, slotted above the coming RZ 450e. But its release date looks to be 2025, or maybe even later. 

We thought the coming RZ 450e would be the top Lexus SUV

The Lexus RZ 450e was thought to be the top dog in the Lexus line until these images were released today. We showed you the concept version of this a couple of months ago. But it was unclear where it would fall in the Lexus lineup. Now we know. 

Lexus calls this the “Electrified SUV” concept. But it really is very un-concept-like, indicating this is close to how the production SUV will look, whenever that is. It looks like it will be a variation of the e-TNGA platform, used as the basis for the Toyota bZ4x, Subaru Solterra, and the aforementioned RZ 450e. 

What about the Lexus Electrified SUV design

The front fascia does not stray too far from the front of the RZ 450e. It is a filled-in spindle grille, which is a trademark of all Lexus models. In the back, the electrified SUV ventures away from its smaller sibling. Elements like the bumper and lower valance are stacked. 

They’re also more horizontal than the RZ 450e. But that is understandable since the rear is taller and more upright. We give the odds of those retractable door handles going into production a 50-50 chance. It should be noted that the RZ 450e won’t be getting them. 

Back in December, Lexus said that it “aims to realize a full lineup of battery EVs in all vehicle segments by 2030, and to have battery EVs account for 100 percent of its vehicle sales in Europe, North America, and China, totaling 1 million units globally. And it aims for battery EVs to make up 100 percent of its global vehicles sales in 2035.” 

The LX SUV has not sold well

Lexus’ current SUV flagship, the LX, has not seen especially large volumes in the US. It has consistently sold around 4,500 a year since 2018. But last year that number decreased to 3,500. 

From 2007 to 2017, Lexus sold an average of 4,800 each year. So you could say that the LX has never figured prominently in the Lexus lineup. We’ll have to wait and see whether the company promotes the Electrified SUV similar to how it markets the LX, or if it will seek a better path to increase sales beyond that of the LX. 

But one thing is for sure; Lexus will shy away from the traditional two-box SUV profile for a lower, crossover look, regardless of size or off-road chops. You see it in both the RZ 450e and these just-released images of the Electrified SUV, coming sometime in 2025. Or maybe later…