Click for more.
Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM, 7203 T) today in Japan revealed a prototype version of the Lexus TZ 3-Row Electric SUV. The all-wheel-drive, full-size SUV is aimed directly at the popular and profitable SUVs from the brands at General Motors and Ford Motor Company. TZ is capable of driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas [or Tokyo to Kobe -AutoCrat] on one charge. Acceleration is rated by Lexus at 0-100 kms (62.1 miles) in 5.2 seconds. Grade and pricing information for the all-new Lexus TZ will be available later in 2026.*
“TZ’s design pursues the dual goals of sculptural beauty and aerodynamic excellence. While maintaining the powerful presence of an SUV, the TZ achieves top‑class aerodynamic performance among Lexus SUVs, which contributes to its impressive driving range,” said the successful luxury brand of automotive super power Toyota Motor Corporation.
“Additionally, ‘Forged Bamboo,’ a decorative material made from Shikoku bamboo, adorns many of the interior’s surfaces, supporting both sustainable craftsmanship and the preservation of traditional techniques. Through the TZ, Lexus aims to offer a space that enriches time spent with loved ones, and a behind-the-wheel experience that stirs its driver’s emotions,” Lexus said.
Click to enlarge.
TZ is Lexus’ first three-row, all-electric, AWD SUV. “Built on the Lexus TNGA platform, it is designed to blend driving enjoyment with refined comfort, supporting diverse lifestyles while delivering exceptional luxury SUV dynamics. It features two lithium-ion battery options – 76.96 kWh and 95.82 kWh – and employs an evolved DIRECT4 AWD system. An enhanced body structure ensures handling stability and a composed ride, while Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 (LSS+ 4.0) offers advanced safety and convenience,” Lexus said.
TZ at a Glance in the View of Lexus
- A lounge‑like space that enables passengers’ full relaxation.
- The Driving Lounge concept creates a space that naturally encourages family conversation and smiles.
- A sense of openness created by a newly developed platform and a wide, slim, movable panoramic roof.
- A comfortable cabin space with Lexus top-level (1) quietness, achieved through sound directivity control to create a natural acoustic environment.
- A soothing and relaxing atmosphere that stimulates the senses through use of the TZ’s audio system, ambient lighting, and other features.
- A Lexus mobility experience where driving enjoyment and a relaxing cabin coexist.
- Shaped by Lexus’s Aji-migaki development philosophy, the vehicle delivers a more profound, composed driving character built on a rigorously refined core structure, together with exceptional comfort.
- Aerodynamic performance rooted in the vehicle’s fundamentals, balancing design and cabin comfort at a high level.
- “Rear Comfort” mode (2)prioritizes rear seat comfort by using combination of hardware and software electrification technologies.
- Interactive Manual Drive(2) deepens enjoyable, exhilarating interactions between driver and vehicle.
- A commanding presence merging sculptural beauty and aerodynamic performance.
- TZ’s design represents a fusion of simplicity and sharpness, pursuing the distinctive character and presence unique to Lexus.
- Its spindle body and geometric graphics express functional beauty while delivering high aerodynamic performance.
- TZ’s wheels balance visual appeal and aerodynamics, creating a stunning yet powerful look
- Sustainable materials and circular vehicle development.
- Adoption of sustainable materials such as forged bamboo and recycled aluminum
- TZ’s circular vehicle development incorporates manufacturing processes designed to minimize environmental impact.
Inevitable TZ Footnotes
- As of May 2026, based on models announced to date, according to Lexus research.
- Specifications may vary depending on region and configuration.
“Our primary focus in TZ development was the unity of design and aerodynamics. Beyond the BEV-driven need for aerodynamic efficiency, we asked what styling would stand out in the expanding luxury mid-size SUV market. We believe the TZ features a design born from functional beauty that harmonizes typically conflicting engineering and styling demands. Interior development targeted lounge-like comfort in every seat; we paid careful attention to each component, including a newly developed platform, seats, and the panoramic roof. For driving, we fully leveraged BEV advantages and Lexus’s Aji-migaki refinement program to rigorously tune performance. We prioritized quietness – both at rest and in motion – and succeeded in creating a lounge where acoustics can be enjoyed. We hope people will spend more time in the TZ – if you want to enjoy music, do it in a TZ,” said Takeshi Miyaura, Chief Engineer, Lexus International.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Lexus Shows 2027 TZ 3-Row Electric SUV
Click for more.
Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM, 7203 T) today in Japan revealed a prototype version of the Lexus TZ 3-Row Electric SUV. The all-wheel-drive, full-size SUV is aimed directly at the popular and profitable SUVs from the brands at General Motors and Ford Motor Company. TZ is capable of driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas [or Tokyo to Kobe -AutoCrat] on one charge. Acceleration is rated by Lexus at 0-100 kms (62.1 miles) in 5.2 seconds. Grade and pricing information for the all-new Lexus TZ will be available later in 2026.*
“TZ’s design pursues the dual goals of sculptural beauty and aerodynamic excellence. While maintaining the powerful presence of an SUV, the TZ achieves top‑class aerodynamic performance among Lexus SUVs, which contributes to its impressive driving range,” said the successful luxury brand of automotive super power Toyota Motor Corporation.
“Additionally, ‘Forged Bamboo,’ a decorative material made from Shikoku bamboo, adorns many of the interior’s surfaces, supporting both sustainable craftsmanship and the preservation of traditional techniques. Through the TZ, Lexus aims to offer a space that enriches time spent with loved ones, and a behind-the-wheel experience that stirs its driver’s emotions,” Lexus said.
Click to enlarge.
TZ is Lexus’ first three-row, all-electric, AWD SUV. “Built on the Lexus TNGA platform, it is designed to blend driving enjoyment with refined comfort, supporting diverse lifestyles while delivering exceptional luxury SUV dynamics. It features two lithium-ion battery options – 76.96 kWh and 95.82 kWh – and employs an evolved DIRECT4 AWD system. An enhanced body structure ensures handling stability and a composed ride, while Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 (LSS+ 4.0) offers advanced safety and convenience,” Lexus said.
TZ at a Glance in the View of Lexus
Inevitable TZ Footnotes
“Our primary focus in TZ development was the unity of design and aerodynamics. Beyond the BEV-driven need for aerodynamic efficiency, we asked what styling would stand out in the expanding luxury mid-size SUV market. We believe the TZ features a design born from functional beauty that harmonizes typically conflicting engineering and styling demands. Interior development targeted lounge-like comfort in every seat; we paid careful attention to each component, including a newly developed platform, seats, and the panoramic roof. For driving, we fully leveraged BEV advantages and Lexus’s Aji-migaki refinement program to rigorously tune performance. We prioritized quietness – both at rest and in motion – and succeeded in creating a lounge where acoustics can be enjoyed. We hope people will spend more time in the TZ – if you want to enjoy music, do it in a TZ,” said Takeshi Miyaura, Chief Engineer, Lexus International.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.