The 2026 Lexus RZ receives multiple enhancements to its powertrain and battery systems. The RZ550e is a new high-performance model boasting 402 hp, and all variants now feature an extended estimated driving range. Lexus states that the yoke-style steering wheel and steer-by-wire system will not be available in the U.S. market for now. A few months after Lexus first showed off the updated RZ, we now know what changes will be made to this high-end EV SUV for the next model year that will only be sold in the US. The 2026 Lexus RZ that will be sold in the United States has a new trim level called RZ550e F Sport that has 402 horsepower. The base model also has more power, and battery changes have made the range longer. It now has a NACS charging port, which lets you charge it quickly with DC power at Tesla Superchargers. But the United States won’t be able to get the RZ’s most interesting new feature: a steer-by-wire system that replaces the steering wheel with a yoke handle. Lexus told Invoice Pricing that the RZ made for the US market would not have steer-by-wire technology yet. This system will be available on RZs made in Europe, and we drove a test of it in 2023. However, it is not clear when or if it will be available on RZs made in the US. Moreover, the RZ350e, with its 221 horsepower, has become the most affordable front-wheel-drive choice available. It delivers 20 more horsepower than the earlier RZ300e and now offers a range of 300 miles, up from 266 miles. The RZ450e with all-wheel drive can now go up to 260 miles, up from 220 miles before. It still has 308 horsepower, though. All 2026 RZs will have a charging port for the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Lexus says it can charge from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes. The newest high-end model, the RZ550e F Sport, comes equipped with dual motors and produces 402 horsepower. Lexus says it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Even though it has a slightly bigger battery pack (77 kWh vs. 75 kWh for the other models), this one is expected to have the shortest range (225 miles). Along with some visual changes, it adds a new “manual-shift” M Mode that mimics the shifts of a normal transmission in a gas-powered car. The 2026 RZ will be coming to the US later this year, but Lexus hasn’t said how much it will cost yet. The RZ550e F Sport could cost between $45,000 and $60,000.
