Lexus has revealed the all-new TZ, a fully electric three-row luxury SUV aimed at families who want space, refinement, and a quieter take on premium EV travel.
The new model is designed around what Lexus calls the “Driving Lounge,” a cabin concept focused on relaxation, conversation, and comfort across all three rows.
Yet one of the TZ’s most interesting features is not silence, but sound. Lexus has equipped the SUV with a simulated performance engine note, including audio inspired by a high-revving V10.
The feature is part of Lexus’ Interactive Manual Drive system, which attempts to bring the feel of a traditional performance car into an electric SUV with paddle-selected virtual gears.
A Quiet Luxury SUV With A Loud Trick
The TZ is a six-seat electric SUV with captain’s chairs in the second row and adult-friendly space in the third row. Lexus says the flat EV floor and underbody battery packaging allow the rear seats to sit lower, improving headroom and legroom.
Inside, the SUV gets a large panoramic roof, slim front seats, available ottoman-style leg rests, heating and ventilation for the first two rows, and available third-row seat heating. A 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system is also available.
The cabin follows Lexus’ usual luxury-first approach, with heavy emphasis on sound insulation, thicker glass, and reduced wind noise. Lexus even claims the TZ delivers the quietest cabin of any Lexus SUV.
That makes the simulated V10-style soundtrack feel especially unusual. In a vehicle designed around calmness and silence, Lexus is also giving drivers the option to add artificial combustion drama.
Interactive Manual Drive Brings Fake Shifts
The TZ’s Interactive Manual Drive system simulates an eight-speed transmission, even though the SUV has an electric powertrain and does not need traditional gear changes.
Drivers can use steering-wheel paddles to select virtual gears, while the instrument cluster displays a tachometer. Lexus also adds steering wheel feedback and a simulated engine soundtrack to make the experience feel more mechanical.
The idea is similar to systems used by performance EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which use fake shifting and sound to create a stronger emotional connection.
For enthusiasts, the feature will likely be divisive. Some may enjoy the added theatre, while others may see simulated V10 audio in a three-row electric Lexus as unnecessary gimmickry.
Lexus TZ Targets The Volvo EX90 And Rivian R1S
Beyond the sound effects, the TZ is a serious entry into the growing luxury three-row EV segment. It measures 5,100 mm in length, with a 3,050 mm wheelbase, making it larger than the Lexus RX.
The SUV uses dual electric motors with DIRECT4 all-wheel drive and a total system output of about 408 horsepower. Lexus estimates 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds, which is quick for a large family-focused SUV.
A 95.8-kWh battery provides an estimated range of up to 530 km, or roughly 330 miles, depending on market and specification. DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent is expected to take around 35 minutes at up to 150 kW.
The TZ will compete with electric three-row SUVs such as the Volvo EX90, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Rivian R1S, and Lucid Gravity.
Comfort Remains The Main Focus
Lexus is putting heavy emphasis on passenger comfort rather than outright performance. A new Rear Comfort mode adjusts systems, including braking, all-wheel drive, and available rear-wheel steering, to reduce body movement for passengers.
The available Dynamic Rear Steering system can turn the rear wheels by up to four degrees, improving low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability. Lexus says the TZ can achieve a turning radius as low as 5.4 meters with the system equipped.
The SUV also introduces Lexus’ Responsive Hidden Switch technology, which keeps the dashboard looking clean until controls illuminate as a hand approaches.
Lexus says the TZ will launch in Europe in 2027, with market-specific pricing and equipment still to be confirmed. Whether buyers embrace its fake V10 soundtrack may depend on how well Lexus blends old-school emotion with its new electric luxury formula.