New Models / 17 February 2026 / Michael Taylor

New “luxury Toyota” launching in South Africa very soon – Pricing revealed

Toyota’s luxury sub-brand Lexus is gearing up to launch its first fully-electric car in South Africa – the RZ.

The RZ is set to release in South Africa in early 2026, and while the carmaker has yet to announce the official release date, our sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists have managed to uncover the pricing and model selection for the new vehicle.

The new Lexus will be made available in three trim levels – the EX, SE, and F Sport – and prices will start at R1,649,400.

This makes it the most expensive of Lexus’ urban-focused selection, but more affordable than its two off-road models – the GX and the LX.

Powertrain

The RZ will be sold with one of two powertrain configurations, which use the designations 500e and 550e.

The EX and SE use the 500e setup, which consists of two electric motors – one for each axle – which generate a combined 280kW and 537Nm.

This lets the SUV sprint from 0-100km/h in an impressive 4.6 seconds, while its top speed caps out at 180km/h.

Power is supplied by a 77kWh battery, which affords a driving range of 500km.

Charging the cells from 10 to 80% takes approximately 3 and a half hours using a 22kW AC outlet, but can be reduced to just 30 minutes with a 150kW DC fast charger.

Alternatively, you can opt for the top-end F Sport, which uses the same twin motor configuration, but has a higher output of 300kW.

However, the torque is the same at 537Nm.

The added power means the F Sport has a slightly faster acceleration time of 4.4 seconds, but it has the same top speed of 180km/h.

It also has the same 77kWh battery, but its higher performance means the range is reduced to around 450km.

Features

As you’d expect from a premium brand like Lexus, the RZ has a generous equipment sheet that starts with automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, an electric hands-free tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a digital rearview mirror, automatic climate control, a heated multifunction steering wheel, artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and an electric driver’s seat with memory settings.

It also has a digital driver display, and a 14-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice commands, and onboard navigation.

Furthermore, the luxury SUV has an expansive driving assistance and safety suite with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, tyre pressure monitoring, and eight airbags.

The higher trim levels will then add nice-to-haves like partial suede upholstery and a dual fixed dimmable panoramic sunroof.